Twiggs County Georgia
Misc. Biographies
DANIEL H. ADAMS
Daniel H. Adams,
clerk of the superior court, Macon circuit, Bibb County, Ga., was born
in Twiggs County, that State, January 28, 1834. His father, Daniel Adams,
a native of South Carolina and son of John Adams of North Carolina, was
born November 23, 1801, moved to Alabama in 1822, and in 1824 settled in
Twiggs County, Ga., was one of its largest planters, and there died in
October, 1880. The mother of our subject, Mrs. V. Adams, was born in Washington
County, Ga., in 1805, and was a daughter of Ephraim Ellis, who was a planter
from Maryland. To Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Adams were born eight children,
of whom five were reared to maturity, as follows: Obadiah F., E. Bennett,
Daniel H., Robert R. and George B.; three girls died in infancy. Daniel
H. Adams, at the age of ten years was taken from Twiggs to Houston County,
where he was educated, going to the academy of Professor James Dunham for
sever years, and to that of Prof. Henry Hudson two years. At the age of
eighteen he commenced clerking in the store of Lightfoot & Flanders,
remaining from 1852 until 1853; he was then employed by the Confederate
Government as cotton shipping clerk, in which capacity he served until
the close of hostilities in 1865. He then became connected with the firm
of McGrath & Patterson, at Macon, with whom he remained one year, when
he began speculating in cotton, etc., operating another year. In the spring
of 1868 he returned to the old firm, which had changed its style to D.
Flanders & Son, with who he remained until May, 1885, at which time
he became deputy clerk, which position he filled until August, 1886, when
he was elected clerk proper, and is the present incumbent of the office.
During all these years of clerking, for twenty eight years he was also
a magistrate. July 8, 1857, he married Miss Helen E. Snow, of New York
City, and has been blessed with a family of eight children, born in the
following order: Fannie, William H., Julia, Daniel E., Charles B., Laura,
Mollie and an infant not named at the time of this writing. Mr. Adams is
a Knight of the Golden Rule, and his wife of the Episcopal Church. Biographical
Souvenir of the States of Georgia and Florida. Chicago, IL: F.A. Battey
& Company, 1889.
CHRISTOPHER
C. ANDERSON
Christopher C. Anderson, civil engineer, Hawkinsville,
was born January 7, 1840, in Twiggs County, Ga. His parents are Thomas
W. and Susan (Roach) Anderson. Susan Roach was a native of Georgia. Thomas
W. was born in St. Augustine during the Spanish occupation of that colony.
The children born to these parents were three: George, Susan F., wife of
J. M. Gatewood, living in Albany, Ga. and christopher C. Our subject was
one of forty-three who graduated at Mercer College while the same was located
at Penfield, class of 1861. He enlisted in Company _, Sixth Georgia Regiment
of Infantry, Twiggs Guards, in 18_,. Later he served in Blunt's battalion
of Light Artillery. He saw service in twenty-eight pitched battles, besides
skirmishes. Twenty-six years ago this day (April 5, 1888), he heard the
first bomb shell, and saw the first Yankee soldier. The sound of that shell
was
music, sweet music to his ears. He had been lying idle so long and
drilling he was anxious to get to business; but before the war closed the
sound of that death-dealing instrument had lost its charms. That night
he saw for the first time a limb amputated. The different battles in the
order of their occurrence were as follows: Siege of Yorktown, Williamsburg,
Seven Pines, Mechanicsville, Cold Harbor, Savage Station, White Oak Swamp,
Malvern Hill, Boonsboro or South Mountain, Sharpsburg or Antietam (in his
opinion the hardest fought battle of the war), Fredericksburg, and again
under General Hooker, Wilderness, Chancellorsville, battery Wagoner, Fort
Sumter siege, James Island, Ocean Pond, Petersburg, Drury's Bluff,
Cold Harbor (june 1, 1864), same June 3, Petersburg (june 16, same June
28, Petersburg blow-up (July 31), (April 7, 1863_, Petersburg, same April
2. He surrender at Appomattox. At Ocean Pond was shot in the side and returned
home on sixty days' furlough. At Petersburg was wounded twice, not seriously.
He was never taken prisoner, and his general health was splendid. The war
closing, he taught school one year, then went to civil engineering, in
which he has been quiet successfully engaged ever since. he was married
December 13, 1865, to Miss Laura, daughter of Joseph and Mary j.
(Johnson) Tooke, of Houston County. Several times has their home been made
happy in the birth of children, as follows: Charles E., on the telegraph
corps at Macon; Lela, Thomas W., Payton, Marie L., Alma and Julia. Mrs.
Anderson is a member of the Baptist and her husband a member of the Episcopal
Church. Biographical Souvenir of the States of Georgia
and Florida. Chicago, IL: F.A. Battey & Company, 1889.
ROBERT AUGUSTUS BEALL
was born in Prince County, Maryland, November 16th 1800. His father
moved to Georgia in 1808 and settled in Warren county, where Robert was
reared. He received his education at the common schools in Warren and at
the age of 15 was sent to Raleigh, N.C. where he completed his education.
He studied law in Georgia in the office of Judge Montgomery in Augusta
and was admitted to the bar at the age of 20. He moved and practised
law in Marion, Twiggs county, in partnership with Judge Thomas Holt.
When Judge Holt was promoted to judgeship of the superior court in 1824,
Beall, by executive appointment, succeeded him as solicitor for the district.
Robert Beall was "ambitious, a man of rare genius-ardent in his temperament
and fearlessly brave, and of course had positive friends and implacable
enemies." Twiggs county politically was almost equally divided on both
sides; prominent among these were the Wimberlys and the Glenns, and every
election for every office in the gift of the people was closely contested.
"
"A foe of his ambitious as himself and quite as brave,
was Thomas Mitchell (South Carolina native) of Twiggs. At the dinner table
of Martin Harden, Beall spoke freely and bitterly of Mitchell. "
A consequence of this was a duel where two shots were exchanged, and by
the interference of friends the two uninjured duellists left the
field uninjured.
Soon after the duel, he ran for the legislature, a member
of the States Rights party, from Twiggs but was defeated by
Robert Glenn. "Before the meeting of the legislature in 1825 Moses
Fort resigned his position and Beall was elected for the position.
He was re-elected in 1826." He "moved to Macon where he had a large plantation
and slaves. Didn't do well in planting, became embarrassed with debt.
sold his plantation". His "passion for gambling was his ruin and he died
Died July 16th 1836, at age 36. Sources: W. H. Sparks, Atlanta Constitution,
6-25-1881;
ALLEN FRANKLIN BECKOM
Among the most widely known and respected of the earlier settlers of Twiggs
county stands the name of Wm. Beckom, the grandfather of the above-named
gentleman. A native of Washington county, he came to Twiggs when
quiet a young man and bought large tracts of unimproved land, all of which
he merged into one plantation. In time his possessions became very valuable,
for in addition to his landing estates, he owned numerous mercantile establishments.
Though not soliciting political favor he was largely instrumental in bestowing
the same on many of his friends, among whom were number some of Georgia's
most distinguished men. His death occurred April, 1839. His wife, who was
Miss Dolly Nusum, a member of an old and prominent family of Georgia, died
in 1829. Their family consisted of nine children: Sherwood, Amanda, Mary,
Sarah, Allen and Solomon G., all deceased. Those living are: Simon N.,
removed to Texas, 1859; Susan, Mrs. Hardin T. Smith, and Laban. The last-named,
the fourth child and twin of Sarah, is the father of Allen F. Beckom,
and was born Dec. 4, 1808, in Washington county, Ga. He was reared on the
old family plantation and received such education as the schools of that
time afforded. Like his father, he followed the occupation of planter,
and going to Twiggs county, he located on a plantation there. Married to
Sarah, daughter of John Faulk, they became the parents of the following
children: Amanda H., Mrs. Dr. Richardson; Allen F., W. H., Thomas
and Susan, who are dead. Allen F. was born in Twiggs county Dec. 23, 1837.
His school days were spent at Griffin, where he acquired a good education.
At the age of twenty-four he enlisted in James M. Folsom's company, Twiggs
volunteer infantry, but soon after active service began, illness caused
his return home. After his recovery he became a member of the state troops
and took active part in many engagements, having had command of a company
at the battle of Griswoldville. The battle was particularly fierce, many
being killed or wounded. However, good fortune attended Mr. Beckom and
he escaped without a wound. Returning from the war he settled on the plantation,
and in 1868 was united in marriage to Mrs. Ella Johnson (nee Wiggin), daughter
of Mary S. and W. W. Wiggin. One daughter came to bless the union, Ella
G. Mr. Beckom is a true democrat and a member of the M. E.church. He devotes
his entire time to the cultivation of his large plantation of 2,500 acres.
He is spoken of as one of the most successful agriculturist in the county.
Memoirs of Georgia Volume 1Historical Society of Georgia,
1895
ISAAC BROWN
"You say you have seen the old lady, the mother of (Capt.)
Isaac Brown. I never saw her but once, and that was in Twiggs county,
Ga., about the last of February, 1818. It was at her own house. I called
there to get Isaac to go with me into Florida, as I had been ordered by
General Jackson to collect as many Indians as I could and join him at Fort
Scott. Isaac had no horse that was suitable for the trip. I left my horse
with Gen. Wimberly, and we took it on foot to Fort Early, trusting to Providence
for horses after that. When we were about to leave, the old lady said,
"Isaac, my son, the Indians killed your father,
and may kill you, but I had rather hear of your being killed than to
hear that my son had acted the coward." This is all the acquaintance I
ever had with the old lady; but I have had her history from many that knew
her well. When Isaac was an infant, his father, who was a fearless man,
crossed the Oconee river near what is known as the Long Bluff. The Oconee
was then the line between the whites and Indians. Brown built him a house,
and was preparing for stock raising. He always kept on hand a number of
loaded guns and some fine dogs. One morning about daylight his dogs commenced
barking; he opened the door to look out and was shot dead by an Indian,
who had secreted himself near the house. At the report of the gun, the
Indians raised the yell. Mrs. Brown drew her lifeless husband into the
house, shut the door, and commenced firing at the Indians, and succeeded
in driving them off. They soon returned, and set fire to a board shelter
attached to the house. She climbed up the wall on the inside; and with
a basin of milk extinguished the fire; and while in the act of pouring
the milk on the fire, with her arm projecting through the log, the Indians
shot at and broke her shoulder. With one arm and the aid of a small boy,
the son of one James Harrison, she succeeded the second time in driving
the Indians away. She then escaped across the river with her children.
A company was collected and repaired to the house, and they said it had
not been a sham fight, for they found the white man in the house shot dead,
and not far from the house two dead Indians, and not far from their trail
were discovered signs as though they had been dressing wounds. Now you
can account for Isaac Brown's being a soldier as easily as to account for
Lexington and his half-brother, Lecompte, being race horses--it's in the
blood. The boy that was with Mrs. Brown, was the son of James Harrison,
who was a man of great daring and had suffered much from the Indians, and
they in return had suffered much from him. He was the man who killed the
father of the present speaker of the Creeks, Hopothleyoholo, and was known
to the Indians as Epha Tustanugga, or Dog Warrior, and to the whites as
Davy or David Cornels. Davy Cornels, I suspect, was the cause of more mischief
done to the whites by the Creek Indians than any man that ever lived in
the nation. He was troublesome during the Revolution and long after. While
Seagroves was agent, Cornels sent him word that he wished to be at peace,
and would meet him at Colerain, not a great way from St. Mary's. Seagroves
unfortunately let it be known that he was expecting a visit from Cornels.
Harrison heard of it, collected a few men, and I suspect Brown's father
among the rest. All had suffered long and much from the depredations of
Cornels and his men; they knew his path; they watched it closely, and one
day as he approached them with a white flag, Harrison killed him. So ended
the life of the most bitter enemy the whites ever had among the Creek Indians,
Sowanoka Jack excepted."
Woodward's reminiscences of the Creek or Muscogee Indians, contained
in letters to friends in Georgia and Alabama / by Thomas S. Woodward, of
Louisiana (formerly of Alabama) ; with an appendix containing interesting
matter relating to the general subject
JAMES CLEMENT
BURNS
James Clement Burns was born March 7, 1840, and died Jan. 8, 1894. He was
the son of James C. and Belle Burns. His father's death occurred in 1861,
and his mother, whose maiden name was King, died in 1869. They left four
sons and two daughters. Two of the sons, Joseph K. and Francis M. Burns
and the two daughters, Mrs. G. A. Glover, and Mrs. F. B. Floyd, still survive
them. The boyhood days of James C. Burns were passed on his father's plantation
in Twiggs county, where he received a common school education. When older
he attended school at Hot Springs, Miss. On returning home he became actively
engaged in farming on an extensive scale, and was one of the most prominent
and successful planters in Twiggs county. In 1861, Mr. Burns married Mrs.
Mary Ellen Hall, a daughter of Joseph Williams, a prominent planter of
South Carolina. To this marriage no children were born. At the time of
his death he had accumulated quite a large property, the result of a life
of honesty and industry. Though not a professed member of any church, he
lived an upright, exemplary life, ever ready to contribute liberally to
any charitable project, never turning a deaf ear to the appeals of the
poor and needy, but always acting in a liberal but unostentatious spirit;
charitable and generous to a fault; a stanch defender of the right,
and always frowning down and spurning corruptions and immorality in any
and all places. In politics he was a lifelong democrat, and took an active
interest in political matters, though he was in no way considered a politician.
His wife, two brothers and two sisters survive him. Memoirs
of Georgia Volume 1, Historical Society of Georgia, 1895
BENIAH S. CARSWELL
Jeffersonville, for many years a practicing physician of this place, who
devoted a lifetime to the amelioration of the ills of mankind, died June
1, 1895, mourned by all who were fortunate to know him. Dr. Carswell was
born in Telfair county, Ga., Nov. 26, 1830, the son of Alex. Carswell.
The latter gentleman was born and reared in Louisville, Jefferson Co.,
while the town was the capital of the state. He became a planter and later
in life moved to Twiggs county, where he died in 1853. Dr. Carswell was
but six years of age when his parents removed to Twiggs county. This was
in early days, indeed for Jeffersonville at that time had not even entered
the mind of man. The town was afterward laid out, and an academy established,
the site being called Jeffersonville in honor of a noted teacher of the
county, Jefferson Bryant. The academy was a marvel in its day. Here Dr.
Carswell was reared and educated, and selected medicine as a profession,
began its systematic study. He graduated at Jefferson Medical college,
Philadelphia, in 1851, but being conscientiously opposed to entering upon
the active practice of so important a profession as that of medicine without
thorough training, he continued his post graduate study until 1856, when
he located at a point now known as Allentown. After three years he removed
to Jeffersonville, and afterward practiced from that point. The doctor
was twice married and reared an interesting family of children of whom
he was justly proud, they having received readily and creditably an excellent
education. The doctor's first consort was Carrie C. Sears, of Allentown,
whom he married Aug. 26, 1858 while she was not yet fourteen, and who became
the mother of five children: Carrie Lela, Mrs. Jas. Evert; Eli S. (deceased);
De Witt, Twiggs county; Robert (deceased at fifteen); and Cornelia, Mrs.
Wm. Booth, Pulaski county. The mother of these children was called to her
reward Nov. 19, 1880, and on Dec. 15, 1881, Miss Mattie R. Harrell became
the doctor's wife. Although reared in the principals of whigism the doctor
bowed with the best grace possible to the inevitable and entered the democratic
party after the war, and with which he affliated until his death. Profoundly
religious from his youth, he early united with the M.E. church, of which
he was a faithful working member from his fourteenth year.
CAPT. WILLIAM
E. CARSWELL
planter, Jeffersonville. This prominent citizen of Twiggs county is a descendant
of a family always, and wherever found of wide influence and of fine character.
The above gentleman's paternal grandfather Matthew Carswell, was a native
of Jefferson county, Ga., his father before him having emigrated from Ireland.
he was a planter of large means, his chief moral characteristic having
been his intense loyalty to the Methodist church. He married and reared
five children: James, Alexander, Wm., E., Samuel M., and Sarah. Of these
Wm. E. was the father of Capt. Carswell. He was born in Jefferson county
in 1807m received a superior education for those early times, and was from
many years a prominent educator in his section. He married Elizabeth J.
Gilbert of Wilkinson county, who bore him five children: John, Rufus, Eugenia,
James, and W.E., four of whom died in infancy. William E. Carswell was
a man of fine intellect and during his lifetime accumulated a fine property.
He was in political belief a disciple of Henry Clay, and a devoted member
of the Missionary Baptist church. He died in Wilkinson county, where he
had passed his life, in 1887. Capt. William Edward Carswell was the youngest
child and was born Nov. 5, 1836, in Wilkinson county. He was educated at
Jeffersonville academy, and has passed his life as a planter. In 1861,
he enlisted in the Carswell guards, a company so called in honor of his
father, who equipped them at his own expense. Third lieutenant at the outset,
promotion soon came to him and he led the company as its chief officer
during the major part of the war, participating in a number of engagements,
and received several serious wounds. The principal engagements were Malvern
hill, Roan station, Gettysburg, where he received a ball in his left
leg. Petersburg, where he was wounded, Sharpsburg, Cold harbor, Wilderness,
Chancellorsville, and many minor engagements. His marriage was consummated
while on furlough in 1863, Dec. 16, with Miss Anna, daughter of John Chapman,
of Twiggs county. He located in Twiggs county after the surrender, but
soon returned to Wilkinson, where he remained until 1875, when he settled
on the plantation he now cultivates. This consist of 1,200 acres of choice
land, which, together with his other real estate interests will aggregate
thousands of acres. A democrat, but not a politician, Capt. Carswell affiliates
in religion with the New Providence Baptist church. A large and interesting
family of children have been and are being reared about his hearthstone,
in whom the captain feels a just pride. Their names are: Eugenia, married;
Laura L.; Mattie M.; Mrs. Dr. W. A. Daniel, state physician during Gov.
Northen's administration; Anna T.; Iverson C.; Elizabeth; Wm. R.; and William
E., Jr., deceased. Memoirs of Georgia Volume 1Historical
Society of Georgia, 1895
WILLIAM A. DAVIS
Hon. William A. Davis, senior member of Davis
& Balkcom, warehousemen and general grocers, was born in Bibb County,
Ga., April 4, 1847. The Davis Family is descended from John Davis, Sr.,
who came from England in an early day-married a widow by the name of McCormick,
and subsequently took part in the Revolutionary war, being killed in the
battle of Brandywine. John Davis, Jr., his son, was at the time of this
battle two years of age. Some years later he married Miss Rebecca Jones
of Virginia. They moved to Burke County, Ga., in 1800, where his son, Judge
Elisha Davis, the father of William A. Davis, was born in 1805. From Burke
he moved to Twiggs County in 1815, being one of the old pioneer settlers
of his adopted county. Mr. Davis was a planter and a man of great influence.
He represented his county in the legislature at Milledgeville in 1856,
and was judge of the superior court for many years. In 1834 he married
Miss Mazie G. Parker. a native of Twiggs County, Ga. This lady, the mother
of our subject, is still living, a devoted member of the Baptist Church,
at the advance age of seventy-two years. Her people were from North Carolina.
They moved to Twiggs County in 1816. Judge Davis's death occurred in 1866,
at the age of sixty years. He also represented the faith and doctrines
of the Baptist Church. These parents had nine children: Benjamin F., deceased;
John N., Gilbert M.., Rosa V., now Mrs B. T. Ray; Cordelia, deceased; William
A.. Robert E., died at the age of twenty-two years; David P., died at the
age of two years, and Mollie, now wife of Rev. G. W. Tharp. Three of the
brothers served in the late war, John N., served for a time as a private
in the Bibb Cavalry, and subsequently was transferred to another command.
He was a good soldier, brave and true. Gilbert M. commanded the Bibb cavalry
and surrendered with the same. He served the entire time; was in every
battle in which the command was engaged; was an excellent soldier, and
was never known to shrink from duty, or to be absent in time of engagement.
William A., enlisted at the age of sixteen, and served more that two years.
He served with the Georgia regulars - cavalry; was in the battles of Mission
Ridge, Chickamauga, and in all the Atlanta campaign. Neither of the brothers
was wounded or taken prisoner.
William A., our subject, received his education
in Twiggs County, his instructor being J. E. Crossland, who had a reputation
second to only one as the best teacher in the State. He began business
as a planter at the early age of nineteen years. About the time his father's
death occurred, and our subject was appointed the administrator (though
under age) at the urgent request of the other members of the family, and
by appointment of the court of ordinary. The estate was encumbered
to the amount of $10,000. He could have taken advantage (and was expected
to do so) of the homestead relief law, but this, though urged even by his
creditors, he refused to do. It took several years of very nice work and
good management to accomplish this, but he paid every dollar of the indebtedness;
thus releasing the moral as well as the legal obligation. In this transaction
he kept in view the maxim of Edwards, which was. "Money is an essential
element of power. Character is the means of obtaining money from others
when we have it not of our own. Character, therefore, is capital, and the
loss of it is the most disastrous species of bankruptcy, since it may find
us unable to help ourselves, and destitute of the means of
obtaining help from others." At the age of twenty-nine he was elected to
the State legislature. Here it may be said in all truth that his official
services were efficient, and in harmony with his well known principles
of fidelity to a public trust. He served on term and declined re-election.
He has been alderman of the city for six years (three terms of two years
each), the last two terms receiving the largest vote. The last time he
received more votes that any man ever received for the same office in this
city. For four years he has served as mayor pro tem. In his six years as
alderman he has missed but four meetings, and then because he was absent
from the city. He has also represented the city in minor positions.
He has represented the county in the State Agricultural Association, of
which he is now a member. He was married in 1869 to Miss Mary R. Summers,
daughter of J. W. and Susan (Barlow) Summers, of Laurens County, Ga. Mrs.
William A. Davis was educated at Auburn, near Lewiston, Me. Her father,
J. W. Summers, was a native of Georgia. He was a successful planter, and
a person of character and influence. The children of William A. and Mary
R. Davis are: Hattie, who is now a senior at the Wesleyan College; Edwin,
who is in the preparatory department at Mercer; Mabel and Gussie. Mr. Davis
is senior warden in the Blue Lodge; king in the Chapter; senior warden
in the Scottish Rites Masons, and has been generalissimo of the Knights
Templar order. He was also first vice-president of the Public Library and
Historical Association. Mr. and Mrs. Davis are member of the Baptist Church,
the former being a deacon in the same for several years. Mr. Davis is classed
among the honest, responsible, well-to-do business men of the city. He
has an enviable reputation in good character and square dealing. Biographical
Souvenir of the States of Georgia and Florida. Chicago, IL: F.A. Battey
& Company, 1889.
JARED SANDERS DENNARD.
MISSIONARY TO AFRICA.
"The author acknowledges his indebtedness to Mr. John Smith, father-in-law
of Mr. Dennard, for the use of papers and letters which are of inestimable
value to his family, and which are, of themselves, exceedingly interesting.
Among these is a sketch by Rev. A. T. Holmes, D. D., of which he makes
free use, as if written by himself. No man was better qualified for the
task than Dr. Holmes.
The subject of this notice was born in Twiggs county, Georgia, October
28, 1818, where he was educated in an excellent academy, under Mr. Milton
Wilder. In 1834, he removed with his parents to Houston county, and
soon joined a company of volunteers, raised to protect the settlements
from hostile Indians. He served as a soldier about three months, and secured
the confidence of his companions by his fearless and manly deportment.
On his return home, after spending some months without any positive employment,
he studied law under Kelly & Rice, in Perry, and was admitted to the
bar July, 1839. He continued the practice of law about five years, and
his friends were encouraged to hope that he would distinguish himself in
the honorable profession which he had chosen. But "He who worketh all things
after the counsel of his own will," and who makes kings, as well as soldiers
and lawyers, his willing subjects in the day of his power, had other and
more important work for him to do. Some time in the spring of 1845 he was
made to feel that he was a guilty sinner. Under his deep convictions, he
mingled with the people of God and listened to the preaching of the gospel
as one who felt that he had a special interest in the glad tidings which
it proclaims. In good earnest he sought the forgiveness of sin through
the blood of Christ, and was soon enabled to rejoice in an humble hope
of peace with God.
In the commencement of his christian career, he seemed to realize, in
a peculiar manner, the spirit of the Apostle, and his inquiry was, "Lord,
what wilt thou have me to do?" To submit to the authority of his Divine
Master, to obey his commands,
and to consecrate himself to his service, seemed to constitute the
spirit of his religion. He took a high position at once as a christian,
and secured fellowship with the people of God, as one whose elevated [elavated]
purpose was to adorn the Saviour's doctrine, and to walk worthy of his
high vocation. He was baptized by Dr. Holmes some time in the month of
October, 1845, and soon thereafter, yielding to his convictions of duty,
he engaged in the important work of the christian ministry. His knowledge
of theology being quite limited, and being desirous of showing himself
"approved unto God, a workman that need not to be ashamed," he became a
diligent and prayerful student of the scriptures. It soon became obvious
that he had entered upon the study of this Book of books with the full
conviction that it contained the will of God respecting himself and those
among whom he expected to labor. With childlike simplicity he sat at the
feet of the Great Teacher and learned of Him, and as he learned, he taught.
In December, 1846, he was ordained, at the request of the Baptist church
at Perry, and entered at once upon the work of an evangelist.
After spending two years in closing up his business as a lawyer, he
left the State of Georgia and settled in Alabama, when he abandoned the
legal profession and devoted himself exclusively to the work of the ministry.
He was soon called to the watchcare of four churches, his connection with
which was characterized by prayerful faithfulness not only to them, but
also to the unconverted of their congregations, for while he fed the flock
of God, he manifested deep concern for the salvation of sinners. He continued
in the service of these churches about three years, during which time they
prospered greatly. From the time of his conversion, however, he had been
impressed it was his duty to bear the news of salvation to benighted Africa.
These impressions finally ripened into a fixed resolve, and he set about
in earnest making the necessary preparation. It was believed that married
men stood a better chance of success in that field, and, finding in Miss
Frances Smith, daughter of John M. and Nancy H. Smith, one of
kindred views on the subject of missions, and one whom he believed would
prove an "help-meet" to him indeed, he sought her hand in marriage. The
following extracts from a letter to her father are expressive of
his views and feelings on this subject: "For years the subject has been
impressed upon my mind in such a manner as to make me dissatisfied in every
situation in which I have been placed, and often to make me unhappy, I
reasoned upon the subject in this way: Our blessed Lord and Master commands
us to 'go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.'
The benighted heathens are God's creatures--for them a Saviour has died.
They have never heard the gospel. Under the command of Christ, it is the
duty of somebody to go and preach it to them. Why is it not my duty as
well as that of any one else? Who can determine this solemn and important
question? Can relations or friends do it? Can they think and feel as I
think and feel on this vastly important subject? Can they come in as judge
between me and my God, and decide what is my duty? Will that release me
from the obligations I owe to Christ, who says to me, and to all who would
follow him, 'If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother,
and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life
also, he cannot be my disciple.' 'He that loveth father or mother more
than me, is not worthy of me; and he that loveth son or daughter more than
me, is not worthy of me.' Are they prepared to make an impartial decision?
Who, then, was to decide this question? I, and I only, could decide it.
I have decided it, prayerfully and rightly, I trust. Go I must, whatever
the cost may be."
Mr. Dennard then proceeded to apply the same course of argument in the
case of Mr. Smith's daughter, who, it would seem, had consented to become
his wife and accompany him to Africa, provided her parents would give their
consent. What it cost them to give that consent, may be imagined but not
described. It was given, however, and they were united in marriage on the
19th of June, 1853. Having received an appointment from the Foreign Mission
Board at Richmond, they sailed for Africa, from Boston, via England, on
the steamer Niagara, on the 6th of July following, and arrived at Lagos
the 29th of August. The following brief extracts from letters from him
and his wife afford some idea of their feelings. The first is from him,
and is dated July 7th:
"We are now at sea. We sailed from Boston at twelve o'clock on yesterday.
We could not but feel a little sorrowful as our native land receded from
our sight. Tears gathered in our eyes and rolled down our cheeks when we
thought of those whom we love so well, that are far away from us, and every
moment now widening the distance between us. This feeling of sorrow was
only momentary. We thought of the high and holy mission in which we are
engaged. We thought of dark, benighted Africa, and her millions who are
perishing for want of the bread of life! And as we thus thought, we could
adopt as our own the sentiments of the hymn--"
Yes, we hasten from you gladly,
From the scenes we loved so well:
Far away ye billows bear us--
Lovely, native land, farewell. etc.
The following is from Mrs. Dennard, and is dated"
Lagos, Africa, September 7, 1853.
"Dear Sister:--We are now at the house of Mr. Golmer, a missionary of
the Church of England. We came to his house immediately upon landing, which
was on the 29th of last month. Your brother and myself were very unwell
then, and have been quite sick since, but are now fast improving. Indeed,
I think I may safely say my health is better than when I left home. Our
friends here think we are well prepared for the climate. I am sorry to
say we may be detained here for several weeks, owing to the hostility of
one of the kings, who is trying to make war with the Lagos people; so we
can't go any farther until peace is made. We have met with kind friends
wherever we have been.
They were detained at Lagos only a short time, however, as the following
extracts will show:"
Abbeokuta, September 19, 1853.
"My Dear Parents:--Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ, the father of mercies, and the God of all comfort, we arrived at
this place in safety Friday. It is in the interior of Africa, and about
seventy-five miles from the coast. The population is estimated at between
fifty and seventy-five thousand.
It seems to be a city of rocks. There are in view of the place where
we are staying two high hills, which are almost mountains of solid granite.
The name Abbeokuta means under a rock. We do not intend to establish a
station here, but go farther into the interior.
Fannie and I have both had an attack of African fever. I was attacked
the night before we left the ship, and she the next day, before we reached
the shore; but on landing, we were met by kind christian friends, Mr. and
Mrs. Golmer, Episcopal missionaries at Lagos, at whose house we staid until
we recovered, which was about a week. Our sickness was short but severe.
Fannie seems to have entirely recovered from it; I am yet feeble.
From Lagos to this place we had quite a romantic trip. All our company,
together with our baggage, came up the river Ogin in canoes, rowed by the
people. We were three days on the river, camping every night upon its banks.
Everything was new and strange to us. The large, tall trees, the thick
undergrowth called the bush, so thick in some places that it would seem
impossible for a rabbit to penetrate it; the rich and luxuriant vines,
that hang over the banks of the river; the monkeys, parrots and various
other beautiful birds, all so different from anything we had ever seen
before, made it exceedingly interesting to us.
As far as we have seen the people, we are much pleased with them, and
entertain great hopes of being useful to them. We have many evidences that
God has prepared them for the reception of the gospel, and that thousands
of them are now ready and waiting to hear the glad tidings of salvation.
Ethiopia is stretching forth her hands unto God. Fannie and I are happy,
and it is cause of exceeding great joy to us that God, in His infinite
mercy, has chosen us to bear an humble part in the great work of regenerating
Africa, and our daily prayer is that he would qualify us for it and make
us just such missionaries as he will own and bless.
He seems not to have remained long at Abbeokuta. It was deemed necessary
that one of the missionaries should locate at Lagos, in order that regular
communication might be kept up with the missionaries in the interior, and
that supplies might be forwarded to them. For this purpose he returned
to the latter place. How long he had been there before the death of his
wife, is unknown to the author, but it could not have been long. Intelligence
of this mournful event was communicated to her parents in the following
sentences:"
Lagos, January 21st, 1854.
"My Dear Parents:--Your dear daughter is dead. She died in this place
on the 4th day of this month, after an illness of nine days. Her disease
was nearer the yellow fever than any that I know of. I suppose it was a
very malignant case of what is termed African fever. She was not very sick
until the fifth day. In the morning of that day she seemed to be clear
of fever, and was so well that, about ten or eleven o'clock, she got up
and dressed. She sat down on the side of the bed and complained of being
chilly. She lay down and drew a little covering over herself. She soon
commenced shivering, and I discovered she had a severe ague. I threw some
blankets over her. She told me her hands and feet were very cold--so cold
that she could not move her fingers and toes. I felt of them, and they
were as cold and stiff as death. I was afraid she was then dying. I applied
stimulants to them, and while I was rubbing her feet, she exclaimed, 'Oh!
I shall die! If I die now, my race will be a short one.' In a few minutes
the ague passed off, her hands and feet became warm, and was followed by
a burning fever--such a fever as is known only in this climate. She soon
became delirious, and remained so, except at short intervals, until her
death. Soon in the morning of the day on which she died, as I was sitting
on the bed beside her, she opened her eyes and looked at me with a natural
smile on her countenance, and said, 'How pleasant I feel; I believe I shall
not die.' I asked her if she had thought she would die. She replied, she
had thought so all the time. I asked her why she had not told me. She answered,
'I knew it would distress you so much.' Immediately after speaking these
words, she again fell into that sleepy, delirious state in which she had
been for the last four days. About ten o'clock I had her placed in a warm
bath. This revived her very much. She seemed, for a while, to come entirely
to her senses. I sat down beside her and took hold of her hand. She squeezed
mine, and said, 'Oh!
my dear, sweet, precious husband!' I soon discovered she was again
sinking. Her mind again wandered, and she remained in that condition until
she died, which mournful event occurred that evening, about five o'clock.
Her body now rests in Mr. Golmer's graveyard; her spirit is with Christ.
After giving expression to the most pathetic and heart-rending lamentations
over his great loss, he proceeds: "I do not regret coming here; I have
never regretted it. At one time there arose in my mind something like a
thought of regret. I think it was the third day after we arrived here.
The night before we left the steamer I was attacked with the fever, and
next day, before we reached the shore, (we had above five miles to go in
a boat from the steamer to the shore,) she was also attacked. And while
we were sick at Mr. Golmer's, both in the same room, she on one side and
I on the other--neither of us able to assist the other--once, when I was
looking at her, I, for a moment, regretted our coming here; but it was
for a moment only. My mind was immediately directed to Calvary, and there
I beheld our blessed Saviour nailed to the cross--hanging, groaning, bleeding
and dying. My heart was melted with love, my soul was made glad, and I
rejoiced that he had called us to the high privilege of suffering for his
sake. While I live, I desire to live for Christ."
The reader will please bear in mind that the foregoing sentiments were
expressed by Dennard only two weeks after he had closed the eyes of his
youthful and lovely wife with his own hands in "the dark land of Ham,"
and consigned her precious remains to the earth. And yet he does not regret
having undertaken the mission, and still retains the desire to live for
Christ. What an instance of moral heroism! What an illustration of the
power of christian faith! He "endured as seeing Him who is invisible."
Mr. Dennard seems to have remained at Lagos, after the death of his
wife, until late in the following spring, when we hear of him again at
Abbeokuta. Only two or three letters were received from him at the latter
place, when his death is reported by Rev. T. J. Bowen, under date of June
24th. He says: "Brother Dennard is dead. He was attacked with severe fever
on the 7th instant. After being considered entirely out of danger, he was
seized again on the 17th, and expired next day. During his illness, he
was carefully attended to, not only by the missionaries, but also by an
excellent physician, Dr. Levine, of the Royal Navy. He died in the faith.
I may add, also, that he died at his post, like a good soldier of the cross.
I arrived here to-day, having come to look after brother Dennard's affairs,
and to employ an agent to forward supplies to Ijaye." Thus did his sun
go down at noon-day. Though he was not permitted to accomplish all for
Africa which he had purposed and desired, yet he had obeyed what he conceived
to be the call of God, "and it was accounted unto him for righteousness."
As Bowen says, "he died at his post." He fell with his armor on, and with
his face to the foe. The Master said to him, "It is enough--come up higher."
"Well done, good and faithful servant; enter thou into the joys of thy
Lord!"
In person, Mr. Dennard was rather under the medium size; his countenance
was exceedingly pleasant and benign, but indicated stability of character
and fixedness of purpose; in manners, he was affable, calm and dignified.
Altogether, he was a most interesting character, and when his death was
announced, the saints "made great lamentation over him."
Mrs. Frances Dennard was born in Upson county, Georgia, the 24th
of August, 1833, and was baptized by Rev. C. C. Willis, at Harmony church,
Muscogee county, in August, 1847, in the fourteenth year of her age. Though
so young, her friends had great confidence in her piety. From the time
she embraced the Saviour as her hope and salvation, she felt a strong desire
to devote her life to the missionary work, and to the day of her marriage
with Mr. Dennard, she devoted herself to the preparation of her mind and
heart for this glorious undertaking. With the chosen companion of her toils
and sufferings, she sleeps in peace beyond the ocean. Having aided in lighting
the torch that is to shine brighter and brighter upon benighted Africa,
they rest from their labors in obedience to the command of Him who sent
them forth, and who will, in due time, supply their places with others."
Source: Campbell, Jesse H. (Jesse Harrison), 1807-1888
Georgia Baptists : historical and biographical / by J. H. Campbell
IRA E. DUPREE
a prominent physician of Twiggs county, comes of excellent lineage, of
French extraction, and of a family conspicuous for estimable social and
mental characteristics. His father, Ira E., Sr., was born in Washington
county, Ga., April 26, 1800. Not having the advantages of a good school
he yet applied himself with such assiduity as to perfect himself in several
languages, being able to converse fluently in French, German and Latin.
Strange to say, he also became noted as a mathematician, two branches in
which one mind very seldom becomes proficient. he studied medicine, and
in a continuous practice from 1825 to 1869 became widely and most favorable
known. He too great interest in public questions and was a great admirer
and defender of the principles of the great commoner, henry Clay. He was
elected to the senate in 1860, and in that body was the opponent of Joshua
Hill for congress. A dead-lock ensued, which was at last broken by one
vote, giving the election to his opponent. he was for many years the president
of the State Medical association, a fact which evidences the value set
upon him by his peers. He was a man of superior oratorical attainments,
of most commanding presence, standing six feet two inches in his stocking
feet and weighed 220 pounds. He died March 17, 1869 after a long
and well spent life. His life was complemented rightly by the presence
of a noble woman, Miss Travis Bryan, who was a daughter of John C. Bryan,
a prominent member of the state legislature of North Carolina. She bore
him children as follows:, and died June 9, 1885: Ellen, now Mrs. M. J.
Carswell, of Irvington, Ga. (sp); James, a leading attorney and ex-member
of the state legislature at Macon,; Mattie, who became the wife of H. A.
Snetting, of Atlanta; and Dr. Ira E. This last named gentleman was born
Oct. 20, 1854. At twenty he was graduated from the Louisville Medical college,
immediately after which he returned home and established himself in Twiggs
county, where he rapidly gained in reputation, and built up a practice
limited only by his powers of physical endurance. Ambitious of being a
complete master of his profession he went to New York in 1884 and attended
a course at the Post Graduate Medical school in that city; and in 1889
attended a course at and was graduated from the New York Polyclinic. With
his early and subsequent equipment he has practised his profession for
twenty-three years in a rural region, and had the rare success of accumulating
a fortune. He is now located at Danville, where he also cultivates a large
plantation. The doctor was happily married to Fannie C., daughter of Dr.
Richard D. Moore, of Athens, Ga., to whom have been born two bright children:
Daniel Hughes, and Elliott Moore. In the matter of religion the household
is somewhat divided, the doctor being a Baptist, while his wife is an Episcopalian.
Though not a politician, the doctor takes a lively interest in the welfare
of the democratic party, which elicits his hearty support. Memoirs
of Georgia Volume 1,Historical Society of Georgia, 1895
WILLIAM GUERRY
William B. Guerry was born in Twiggs County,
Ga., April 21, 1820. His father, James Guerry, was born in South Carolina,
moved to Georgia in the early part of this century and settled in Baldwin
County, and afterwards removed to Twiggs County, where he died in about
1831. He was by occupation a farmer and one of the most substantial in
his day. His wife, Mary Michau, was born in South Carolina. She bore him
eleven children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the youngest. He
and one brother, T. L. Guerry, are now the only surviving members of the
family. Our subject was brought up in Twiggs and Muscogee counties, and
in early life lived on the farm. In 1841 he commenced to read law with
Alfred Iverson and his brother, Jacob M. Guerry, of Columbus, Ga., and
in a short time was admitted to the bar, and in the fall of the same year
moved to Americus and began the practice of his profession, which he has
continued ever since excepting a few years devoted to teaching, and is
one of the oldest members of the bar in southwest Georgia. In 1845 he was
elected judge of the inferior court and served several years, and then
was judge of the district court for some time, and was also county solicitor
of Sumter County. From 1855 to 1860 he edited the Southwestern News, a
Democratic organ, which at that day had a good circulation, and was one
of the leading papers of south-western Georgia. At the outbreak of the
war he joined the Confederate army and served with Cutt's artillery for
a short time as sergeant. During and after the war hew as professor in
the Furlow Female College, then located at Americus. In 1862 he served
in the State senate as journalizing clerk. He is a man that stands well
in his profession, and is well thought of by all. January 29, 1846, he
was married to Miss Sara A., a daughter of Thomas H. and Martha R. (Miller)
Dixon. To this union were born eleven children, viz: Thomas L., Du Pont,
William R., Carrie M., Augustus G., Ellen B., Mary R., ALice, Homer, Edgar
and Edna (twins).
In the presidential election of 1860 he actively participated
in the canvass in favor of Douglas and Johnson, being a member of the State
executive committee and alternate elector on the Douglas electoral ticket.
Biographical
Souvenir of the States of Georgia and Florida. Chicago, IL: F.A. Battey
& Company, 1889.
HON. WILLIAM HARRISON
(Quitman Co.)
of Georgetown, Ga., was born in Twiggs County, Ga., March 4, 1829, and
is the eighth of ten children born to James and Temperance (Brown) Harrison.
His father, born in North Carolina in 1787, settled in Twiggs County, Ga.,
in 1811, and was by occupation a farmer and for many years sheriff of Twiggs
County. In 1835 he purchased land in what is now Quitman County, and settled
on the same in 1838, where he died September 10, 1870, He was always a
prominent man in his county, and was for more that forty years a deacon
in the Baptist Church. His wife, Temperance Brown, was born in what is
now Washington County, Ga., in Teller Fort in 1791, and died June 20, 1864.
William Harrison was reared and educated in Twiggs County.
In 1837 he came with his parents to what is now Quitman County and remained
until 1859, when he removed to Louisiana and in 1861 joined the Confederate
army as a private with a Louisiana cavalry company. He afterward organized
the Sixth Louisiana cavalry, and was colonel of the regiment, in which
capacity he served until the close of the war. He then returned to his
old home in Georgia, where he has resided ever since. He studied law when
young, but was not admitted to the bar until after the war. He has given
his attention to the legal profession every since; also carries on farming
on a large scale and is one of the representative men of Quitman County,
Ga. In 1874-75-76 he represented his county in the Georgia legislature,
and in 1877-78-79 was in the State senate from his district. In 1884 he
was again elected to the legislature, and was re-elected in 1886. July
8, 1847, he was married to Miss Eugenia M. Crawford, daughter of Rev. William
L. and Artemisia (Zachary) Crawford, of Columbia County, Ga. She
bore him seven children, viz: William C., Cora M., James, Mary E., John
P., Eugenia C. and William.
WILLIAM JOEL HARRISON
farmer and state senator from Twiggs county where he was born Jan. 17,
1841, is the eldest son of Zachariah Harrison. He was reared on a plantation
and had just reached manhood's estate when the great civil war broke out
between the states. he enlisted as a private in capt. Jas. Folsom's company,
Company C, Fourth Georgia regiment, and left for the front in the latter
part of April, 1861. His first serious engagements were at the seven days'
fight about Richmond, after which he participated in most of the hard-fought
battles engaged in by the army of Virginia: Fredericksburg, Antietam,
South Mountain (where he received a wound Sept. 7, 1862, crushing the right
shoulder), Chancellorsville (where his clothing was riddled with balls,
and where he received a saber wound across the forehead), Gettysburg, Hagerstown,
Mine Run and the Wilderness. In this latter battle he received two severe
wounds in the same leg at the same instant, which disabled him from further
service, he having to use crutches the remainder of the war, and from which,
indeed, he has never fully recovered. Like thousands of brave soldier boys,
Mr. Harrison at the end of the war found himself penniless and with a shattered
constitution to take up the battle for bread. But with that dauntless spirit
exhibited on many a battlefield he took hold with a will and gradually
gathered the competency which now makes him comfortable. He has always
confined his attention to agricultural pursuits, and now cultivates a 500-acre
plantation, well stocked and housed. Mr. Harrison has manifested a keen
interest in the interests of the democratic party, and in season and out
has given it his hearty and intelligent support. This service was rewarded
in 1891 with an election to the legislature to fill an unexpired term and
by re-election for the full term in 1892. In 1894 he was elected to the
senate. The marriage of Mr. Harrison and Georgia Ann Martin, daughter of
W. J. and Mary F., was solemnized in Twiggs county Oct. 5, 1865. But one
child resulted from this union - a daughter - Mary, who lived but three
years. The Harrison family is from North Carolina, where Zachariah Harrison
was born and reared near Smithfield. Elizabeth, daughter of Hardy Avery,
became his wife, and in 1832 they removed to Wilkinson county, Ga., locating
near Gordon. Subsequently they moved over into Twiggs, where they lived
out a useful life, the father dying in 1852, and the mother in 1857. The
living children are: Wm. Joel, Zachariah, Richard L., Frances-Mrs. W. J.
Hardison and Mrs. Stevens. Mr. Harrison is a man of genial social qualities
and has that intelligent apprehension of the questions before the public
which secures to him the suffrages of his people whenever he comes before
them. He is unquestionably one of Twigg's best citizens. Memoirs
of Georgia Volume 1, Historical Society of Georgia, 1895
DUDLEY M. HUGHES
Any mention of the leading men of middle Georgia would be incomplete without
a sketch of this stirring and successful promoter, for such he must be
known to an appreciative posterity. Col. Hughes is probably best known
in connection with the successful engineering of the M. D. & S. railroad
to completion, though he has been equally as active in other lines. To
him is due a large amount of the favorable advertising his section has
received as a fruit-growing country, and his efforts have secured a large
amount of the northern capital which of late years has been so liberally
invested in middle Georgia. In connection with his duties as vice-president
of the M.D. & S. railroad, it is due him to say that while he has placed
this new institution on a firm basis, he is also actively interested in
a large naval store and turpentine farm in Laurens county, a 1,200-acre,
90,000 fruit orchard and has at his home at Danville station, Twiggs Co.,
a large and thrifty nursery. As a promoter and general hustler, Col. Hughes
has few equals. He is a very thorough business man and a gentleman whose
social qualities make him deservedly popular. He is the son of Daniel G.
Hughs and was born Oct. 10, 1848, in Twiggs county. His youth was passed
on his father's plantation, his education being received in the country
schools and later at the university of Georgia, Athens. he began his business
life in 1870 and has since conducted large agricultural interests. Nov.
25, 1873, he wedded Mary Frances, daughter of Capt. Hugh L. Dennard, mention
of whom is made elsewhere. Three children have come to their home:
Hugh Lawson, Daniel G., Jr., and Hennie Lou, all of whom are living.
Memoirs
of Georgia Volume 1, Historical Society of Georgia,
1895
Atlanta Constitution
August 18, 1901
Hon. Dudley Hughes new Head State Agricultural Society
by F. J. Merriam (excerpt)
Coming away from the convention on the train from Thomasville
Friday morning, I talked with many of the most influential members of the
Georgia State Agricultural Society. The general feeling was one of congratulations
on the course which events had taken, culminating in the election of the
Hon. Dudley M. Hughes for president. The society had safely passed a critical
point in its history and was destined to take on a new lease of life, in
spite of the croakers who had predicted its dissolution.
Dudley Hughes was the man for the place. He was a successful
and progressive farmer, having cleared from his farming operations as much
as $5,000 a year. He was a believer in business methods on the farm and
carried them out rigidly on his own plantation. His example was worthy
of imitation and it was fitting and right that such a man should stand
at the head of the State Agricultural Society to point out the way of agricultural
progress to the farmers of Georgia.
Dudley Hughes is a native Georgia. He was born in 1848
on his father's plantation in Twiggs county, and at an early age he developed
a fondness for the grand pursuit of agriculture. He was a schoolmate of
Henry Grady's and during his stay at the university was in the class with
Chancellor Walter B. Hill, Hon. Charles L. Bartlett, Hon. Nat Harris, Washington
Dessau, Hon. Walter butts and the Hon. W.A. Broughton. His inclination,
however was not toward a classical education. He had a constant longing
to get back on the farm, and so in the early spring in the second term
of his senior year he left college and went to work for his grandfather
on his large plantation. Here he worked one year, when the old gentleman,
seeing his evident taste for farming, gave him $1,000 to start in life
for himself. With this he purchased a plantation in Twiggs county
and set to work to demonstrate what business methods and energy could do
on the farm.
From that time on his progress has been steady and
substantial. In 1882 he was elected to the state senate, but his ambition
has never been for political honors. From time to time he has added more
land to that first acquired. Substantial farm buildings have been erected,
a system of telephone communication connects his home with his various
plantations. Over this he received reports twice daily of what is
being done and what has been accomplished; over the telephone he also give
his orders, and then he mounts his horse and is off to see that things
are running smoothly.
Mr. Hughes is strongly in favor of diversified agriculture
and believes every farmer should raise his home supplies as far as possible.
His policy he carries out on his own plantation, especially on his wages
farm, where he grows oats, corn, wheat, rye, potatoes, hogs and cattle.
he is thus in a position to supply his croppers, who raise principally
cotton, with their provisions. He is interesting himself largely in fruit
growing, and has at present several very large peach orchards.
Mr. Hughes has had wonderful success in the management
of his farm help. He has never suffered for the want of sufficient labor
to carry on his operations, and never in the history of his farming has
one of the negroes on his plantations been sent to the chaingang or given
him any serious trouble.
At the death of his grandfather, he came into possession
of a large tract of timber land in Laurens county. It lay 20 miles from
any railroad, and in order to develop the country and utilize the timber
he projected the Macon and Dublin railroad, of which he is now vice president.
This railroad, which they are now extending toward Savannah to connect
with the Seaboard Air Line, they expect to have completed by the 1st of
October.
LODRICK MATHEWS
JONES
Lodrick Mathews Jones, son of thomas H. and Martha Tharp
Jones, was born in Twiggs County, Georgia, April 28, 1850. He grew to manhood
on his father's plantation, was educated in the country schools and later
attended Mercer University. After leaving the University, he taught in
the public schools of Twiggs county, and at the same time studied medicine
under Dr. William O'Daniel, in preparation for his chosen work.
He graduated from the Atlanta Medical College in
1878, and from then until 1883 engaged in a general medical practice in
Wilkinson County. In 1883 he was assistant physician at the Georgia State
Sanitarium, in which capacity he served until 1907, when he was made Superintendent
of the Sanitarium He served this institution faithfully and efficiently
until his death on December 7, 1922. History of Baldwin
County, Anna Maria Green Cook.
ANDREW J. LAMB
physician and surgeon, Cochran, Ga., was born May 10, 1835. His parents
were Reuben and Elizabeth (Rause) Lamb, natives of Roberson County, N.C.,
who came to Georgia in 1805 and settled in Twiggs County. His father, a
farmer, was in the Seminole war one year as a private, and was consulted,
being a prominent man, on all matters of arbitration. Both parents were
members of the Primitive Baptist Church. The father died in 1852, aged
fifty-four, and the mother died in 1846, aged forty-seven. The parents
had eleven children, namely: J.M., who died from sickness in the trenches
of Atlanta in 1864, at the age of forty-five; Willis F., who died of diphtheria
after a sickness of twelve hours, in 1855, aged thirteen; Mary E., wife
of Jacob Gainer, died in 1867, aged forty-three years; Floyd, living in
Dodge County; Carrie, wife of Turner Cooley, died at the age of fifty-nine
years; Nancy, wife of Daniel Johnson, died at the age of thirty-three years;
Henry, deceased at five years; George W., killed in 1863 by the bursting
of a gun at New Berne, N.C., in a repulse, at thirty years of age; subject;
Thomas L., who married Matilda Roberts, who died in 1860, he lives in New
Mexico; Sarah E., married H. C. Newman, who died in 1876, aged thirty-two
years.
Our subject began studying medicine at the
age of twenty-two, and graduated at the Georgia Medical College - class
of 1860. He prospected one year, and enlisted April 14, 1861, in the Fourth
Georgia regiment of infantry. He was on detail service most of the time
until January, 1862, and was one of two (and the only ones in the company)
who volunteered to go on board the Merrimac. He was there wounded
when she was sunk by the Monitor in the battle of Hampton Roads. He was
disabled from March 8 to May 1, and was detailed in the Naval Hospital
with Dr. Hurty during the seven days' fight around Richmond. He returned
to the command at Drewry's Bluff, and staid with the them until volunteers
were called by Lieut. Wood to form an expedition, and was with him in the
capture of the "Reliance," and the "Underwriter." on the Rappahannock,
in 1863. He next volunteered in Capt. Rochelles' boarding expedition, and
went with him to Charleston and blew up the "Old Ironsides" and "Columbia,"
and served on picket for nearly a year between Morris Island and Fort Sumter
during the siege. The doctor was with a detachment of 300 that took
command of Battery Pringle on Stony Point river in 1864, and prevented
the Yankees from taking Charleston when the troops were withdrawn from
there to reinforce Lee. He remained at Charleston until January 11,
1865, then went to Fort Fisher, the Grenada of the South and the last stronghold
of the C.S.A. He was in that memorable bombardment in a detachment under
Capt. Calm with Dr. Evert, which last ten days. There were 300 in the detachment.
Of these 150 waded in the surf up to their necks and flanked Gen. Schofield
and got into Fort Powell, thence in boats to Smithfield, thence to battery
Campbell, and held that from January to February 11, 1865. He was a Wilmington
at the time of the surrender. he was in the service from April 14, 1861,
to May 5, 1865, except forty days on furlough from a wound. He was never
taken prisoner. he was under fire for three years, during which time he
never spent a night without seeing shell.
The doctor was a brave, patriotic, lion-hearted soldier.
No braver man than he ever faced shot and shell. He is a patriot, but never
in an unseemly manner claimed credit for the performance of his gallant
and soldierly duties. After the war he began practice in Laurens County,
but located in Cochran in 1877, where he has a successful practice since.
He is a first-class physician, combing the qualities of the
daring soldier, the skilful physician and the worthy and respected citizen.
Biographical
Souvenir of the States of Georgia and Florida. Chicago, IL: F.A. Battey
& Company, 1889.
ISAAC NEWTON MAXWELL
merchant and planter, Danville, Twiggs Co., Ga., is clearly entitled to
representation in these volumes. From poverty and obscurity as a young
man he has, unaided, taken position both financially and socially among
the best men of his county. His people were from the old tar-heel state,
where his father, Uriah, was born in 1806, the son of Wm. Maxwell, be being
of Irish-Swiss extraction. Uriah married Mary A. Walkins and moved to Twiggs
county, where a family of eight children were reared. A daughter and three
sons died in youth, the latter during the war, either in battle bravely
defending their southland, or of disease contracted in the service. The
four children living are: Mrs Lucinda Kennington, Charity, Susan and Isaac,
all in Twiggs county. The last named was born Sept. 22, 1847. The war found
him still in his "teens" with a limited education, but loyal to his section,
and anxious to do battle for an idea. he became a member of Capt. B. D.
Lusman's company, which went out from Macon, and served faithfully to the
end of the war. With naught but his two hands and a willing heart, in 1865,
he began the new battle, this time with the world, which is yet on, though
he has long had the enemy on the run. As a tiller of the soil on rented
land, then as overseer of the large plantation of D. M. Hughes, and subsequently
as an owner himself, he has continued to prosper, has reared and is education
an interesting family, and as before remarked, has taken position in the
front rank of the best families of his section. He added merchandising
to his farming interests in 1890, and has met with good success in the
venture. He is in politics a democrat and in faith a Baptist. Is a great
reader of good literature and has thus added to the limited education received
in his youth. In 1865 Mr. Maxwell was joined in matrimony to mary J. Champion,
to whom has been born the following children: Lula, Mrs. J. C. Johnson,
Leona, John T., Harvey H., Oscar N. and Edgar E.
JAMES G. MCCRARY
physician and surgeon, was born in Twiggs County, May 6, 1820. He is a
son of John T. and Dorothea E. (Guerry) McCrary, the former a native of
Georgia, the latter of South Carolina. The father was born January 1, 1800,
and died in Americus, Ga., in September, 1867. He was justice of the peace
in his town almost all his life after reaching manhood, but his business
was that of a planter.
Dr. McCrary received his education in Augusta Medical
College, and began practicing in Americus in 1843. He moved to Macon in
1873, where he has ever since been a practitioner, and his efforts have
been attended with splendid success. In this city he served as alderman
four years, and had also served on term in the same office in Americus.
He was exempt from military service by virtue of being judge of the inferior
court and practitioner of medicine as well. May 9, 1853, he was married
to Miss Anna R., daughter of Asbury and Caroline (Bonner) Cowles of Stewart
County, Georgia. Mr. Cowles served several terms as legislator from Monroe
County; also from Stewart County two terms. he was tax-collector for Stewart
County in 1865. The children born to the doctor and his wife are as follows:
Lela, now Mrs. Sanford Massey, residing in Bibb County; Anna, now Mrs.
Robert F. Poole, living in Americus; De Witt, druggist in East Macon, Ga.;
Robert, planter, who has charge of the farm, and Rosa Maud, a graduate
of the Wesleyan class of 1887. The doctor has been a member of the Masonic,
and of the I.O. O. F. fraternities, and all the family, including the sons-in-law,
are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The doctor and his good
wife are blessed with those surroundings which indicate, thrift, contentment
and a happy home. Biographical Souvenir of the States
of Georgia and Florida. Chicago, IL: F.A. Battey & Company, 1889.
H. W. MCCREARY - JOHN
CHAPMAN
merchant, of Jeffersonville, was born March 28, 1858, in Talbot county.
He is the son of Wm. McCreary, who was born in Jones county, Ga., in 1813,
and married Nancy Cox, of the same county. Their family consisted of Burgess,
who was killed in the war; Josephine; W. Augustus, deceased; Nannie, deceased;
J. W. Butler, Ga.; Lee, now Mrs. Gus Cook, Talbot county, Ga.; H. W.; Emmett
S.; Alice A.; and Charles. H. W. McCreary was reared on a plantation and
at the age of eighteen began his business career as a clerk in a mercantile
establishment. In 1879 he embarked in a business of his own, which he has
continued with varied success and at different places to the present time.
He located at Jeffersonville in 1886 and has since conducted a mercantile
business. Mr. McCreary is a democrat, but takes only a voting interest
in politics. The marriage of Mr. McCreary was celebrated in Twiggs county,
Jan. 8, 1880, when Martha J. Chapman became his wife. Mrs. McCreary is
a member of an old and honored family, a brief outline of which is appended:
She is the daughter of John and Mary (Carleton) Chapman. John Chapman was
the grandson of William Chapman, a centenarian soldier of the revolutionary
war, and of Edmund Burke, an emigrant from Ireland, was born in Twiggs
county, Ga., Jan. 5, 1820, and died Oct. 8, 1892. He was among the most
prosperous and successful planters in his county, both before and subsequent
to the civil war, as well as one of her most useful and esteemed citizens.
Perhaps not one was more esteemed for energy, industry and integrity of
character by business men with whom he had dealings. His home was and is
one of culture and refinement, the mothers of his children (for he was
several times married) showing the deepest and most active maternal interest
in the education and training of his children, for which they were nobly
fitted. John Chapman was the father of nine children, to the most of whom
he gave a liberal education. Those surviving are William T. Chapman, of
Whigham, Ga.; Mrs. W. E. Carswell and Mrs. H. W. McCreary, of Twiggs county;
Prof. C. B. Chapman, principal of the boys' and girl's high school, Macon,
Ga..; Dr. G. E. Chapman, of Pulaski county, Ga., and Paul Hebert and Lucy
Carleton Chapman, who reside with their widowed mother at the old homestead.
Paul H. ably illustrates his father's business qualities. Of the deceased
children, John Iverson died a youthful soldier in the civil war are and
John Edwards in the beginning of a promising business career, for which
he received his preparation and training at the East Business college,
Poughkeepsie. N.Y. Mrs. McCreary descends from distinguished colonial and
revolutionary stock, her grand-grandfather on her mother's side, Jeremiah
Carleton, of Vermont, having participated in the French and Indian and
in the revolutionary wares, and of three great-grand-uncles one was killed
in the battle of Bunker Hill, a second was a member of Gen. Washington's
life guard, and a third, Capt. Osgood Carleton, was employed by the government
to transport about $40,000,000 between Philadelphia and New England. And
a first cousin, Judge Hiram Carleton, Montpelier, Vt., is president of
the Vermont Historical society. Five bright and interesting children crowned
the union of Mr. and Mrs. McCreary, three of whom - Walter H., Mattie L.
and Lucy A., - are living, and two - Anna L. and John W. - are deceased.
Memoirs
of Georgia Volume 1, Historical Society of Georgia, 1895
GEORGE W. NELSON
George W. Nelson, M.D., was born in Twiggs County, Ga., September 23, 1861.
His father, John A. Nelson, was born in southwest Georgia in 1806, was
reared in that county and lived there all of his life. He always followed
farming, and was one of the most substantial and enterprising men in the
county. He represented the county several years in the legislature, and
was one of the most popular men in his section. His wife, Nancy H.
Smith, was born in Twiggs County, also. Our subject was the eighth of a
family of nine children born to them. He was brought up in Twiggs County,
educated in the common schools, and remained on the farm until 1880, when
he commenced to read medicine with Dr. T. M. C. Rice, of Twiggs County,
and graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Baltimore,
Md., in 1882. He then practiced his profession in Twiggs County until 1886,
when he removed to Oglethorpe, Ga., where he still resides and enjoys a
lucrative practice. Dr. Nelson, although a young practitioner, has been
very successful and has the confidence of the people.
Biographical
Souvenir of the States of Georgia and Florida. Chicago, IL: F.A. Battey
& Company, 1889.
SARAH M. NEWBY
The grandfather of the above-named lady came to Georgia in 1791. He was
a farmer and a native of Maryland. Married to Elizabeth Goss, of Elbert
county, Ga. , be became the father of sixteen children, eleven of whom
reached maturity - five sons and six daughters. His death occurred in 1843.
The fourth daughter, Nancy, born in 1813, became the wife of William H.
Andrews, of South Carolina. Mr. Andrews was born in 1803, and when quiet
a young boy entered the Baltimore navy yard as an apprentice. After serving
his full time, in 1824 he came to Georgia, locating in Twiggs county. From
there he went to Dooly county, where he erected a large saw and gristmill.
He died in 1844, and his widow married John G. Overtree, both now deceased.
Four children were born to this first marriage: I. R., Gadson county, Fla;
Elizabeth and Mary J., deceased, and Sarah M., Mrs. Newby. Mrs. Newby
was born Feb. 3, 1836, in Houston county and reared in Twiggs county. In
1856 she married William E. Hunter, of Ft. Valley, who died at twenty-eight.
To this union two children were born: William E. and William J (?)., a
daughter. The last named married Jackson Newby and at her death
left seven children, five of whom Mrs. Newby reared. A second marriage
was solemnized, Mrs. Newby becoming the wife of Bryant Asbell, son
of John and Abigail Asbell, of South Carolina, who were among the early
settlers of Twiggs county. He was a man well known and of most excellent
character. By this union four sons were born, three of whom are living:
Clayton M., Bartow F. and Bryant. Mr. Asbell was born in 1913, was a democrat
in politics and died at the age of sixty-one. He was a man of deep religious
convictions and of a singularly perfect character as regards morals. Mrs.
Newby's third marriage, which occurred Oct. 31, 1869, was to Hilliard S.
Newby, who died March 13, 1890. His father came to Georgia in 1814 and
reared three sons: H. S., T. R. and Josiah Newby. to Mr. and Mrs. H. S.
Newby were born the following children: Jessie J., Benjamin S., James C.,
Sarah M., Mary E., Maud N. and Rose L., the last-named killed an accident
when three years old. Mr. H. S. Newby had ten children by a first marriage
and eight by his marriage to the subject of this Memoir. Sixteen of these
lived to be grown. There are living thirty-nine of his grandchildren and
six great-grandchildren. Mr. Newby converted at seventeen years of age
and lived in his religious faith for eight years. He afterward strayed
from the fold, but before his death found forgiveness as did he who came
in a the eleventh hour and received full wags, and died perfectly happy
trusting in our Lord as his saviour. Mrs. Newby has assisted in rearing
forty-two children, nineteen of whom were step-children and fifteen of
her own. She has reared six sons - three Asbells and three Newbys - all
married but two. One of these, F. B. Asbell, is a Baptist preacher, given
to here, she says, in answer to her prayer. Mrs. Newby is grandmother of
fourteen children and great-grandmother of one son. A large plantation
of 2,000 acres is conducted by her boys. It is not an uncommon thing to
hear of a double wedding, but in Mrs. Newby's family occurred a singular
wedding of two of her daughters and one son being married on the same day.
The members of the family are Baptists. Mr. Newby was a Methodist and a
democrat. Memoirs of Georgia Volume
1Historical Society of Georgia, 1895
WILLIAM O'DANIEL
Well-known to the medical profession of Georgia as a man and physician,
for his good qualities and high mental attainments, is Dr. William O'Daniel,
of Twiggs county. He was born May 2, 1839 in the county, and has always
lived there, excepting four year's residence in Atlanta, when holding a
public position. His grandfather was born in Ireland and settled in Georgia
when Daniel O'Daniel, his father, was born. Daniel O'Daniel lived all his
life in Twiggs county, dying there, aged sixty-five years. Dr. O'Daniel
received his education in the "old field" schools of Twiggs county, and
a Auburn institute, taught by James E. Croslend, located near his home.
He then taught several years in Marion academy in Twiggs county. In 1862
he laid down the ruler and the rod and enlisted in the Confederate service
as a non-commissioned officer in the commissary department, in Col. D.G.
Hughes' regiment. After the war he continued the study of medicine, which
he had begun when officiating as an 
educational
instructor, and in 1866 was graduated from the Atlanta Medical college.
He returned to his old home in Twiggs county, where he has since practiced
his profession. Dr. O'Daniel is a member of the State Medical association,
of which he is ex-president; a member of the American Medical association,
of the Tri-state (Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee) Medical association,
member of the National Association of Railway Surgeons, was a member of
the Ninth International Medical congress, and was a delegate from Georgia
in 1893 to the Pan-American Medical congress, and which met in Washington,
D.C. He has frequently been a delegate f rom Georgia to the meetings of
the American Medical association, and is a member of the Macon Medical
association. Dr. O'Daniel has been a frequent contributor to medical journals,
principally the "Atlanta Medial and Surgical Journal.," and has read many
valuable papers before the State Medical association. He received the honorary
degree of A.M. some years ago from Emory college of Oxford, Ga., and the
degree of M.D. from the medial department of the university of Georgia,
located in Augusta, and the honorary degree of M.D. from the Kentucky school
of medicine in 1885. Dr. O'Daniel for many years solicited by friends to
permit his name to be used for public office, always declined, but finally
gave in in 1875, when he was elected state senator from the twenty-first
senatorial district, serving during the sessions of 1875-76-77. He also
served two years as clerk of the superior court of Twiggs county. In April
1891, Dr. O'Daniel was appointed by Gov. Northen principal physician to
the state penitentiary, which position he held until the spring of 1895,
when he resigned and returned to his farm. The compliment of his selection
was of the dignity of and honor, as there were a number of candidates for
the position. Dr. O'Daniel gave an excellent administration, his wide experience
and professional skill, together with his kind nature, enabling him to
effect several reforms which have long been commended by humanitarians
and the national prison reform congress. He is a Knight Templar Mason and
for many years was worshipful master of Twiggs lodge No. 164, F. &
A.M. He also belongs to Constatine chapter No. 4, royal arch Mason, and
St. Omar commandery No. 2, Knight Templars. He is a steward of Beech Spring
Methodist church in Twiggs county. Dr. O'Daniel was wedded Nov. 4, 1860,
to Elizabeth M., daughter of Henry Sand, a leading farmer of Twiggs county,
and to them were born two sons and one daughter, who now survive. His sons
are Dr. Mark H , O'Daniel, of Macon, who was for eight years assistant
physician in the insane asylum at Milledgeville, and Dr. William O'Daniel,
who succeeded his brother to the place mentioned. His daughter is Miss
Mollie L., who was graduated from the Wesleyan Female college at Macon.
A fine county residence is the home of the eminent citizen and physician
who, when desirous of freeing himself from the exactions of a public career,
can find retirement by his fireside and the enjoyment of all the pleasures
and contentment of a happy domestic life.
Memoirs of Georgia Volume 1Historical Society
of Georgia, 1895
JOHN CAREY SHANNON
planter of Jeffersonville, Ga, was born in Columbia, Mo., July 22, 1853.
His father James Shannon, was born in 1799 in Ireland, and in 1821 came
to Liberty county, Ga. He then began a career which proved to be one of
exceptional usefulness, through a period of years ending in 1859. He had
been well educated in the Royal institute at Belfast, and as the time of
his coming to American was preparing for the ministry in the Presbyterian
church. He is described at that time as being "quite youthful in appearance,
very affable and refined in manners, and deeply pious. he was fond of company
and took great pleasure in vocal and instrumental music, being an excellent
performer on the violin." He was very popular as a preacher and teacher.
He acted as assistant at the Sunbury academy the first year and in the
fall of 1822 took sole charge. As stated, he was preparing for the ministry
of the Presbyterian church, and the presbytery had set the time for his
ordination. It had been suggested to him by his pastor, Dr. McWhir, to
select for his ordination sermon "Was John's Baptism Christian Baptism?"
In his study of this theme, and in his preparation for the sermon, the
young professor succeeded in thoroughly convincing himself that he should
be ordained to the Baptist ministry, rather than the Presbyterian, and
so announced his determination, much to the surprise of his friends. He
was baptized soon after, and was received regularly into the Baptist ministry.
He taught and preached until 1825 in Liberty county and then took regular
work in Augusta, where he preached four years, receiving the largest salary
ever given to a Baptist minister of Georgia up to that date, and also taught
languages in Franklin college, Athens, Ga., being the first Baptist to
hold a position in that institution. Serving in that capacity several years,
he was then made president of the state university of Louisiana at Jackson,
and later of Bacon college at Haroldsburg, Ky. From this place he removed
to Columbia, Mo where he acted as president of the state university
until his death, which occurred in February of 1859. Of him the Rev. J.
H. Campbell, who knew him intimately, says" "He was the best general scholar
I have ever known. He took most pleasure in the dead languages, but there
was no field of literature, nor a branch of science, with which he was
not familiar." In the fall of 1823 he was married to Evelina Dunham, in
Liberty county, and they became the parents of three children, only one
now living, Mrs. Ann N. Douglass, of Columbia, Mo. His wife died at Jackson,
La., November, 1836, and in the following June of 1837 he was married to
Miss Frances Carey Moore, daughter of Alsa Moore, of Athens, Ga., and by
this union are the following living children: Dr. Richard Shannon,
of Joplin, MO., eight years state superintendent of pubic schools in that
state; John C., Jeffersonville, Ga.; L. D.. of Jeffersonville, Ga.; and
Mrs. W.N. White, of Centralia, Mo. The mother of these children died in
March of 1865, and both parents lie buried at Columbia, Mo. John C. . Shannon
was reared in Columbia. After his mother's death he came to Georgia, and
entered the employ of Col. Daniel Hughes, of Twiggs county, with whom he
remained a number of years, finally settling on the beautiful plantation
he now cultivates. Dec. 1, 1878, he married Virginia F., daughter of Wm.
Faulk. This gentleman now lives with Mr. Shannon. He was born in Twiggs
county Aug. 1, 1822, and is the son of Mark Faulk. During the late ware
he served in the state legislature, and relates many incidents of that
stirring time. He married Virginia Solomon, a daughter of Henry Solomon.
She died in 1861, the mother of three children, of whom Mrs. Shannon and
another sister survive. To Mrs. Shannon have been born six children, of
whom there are five living: J. C., Jr,; Ethel B., Wm. F., Jas. S., and
Laura. Mr. Shannon is one of the most extensive planters in the county,
and also a leading factor in its public life; is a democrat in politics,
and a member of the Christian church. Memoirs of
Georgia Volume 1 Historical Society of Georgia, 1895
LENOIR DOUGLAS
SHANNON
lawyer, Jeffersonville, Ga. This gentleman is the son of Dr. James Shannon,
for long years a leading educator of the south and later of Missouri, mention
of whom is made elsewhere, and was born in Canon, Mo., April 30, 1860.
He was reared in Columbia Mo., and there received his early education at
Christian college. Later he attended the academy at Cabaniss, Monroe Co.,
Ga., and the state university of Missouri, and thence came to Jeffersonville,
where he was admitted to the bar in 1886. He has since pursued his profession
with a marked degree of success. Though not a politician in the sense of
seeking office Co. Shannon is looked upon as a man of note in his county
and with a future before him. In 1888 he was chosen by the democratic executive
committee; the senatorial democratic executive committee; and also on the
county executive committee. He, however, displays greater interest in the
practice of his profession, and is rapidly acquiring a state-wide reputation.
He bids fair to honor the name of his illustrious father. Memoirs
of Georgia Volume 1Historical Society of Georgia, 1895
JOHN GEORGE SLAPPEY
Robert Rutherford Slappey, the father of the above, was a native of Jasper
county, Ga., and was born May 5, 1813. His mother soon after the death
of his father moved to Twiggs county, and here Robert R. was reared and
received his education. He married Miss Martha, daughter of Matthew Exum,
who, having borne him two children, one of whom is living and resides in
Twiggs county, died. To his second marriage eight children were born, four
of whom are living: R. R., Mark F., Henry Hubbard and John G. The wife
of the second marriage was Mary, daughter of Mark and sister of Wm. Faulk.
Mr. Slappey took and active interest in politics, and was for several years
a member of the state legislature. He was among the foremost men of his
county and assisted in the development which made Twiggs county among the
most prosperous in the state, prior to the war. He was an old time whig,
and for many years the only citizen of Twiggs county who was the son of
a revolutionary soldier. By economy and industry he amassed quite a property
during his life, and at the time of his death, which occurred Nov. 15,
1890, he was considered one of the wealthiest men of his section. John
George Slappey was born in Twiggs county February, 1854. He had the best
educational advantages the state afforded, and is a graduate of the Atlanta
Medical college. In 1875 he located in this native county and began the
practice of medicine, which profession he still follows. He is a very successful
practitioner, and has established an enviable reputation for himself both
as a physician and a citizen. Aside from his practice he has the care of
a plantation of some 300 acres. Married to Anna, daughter of Henry Carter,
be became the father of three children: Mark F., Henry C., and John G.
The mother died November, 1892. A second marriage was solemnized - the
wife of this instance, being a daughter of Capt. John A. Coffee (see sketch
elsewhere). One child has been born to this union, Mary Ann. Memoirs
of Georgia Volume 1Historical Society of Georgia, 1895
DR. JOHN
G. SLAPPEY (Doughtery County, Ga.)
In the early forties Dr. John G. Slappey removed from Twiggs
County, Georgia, to this section of the state. Slappey was the son of Henry
Slappey, sergeant in the Continental Army, and Ann Rutherford. His grandfather,
Robert Rutherford, was a Colonial Governor of North Carolina and a member
of the First Provincial Congress, held in Hillsboro, N.C., and was also
the first judge of Chatham County. Dorothy Anne Brook was his grandmother.
Dr. Slappey resided a part of the time in Albany, and the remainder on
one or another of his plantations.
Dr. Slappey was both a successful physician
and a noted surgeon and was in great request throughout this section of
the country. He made the long drives through the country in the high two-wheeled
gig used by the doctors in that day and was attended by a servant on horseback
who carried not only his instruments and medicines but suitable food
for such patients as might stand in need of it. A man of great kindness
of heart, he was honored and beloved by all.
At the time of his death in 1864, Dr. Slappey was living
on his plantation in Baker County, which is still in possession of a member
of the family. The descendants of his only son Henry Slappey, still live
in this county. Besides those who bear the Slappey name are: Mrs J. W.
Gillespie, Mrs. Walter Hill Wightman, and Mrs John Stephen Inman; and Mrs.
Sibert Houston Jones, of Augusta, Ga. and their children. History
and reminiscences of Dougherty County, Georgia. Albany, Ga.. Herald Pub.
Co. 1924.
ROBERT R. SLAPPEY
This gentleman is the eldest of eight children of Robert R. Slappey, and
was born in March of 1845. he was reared in his native county of Twiggs
and received but an ordinary schooling. In 1861, when the call came for
men to fight for the rights and protect the homes of southern people, he
was among the fist to respond by enlistment. A member of the Twiggs guards
under Capt. Barclay, he participated in some of the most hotly contested
battles of the war, Yorktown, Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Richmond, Malvern
Hill and Fredericksburg being among the most important of these. In 1863,
on account of ill health, he was discarded, but again enlisted after four
months a s a member of Company E., Hampton cavalry of Bibb county, and
served till the close of the war. After the surrender he returned home,
and in November of 1865, he accepted the position of agent of the Southern
Express company, and of the then E. T. V. & G. railroad, in which capacity
he stills serves, much to his credit and the satisfaction of his employers.
He also conducts a plantation of 2,500 acres. By the good management Mr.
Slappey, his father's estate, which at the close of the war was in an impoverished
condition, was saved to the family. He is one of the substantial democrats
of his county, and in faith a Methodist. His wife was Miss Virginia Nelson
of Twiggs county. She is a daughter of John A. Nelson of that county, who
is very highly esteemed as a citizen and neighbor. To the marriage, which
occurred in January of 1865, six children have been born: Mary Lou, Wm.
F., John Nelson, Robert R., Virginia P., and Jarrot M., who died in infancy.
Memoirs
of Georgia Volume 1Historical Society of Georgia, 1895
JAMES C. SOLOMON
Rev. James C. Solomon, pastor of the Baptist
Church at Byron, Houston County, Ga., was born January 28, 1861, in Twiggs
County, Ga., and is a son of Judge William L. and Avarilla E. (Fitzpatrick)
Solomon, both natives of Twiggs County, Ga. The father is a planter, and
is a prominent citizen, having served as a judge of the court for several
years. He was born January 20, 1834. He attended school at Emory College,
Oxford, but left one month before his graduation. He was married in 1858
to Avarilla Fitzpatrick, and these parents have four children: John F.,
married to Miss Josie Whitehurst of Twiggs County, Ga; Mary E., married
in October, 1884, to Hon. S. E. Jones, recently a member of the Georgia
legislature; William W., manufacturer of the O.W. Massey cotton gin, Macon,
Ga., married to Miss Louise Massey, April, 1887, and James C., our subject,
who is the second child of the above family.
James C. Solomon received his education
at Mercer, graduating with distinction in 1880. Later he attended the Atlanta
Medical College, graduating in 1883 and receiving some of the prizes awarded
at that commencement. He taught school the winter of 1880-81, giving good
satisfaction to his patrons, and studied medicine at the same time. He
began practicing medicine in 1883 at Twiggsville, and has since been practicing
continuously. In November, 1887, be became pastor of the Baptist Church
at Bryon, and since that time he has filled the pulpit of that church,
being the regularly installed pastor, in addition to attending to his medical
duties. He is pronounced in his views, and is very successful in both of
his professions. He was married January 28, 1886, to Miss Maggie
A., daughter of James D. and Janie (Killen) Tharp, of Houston County, Ga.
One child, Maggie Avarilla, has made happy the home of Dr. and Mrs.
Solomon.
Dr. Solomon is a Master Mason, also a member
of the Royal Arch degree,. Col. John Fitzpatrick, the maternal grandfather
of our subject, owned about 15,000 or 20,000 acres of land, and at one
time was very wealthy. He was one of the leading politicians of his time,
but had not the advantage of scholastic training, never having attended
school more that six months, but had a natural turn of mind for the
law, and was several times a legislator in his State.
Dr. Solomon, the subject of this sketch, has
about one thousand acres of land for sale, in two plantations in Twiggs
County, Ga. The land is well drained, remarkably healthy, and has as good
water running through it as can be found in the State. It is especially
adapted for fruit and pasture. Dr. Solomon is numbered among the thriving,
responsible, well-to-do citizens of his county.Biographical
Souvenir of the States of Georgia and Florida. Chicago, IL: F.A. Battey
& Company, 1889.
WILLIAM L. SOLOMON
This gentleman is justly regarded as among the leading citizens of Twiggs
county, having been for years intimately associated with all movements
intended to promote its prosperity. The family were originally from North
Carolina, from which state they located in what is now Twiggs county in
the latter part of the last century. James, the father of Wm. L.., was
born here in 1800 and reared on a plantation. At eighteen he packed his
all in a bandana handkerchief, and started out to see what the world contained
for him. Going to Marion county, he entered a store as a clerk, of which
he later became a part owner. He merchandised for some sixteen years, then
bought a farm in Twiggs county and passed the remainder of his days in
cultivating the soil. He married Frances, daughter of William and Mary
E. Crocker, and reared a family of five children: James C., died during
the late war; Cindarilla, deceased wife of Paul Tarver; William L.; Josephine,
widow of C. R. Faulk, Perry, Ga.; Carey E., Montgomery county, Ga. The
father died while still in his prime, the mother subsequently marrying
H. L. Denard, by whom she had two children: Ervin and mary. Mrs. Denard
was a woman of shrewd business sense, and by her energy and judgment
quite a competency was accumulated. She died in 1888., William L. Solomon
was born in Twiggs county, Jan. 31, 1834. He was educated at Emory college,
attaining to the senior class, but not finishing the course. He began farming
the year before his majority and has ben true to his first love with
such persistency and intelligence as to place him in the from rank of the
agriculturist of middle Georgia; but as to theory and practice he cultivate
some 1,500 acres at present, and owns lands in adjoining counties aggregating
some 3,000 acres. Politically Dr. Solomon favors the democratic party,
but cares nothing for the emoluments of office. he is a stanch Baptist,
being a deacon in his local organization -Richland church. The marriage
of Wm. L. Solomon and Miss A. E. Fitzpatrick was happily consummated in
Twiggs county. Mrs. Solomon is a daughter of John Fitzpatrick and was reared
in the county of her birth. They became the parents of four children: John
F., Jeffersonville, a farmer; Jones C., a Baptist minister, South Macon;
William W., superintendent gin factory, Marseyville; Mary, wife of E. Jones
(deceased). These children were all given the advantage of a collegiate
course of study, and are filling honored positions in society. Memoirs
of Georgia Volume 1,Historical Society of Georgia, 1895
WILLIAM B. TARVER
Twiggs county does not contain within her border representatives of a more
illustrious name than the one here mentioned, this gentleman being the
son of the noted Gen. Hartwell Hill Tarver, who was a prominent military
officer of the state during the 40's. Gen. Tarver was born and reared in
Old Dominion state, Brunswick county, and was a descendant of a family
of seven brothers participating in the revolutionary ware on the patriot
side. In young manhood Gen. Tarver became a resident of Twiggs county and
rapidly accumulated an immense property in lands and slaves. Always of
a military turn of mind, it was not until 1842 that he took any prominent
part, at which time his ability as recognized by his election by the legislature
of the state to be general of all of the militia of Georgia, then a very
prominent and important factor in the public life of the state. Gen. Tarver
continued in the public eye with acceptability from that time until his
death, which occurred in 1852, in Twiggs county. Gen. Tarver was twice
married, his first wife having been Miss Ann Wimberly, a sister of Dr.
Henry Wimberly, of Jeffersonville, of whom mention is made elsewhere. Their
children were Dolly, whose romantic marriage to the late Gen. Colquitt
is well remembered; Paul; Henry; Fred, and John. All of these are deceased
save Henry, who lives in Albany, Ga. The second marriage was to Harriet,
daughter of Henry and Nancy Bunn, who emigrated to Georgia from North Carolina.
Two children blessed this union: William B., the gentleman whose name introduces
this sketch, and Benjamin M., a resident of Chattanooga, Tenn. This wife
outlived the general some seventeen years, dying in 1879. Both lie buried
in Twiggs county. Wm. B. Tarver was born May 23, 1844, in Twiggs county.
He was in college in Virginia when the war cloud burst, and hastening home
he enlisted as a volunteer when but seventeen years of age in Gen. Hampton's
cavalry command, in which he served the entire four years. He participated
in nearly every pitched battle of the war, and surrendered at High Point,
N.C. with Wade Hampton's brigade. In 1863, while home on a furlough, he
was joined in matrimony to Miss Laura Wimberly, a daughter of Dr. Henry
W., before mentioned. But one child resulted in this union, Caroline, now
the wife of G. W. Jordan, Jr. , of Pulaski county. Mr. Tarver's first wife
died in 1868,. his present consort having been Annie P. Weaver, daughter
of Wm. M. and Lucia F. Weaver, of Slema, Ala., descended from Gen. Weaver
of revolutionary fame. Six children have blessed this union: Lucia H.,
Hartwell Hill, Benjamin M., Jr.,. Wm. B, Jr., Roseline T. and Ann W/. Mr.
Tarver is a worthy son of a worthy father, being held in high esteem in
the community where he has long resided. He cultivates a plantation of
2,600 acres, and does it in such a manner as to secure him the reputation
of being one of the best planters in the county. Democracy secures
his suffrage, and the Methodist church his moral and financial support.
Memoirs of Georgia Volume 1,Historical Society of Georgia,
1895
VINCENT THARP
"A native of Virginia, was born in 1760, and bore arms in the cause of
his country towards the close of the revolutionary war. His first wife
was a Miss Rogers, by whom he had two children, a son and a daughter.
During his first marriage he removed to South Carolina, and thence with
his second wife, a Miss Persons, to Warren county, in this State.
Owing to the hardness of the times, and his being a poor man, he learned
the gunsmith's trade, and was said to be a superior workman. Before he
entered upon the ministry he acted as a magistrate in his neighborhood.
He was baptized into Briar Creek church, Warren county, and was also licensed
and ordained there, about the year 1800. He served that church as pastor
several years, also Sweetwater and Rocky Creek, in Burke county. Soon after
the purchase, which extended to the Ocmulgee river, he removed to Twiggs
county, where many of his descendants are still to be found, and who are
among the most respectable and wealthy citizens of the county. Among these
may be mentioned Rev. Charnick Tharp, a son, and Rev. B. F. Tharp,
(now of Houston county,) a grand-son.
He was a member and the pastor of Stone Creek church, now one of the
most flourishing churches in the State. That church was gathered under
Rev.
Henry Hooten, who resigned in favor of Mr. Tharp. His labors here and
elsewhere were owned of the Lord in the salvation of many souls. To the
time of his death he was moderator of the Ebenezer Association. Benevolence
and hospitality were prominent traits in his character. He was always "careful
to entertain strangers," and his house was the home of God's people, of
every name. He delighted in the society of certain brethren, Polhill, Franklin,
Ross, Rhodes, Baker, Maginty, Mercer and others, by whom he was frequently
visited. He died in 1825, in the triumphs of that faith which he had so
long preached to others. His end was peace."
Source: Campbell, Jesse H. (Jesse Harrison), 1807-1888
Georgia Baptists : historical and biographical / by J. H. Campbell
JOHN S. VAUGHN
an ex-representative of the legislature, and at present postmaster, merchant
and farmer at Vaughn, postoffice, Twiggs Co., was born in the same county
Feb. 11, 1852. He has spent his entire life in agricultural pursuits, and
deserves much credit fo the success which has attended him. He operates
landed interest aggregating 1,000 acres. In 1894 he became the nominee
of his party for the legislature, and was easily elected over his populist
opponent. He is a democrat of the old school, and is doing himself and
his county credit in the important position to which he was chosen. Mr.
Vaughn has been twice married. Emma J. Armstrong, daughter of J H. of Pulaski
county, became his wife March 11, 1875, and to them were born six children,
four of whom are living: John H., Herschel J., Sallie E. and Wm. T. The
mother of these children died march 25, 1889, and Jan. 13, 1891, Mr. Vaughn
married his present wife, Susie E daughter of Felix Johnson, of Twiggs
county. Surrounded with an interesting family, with political honors and
financial success attending him, Mr Vaughn has much to look forward to
in life.
Memoirs of Georgia Volume 1, Historical Society of
Georgia, 1895
DAVID WARE,
JR.
Among the early settlers of Middle Georgia, was James Ware, who came originally
from Maryland, later from North carolina, and settled in Twiggs County,
when that was one of the frontier counties of the State. He was a young
man full of energy and ambition, and the country being new, opportunities
were not then lacking for the development of the strong qualities of one's
nature, and he, in time, from a leading spirit of the frontier, found
himself a large planter and a prominent citizen. He represented his county
in the State legislature several terms, and was often placed on commission
to settle questions as to disputed boundary lines, to condemn property
for public use, and to establish highways and the like. One of his sons,
David Ware, Sr., is the father of the subject of this sketch. He was born
in Twiggs County; has lived there, and in Laurens County, all his life,
devoting himself to agriculture, at which he has ben successful, and is
now one of Laurens County's good substantial citizens. He married a Twiggs
County lady, Evaline N. Glover, daughter of Thomas Glover, who was a descendant
of an old Maryland family that came to Georgia about the same time James
Ware emigrated there. To this union have been born thirteen children, severn
girls and six boys, four of whom are dead. The second older of these boys,
David Ware, Jr., is the one whose name is placed at the head of this sketch.
He was born in Laurens County, August 29, 1837. He passed his youth on
his father's farm, and received a fair school education. In 1878 he moved
to Dublin and became interested in the Dublin Gazette, of which
he became editor. He devoted the next five years to this paper, and through
it has best services toward the upbuilding of Laurens County, and the town
of Dublin. He was as successful at this as men usually are at country journalism,
but it is a well known fact that country newspaper editors' labors are
mostly labors of love. Mr. Ware, feeling that there was something better
in store for him, withdrew from this paper, relinquished journalism, and
having begun to read law in the meantime, was admitted to the bar in January,
1995, and immediately embarked in that profession. He has been steadily
and successfully engaged at the law ever since. He is now mayor of Dublin
for a second term, and has taken some little interest in politics generally,
but has never been before the people himself for any office. December,
1882, he married Miss Sidney A., daughter of Oran D. Lasseter, of Burke
County, Ga., but he had the misfortune to lose his wife in August, 1885.
As stated, Mr. Ware has given his entire time to his profession
since embarking in it. He believes in the old maxim: "Keep your office
and your office will keep you," and when not engaged elsewhere he is usually
found among his books. Biographical Souvenir of
the States of Georgia and Florida. Chicago, IL: F.A. Battey & Company,
1889.
JOHN LAWRENCE
WILKINSON
Between 1802 and 1807 John Lawrence Wilkinson
(b. Sept. 2, 1762) is thought to have emigrated from North Carolina to
Georgia with his wife Cristiana Luther and several small children, stopping
in Montgomery County, Ga., for an unknown length of time, where his eight
child, Lawrence, was born. In 1809 he moved into Twiggs County, settling
where the celebrated "Longstreet" road crossed the Pulaski County line,
(now the line of Bleckley County) about twelve miles north of Cochran.
This road was once noted for the superiority of its aristocratic farmers.
the house place contained about 1500 acres, including some of the richest
lands in that section. Cotton six feet high and d other fine crops
were raised here; some articles made by him, a neat hand mallet, an iron
wedge, and an old door made in 1830 or '40 before there were any sawmills
in the county, are prized possessions of his descendants. The neat and
legible handwriting in his old family Bible, perfectly preserved,
indicates that he was a man of no ordinary culture. In addition to other
business interests, he kept an Inn which, no doubt, was a popular hostelry
on that much travelled road. He is mentioned in Gilmer's History of Georgia.
John L. Wilkinson died August 23, 1841 and was buried
at his request about three quarters of a mile from the old homestead on
the banks of a creek and his grave marked by a large pile of rocks. Cristiana
Luther Wilkinson died Aug.. 13, 1855 and is buried in Macon County near
the home of her son Benjamin B., with whom she lived at that time.
They were the parents of eleven children:
(1) Micajah Wilkinson, b. Apr. 11, 1794; m. 2nd Catherine
Phillips (2) Elizabeth, b. June 20, 1790; (3) James, b. Nov. 30, 1797;
(4) Washington Mayberry b. Jan. 27, 1800; (5) John Jr. b. Mar. 4, 1802,
m. Fannie Wynne; (6) Benjamin Benanael b. about 1804, m. Mary Ann Hall;
(7) Thulia, b. Oct. 9, 1806, m. Josiah Whitehurst; (8) Lawrence Goldwire
(or Goulden) b. Nov. 15, 1808, m. Elizabeth Jane Miller (9) William Green
b. July 18, 1813, m. Eliza Ann King; (10) Susannah Adkin b. May 2, 1815,
m. (1st) Bryan Clark, m. (2nd) a Mr. Southwell. (11) Calvin Robinson b.
Mar. 22, 1820, M. Frances Field, who lived several years in Chattahoochee
County. Francis Field Wilkinson died in 1864, and she and her infant are
buried in Mt. Olive Cemetery at Cusseta, Ga.
The ninth child of John Lawrence and Crisitian Luther
Wilkinson, William Green Wilkinson, b. July 18, 1813 in Twiggs County,
was married on June 16, 1836 to Eliza King of Pulaski County, (b. Feb.
20, 1818) by the bride's great uncle Green Brown, Esq., Justice of Peace.
Three months before his marriage Wm. Green Wilkinson joined
the troops in Florida fighting the Indians. At the end of this war he was
honorably discharged and afterwards received a grant of 160 acres in Florida,
which he sold.
The first year after his marriage he was overseer
for his father in Twiggs County, but the urge of rich lands to the westward
soon caused him to follow his wife's parents to Chattahoochee County, where
in 1838 he settled on the west side of Ochillee Creek on the road from
Halloca to Cusseta.
History of Chattahoochee County, Georgia,
Rogers, N. K., Columbus, Ga., c1933
GENERAL EZEKIEL WIMBERLY
Short Title: GENERAL EZEKIEL
WIMBERLY BRIDGE DESIGNATED.
Law Number: No. 129
Origin: (Senate Resolution No. 17).
Type: A Resolution.
Full Title: To officially designate the name for a bridge over Savage
Creek on the highway between Tarversville, Twiggs County, Georgia, and
Bonaire, Houston County, Georgia, as the "General Ezekiel Wimberly Bridge."
Whereas, General Ezekiel Wimberly was a pioneer settler of Twiggs County,
and moved from Washington County, Georgia, to Twiggs County shortly after
Twiggs County was created by a legislative Act; and
Whereas, General Wimberly was a distinguished member of the House of
Representative of Twiggs County from 1811 to 1813, a member of the State
Senate from 1815 to 1828, and twice a Presidential Elector; and
Whereas, General Wimberly, who was the son and grandson of Revolutionary
soldiers, also, for the cause of freedom bore arms for his State and Country
in the War of 1812. Commanding the Twiggs Militia, he erected and garrisoned
three forts along the Ocmulgee River as frontier protection for the inhabitants.
During his career, General Wimberly held many important posts in the Militia
as Major, 80th Battalion, Georgia Militia in 1810; Lieutenant Colonel,
Light Dragons, Twiggs County, in 1813; Colonel of the First Class Militia
of Major General Adams Division, the Georgia Militia in 1814; Colonel of
Fort Hawkins in 1814; Colonel of the Third Regiment, Georgia Militia in
1815; Major General of the Sixth Division, Georgia Militia from 1820 to
1840; and
Whereas, General Ezekiel Wimberly, gentleman, soldier and statesman
devoted many years of his illustrious life to Twiggs County, the State
of Georgia and his Nation.
It is therefore resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives
concurring, that the bridge crossing Savage Creek on the highway between
Tarversville, Twiggs County, Georgia, and Bonaire, Houston County, Georgia,
is hereby designated and named the "General Ezekiel Wimberly Bridge," and
the State Highway Department officials and other State agencies are directed
that on all maps and publications, the said bridge shall be referred to
and designated as the "General Ezekiel Wimberly Bridge," and the State
Highway Department officials are directed to have placed on or near said
bridge, an appropriate sign indicating to the people the name hereby designated.
Approval Date: Approved March 9, 1956.
Source: Acts of General Assembly
CAPT.
FREDERICK DAVIS WIMBERLY
deceased, was born in Houston county, March 23, 1840, and removed with
his parents to Twiggs county when he was four years old. He was graduated
from Mercer university, and in 1860 was married to Miss Isrelene (sp) Minter,
a daughter of Col. Wm. F. Minter, who was sixty years old when killed in
the last battle of the late war. Capt. Wimberly responded to the first
call for troops in South Carolina and was elected second lieutenant in
Gen. Tarver's command. He served through the entire war and was promoted
after the battle of Sharpsburg to captain for gallantry on the field..
Six children were born to them: Col. W.M. Wimberly, Dr. Warren Wimberly,
Mrs. Richard D. Campbell, of Atlanta, Miss Clara, Isrelene; Fred, Jr.,
died in youth. Capt. Wimberly died July 16, 1893. Mrs. Wimberly is a lady
of intelligence and considerable literary ability. Memoirs
of Georgia Volume 1, Historical Society of Georgia, 1895
DR. HENRY
S. WIMBERLY
Fred Davis Wimberly was a native of North Carolina. He was the father of
the following children: Ezekial, Henry, Moses, J. R., Fred Davis, Betsy
A., Allie L, all of whom are dead. Ezekial was born Jan. 4, 1781, and died
in 1825. He settled in Washington county, Ga., when a young man of twenty-three
years and became a planter. He married Dorothy B., daughter of Henry Slappey,
who was a revolutionary soldier and a native of Holland. To this union
there were born Annie R., who became the wife of Gen. Tarver of Twiggs
county; Fred D., Henry S., Eliza R. and Dorothy M. The las two died in
youth. The mother of these children died in February of 1817. The wife
of his second marriage was Miss Rebecca C. Jones, who became
the mother of six children, all of whom are dead. The father of these and
our subject, Henry S., located in what is now Twiggs county in 1808. He
started in moderate circumstances and very rapidly accumulated vast wealth.
He lived a very quiet life, was of a religious turn of mind, and very highly
respected. He was captain of militia and in politics an old-time whig.
He died Aug. 5, 1825, of yellow fever. Henry S. Wimberly, the gentleman
whose name heads this sketch, was born March 26. 1812. His education was
obtained in Jasper county, where was located the only academy in the surrounding
country. After his father's death he resided for one year at Tarversville
with Gen. Tarver. He then attended the medical college at Augusta, Ga.,
and was one of seven pupils. In 1832, he gradated from the medical college
of Philadelphia, Penn, and located in Twiggs county. He at once began the
practice of medicine, but after two years he turned his
attention to farming in Houston county, where he owned a large plantation
and purchased 1,500 acres in Twiggs county, where he resides. His wife
was a daughter of Hardy and Sabra Durham. To her were born the following:
John R., of Arkansas; Fred Davis, of Pulaski county; Mary Eliza, of Wilcox
county; Henry of Telfair county; Lula P. resides at home. The mother of
these children died in 1864. His second marriage was to Mrs. E. L. Wharton.
Their children are Wm. F. and Ezekial P., who died Nov. 6, 1892, and two
others died in infancy. The doctor has retired from active life and is
enjoying the result of a life of industry and well-directed agricultural
effort. A democrat of the old school he is in sectarian belief a Methodist,
of which denomination he has long been an honored member. Memoirs
of Georgia Volume 1, Historical Society of Georgia, 1895
ISOLENE MINTER WIMBERLY
There is a romance about the confederacy that
does not lose its interest as time wears on, and volumes might be written
of the brave heroic deeds of the Georgia women at the time.
Among these as social leader and greatly beloved
woman was Mrs. Frederick Davis Wimberly, of Twiggs county.
In her youth and beauty and patriotism, she was an interesting
figure, and presided over "Inglehurst," one of the oldest plantation homes
in the south, to which she came as a bride in 1860.
In the times that came later and tried men's souls,
she, in the absence of her husband, Captain Wimberly, "at the front", became
the president of the Soldiers Aid Society, the arm of which was to supply
comforts and clothing for the soldiers and lint and bandages for the sick
and wounded.
At one of these meetings one of the men, who had
stayed at home, teasingly said, "Mrs. Wimberly, some day you will hear
from Yorktown that Fred is dead." With fire in her eyes she replied: "Well,
I would rather be a brave man's widow than a coward's wife."
The mainsprings of her life were lofty ideals and
high aspirations, and her broad, strong mind impressed these upon her family,
her friends and her servants.
In her beautiful home she reigned for thirty-eight
years, giving to her people from her full heart a wealth of love and affection.
No one, white or black, whatever his condition,
was ever turned empty handed from her door, and at her board, where governors
and senators have sat as honored guests, the wandering pilgrims of the
road have received always an ever tendered courtesy.
Mrs. Wimberly was the mother of Hon. Minter
Wimberly of Macon; Mrs. Orme Campbell, of Atlanta, and Miss Clara Wimberly,
of Inglehurst, Twiggs county, Georgia. The Atlanta Constitution
Oct
7, 1906
J. R. WIMBERLY
is a native of Twiggs county, was born in November of 1843, and is the
son of J. R. Wimberly, Sr. His earlier education turned toward a course
in civil engineering, but at the opening of the civil war his father entered
the service and he remained at home with his mother. However, in 1863,
he too enlisted in the state militia. At the close of the war he became
a physician, his father having been a very successful practitioner. In
1869 he located in Jeffersonville and has since resided there. His wife
Adelaide was the daughter of Rev. W. R. Steely and granddaughter of James
Steely, a revolutionary patriot. Their marriage took place in November,
1966. To them were born eight children: Fred C; J. R.; Albert; Lucy G.
now Mrs. Wall; and Mary; three died in infancy. The mother of these children
died Cot. 6, 1890. She was a woman of many virtues, a devoted wife and
indulgent mother, and a kind neighbor. Here loss was felt by all who knew
her. Mr. Wimberly is a consistent member of the Baptist church, of which
he is a deacon. he was elected ordinary of the county in 1885, and has
held the office for ten years, much to the satisfaction of the people of
Twiggs. Mr. Wimberly comes of an old and highly respected Georgia family,
whose different members have occupied positions of honor and trust throughout
the state. He himself is a man of the most unbending integrity, and does
much to refute that oft-repeated old expression that "the good men died
with the demise of our fathers. "Memoirs of Georgia Volume
1,Historical Society of Georgia, 1895
SAMUEL WADE YOPP
was born May 12, 1854, and is a native of Laurens county, Ga., where he
was reared. His education was such as to enable him to become a successful
planter, and he was received at the Dublin academy. When a young man he
and his brother conducted the large plantation of their grandfather for
many years. Afterward he became identified with yhe milling industry in
Twiggs county. Having for some time successfully conducted a plantation
for D. M. Hughes, he removed to his own, which he has since profitably
managed. In August of 1886, he married Ellen Elizabeth, daughter of
Robert A. Hill, of Twiggs county, a native of North Carolina. To this marriage
have been born three children: Nellie Francis, Myrtle and Robert Hut. Mr.
Yopp is a thorough democrat and was in 1895 a candidate for the legislature,
the opposing candidate being elected by a very small majority. he and his
wife are members of the Missionary Baptist church, and stand well in the
church and community in which they live. The grandfather, Samuel Yopp,
was a native of North Carolina, and when but a young man located on a plantain
in Laurens county, near Turkey creek. he married Elizabeth Hausly, who
was also a native of North Carolina. Memoirs of Georgia
Volume 1,Historical Society of Georgia, 1895
Eileen Babb McAdams Copyright 2004-2005
