A history of Savannah and South Georgia, Volume II, Part 28

Author: Harden, William, 1844-1936
Publication date: 1913
Publisher: Chicago, Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1208

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CHARLES E. ADAMS, general manager of the Vidalia Ice & Coal Company, Vidalia, Georgia, is a native of this state. He is a son of

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James Phillip Adams and wife, Ella ( Thornley) Adams, and was born on his father's farm in Stewart county, one of a family of six children. In the common schools of his native county he received his early educa- tion, and at the age of thirteen years he went to Columbus, where he finished his schooling. His first business enterprise was at Charles, where for about twelve years he was engaged in merchandising. He eame from there to Vidalia in 1909, and that year he and Mr. J. C. May, the furniture dealer of this place, organized the Vidalia Ice & Coal Company, of which Mr. Adams has since been general manager. Their ice plant has a capacity of ten to twelve tons per day, and the demand for ice product is such that it is the intention of the company to increase the capacity the coming year, Vidalia being a vantage point for this business, since a large quantity of ice is required for the refrigerator cars used in handling the fruit shipments to the north. Contrasting with the hard city water, the supply of their plant is soft and is especially adapted for boiler use and is in demand by the rail- roads. The company has a six-year water contract with the different railway lines of the city. Another feature of the business is the han- dling of coal. lime, cement and other building materials.

August 9, 1911, Mr. Adams took to himself a wife, wedding Miss Kate Brown, daughter of Mrs. Alice Brown, a native of North Carolina. Mr. and Mrs. Adams are members of the Baptist church, and, frater- nally, Mr. Adams is identified with the Knights of Pythias. Both his father and grandfather served in the Confederate army during the late war, and fought bravely for their loved Southland.

WILLIAM ROBERT GOOGE, M. D., has been established in Abbeville for the past twenty-two years, and is by long odds the leading member of his, profession in this locality. He was born in Berrien county, Geor- gia, on Jannary 8, 1867, and is the son of Dr. Jas. A. and Annie (Smith) Googe. The father was a prominent surgeon and physician in his day, who was graduated from Oglethorpe Medical College in 1853. He served throughout the Civil war as a surgeon, and died in 1882.

As a boy Dr. Googe attended the common schools of his town and county, and graduated from the Johnsonville high school, after which he attended the Atlanta Medical College, graduating therefrom with the elass of 1890, followed by a post-graduate course in 1902 at Tulane, New Orleans, Louisiana. He immediately located in Abbeville, which has been the scene of his professional labors throughout the long inter- vening years, and where he is known as one of the ablest men in his profession today. Dr. George is the official surgeon of the Sea Board Air Line and is county physician of Wilcox county. He is a mem- ber of the county board of education, and in that capacity has given efficient and valued service to the city and county. He is a member of the Tri-county Medical Association, which embraces Crisp. Dooly and Wilcox counties, and is prominent and active in the welfare and activi- ties of that society.

On Christmas day, in 1892. was solemnized the marriage of Dr. Googe and Fannie Lott, the daughter of Jesse and Mary Lott, of Brox- ton, Coffee county. Mr. Lott is a merchant and planter of that place. and one of the prominent men of his community. The family is one of extraordinary prominence in southern Georgia. Mrs. Googe received her education in the schools of Coffee county, and finished at the Andrew Female College. Seven children were born to Dr. and Mrs. Googe, all of whom are living. Annie, aged eighteen, is a student at the state normal at Athens: Crisp, sixteen years old, is a student at home. as are also Jessie, aged fourteen, Pitman, twelve years old and Alton

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aged nine, while Mary, six years old, and Will, a babe of one year, complete the family.

Dr. and Mrs. Googe are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and the doctor is a member of the Knights of Pythias, and also a Masou, and he is past master and past high priest.

ARTIIUR PERRY JONES. Widely known as manager of the Vidalia Commission Company, which is carrying on a large wholesale and retail business, dealing in grain, provisions, lime, cement, seeds and building material, Arthur Perry Jones is a true type of the energetic and enterprising men who are so materially advancing the mercantile inter- ests of Vidalia, and of Toombs county. A native of South Carolina, his birth occurred at Salkehatchie, Colleton county, May 26, 1878.

His father, Asbury Morgan Jones, was born and reared in Colleton county, South Carolina, and died in Pavo, Georgia, in 1908. He was a veteran of the Civil war, in which he rendered good service. He subsequently carried on a thriving business as a planter and a merchant for many years, in Colleton county, South Carolina, in his operations acquiring considerable property. The maiden name of his wife was Emeline Dassy Mood, of Charleston, South Carolina.

Receiving his early education in the town of his birth, Arthur Perry Jones completed his studies at the Stanley Business College, in Thomas- ville, Georgia. The ensuing year and a half he was employed as a telegraph operator, first with the F. C. & P. Railroad Company, now a branch of the Seaboard, and later with the Georgia Northern Railway Company, at Moultrie, Georgia. Going then to Tifton, Georgia, Mr. Jones was associated with the Western Union Telegraph Company for · four and one-half years. Returning then to Tifton, he was manager of the Postal Company there for two years, after which he conducted a retail grocery in that city for two and one-half years. Disposing then of his store, Mr. Jones was for six months manager of the Postal Com- pany at Thomasville, Georgia, after which he was agent for a year and a half. at Ashburn, for the Gulf Line Railroad Company. Coming from there to Vidalia, Mr. Jones became identified with the Vidalia Commission Company, which was incorporated January 1, 1911, as a stock company, and of which C. L. Herring is now president, and Mr. Jones is the efficient treasurer and general manager. This company was capitalized at $6.000, with the privilege of increasing it to $25.000, when occasion demanded, and is carrying on a rapidly growing business that even now amounts to $35,000 each year. The store occupies a floor space of three thousand, six hundred feet, and is well stocked with all goods handled by commission brokers, including groceries, grain. hay, flour, lard. hams, lime, cement, building materials, roofing. typewriting machines. showcases, and like productions, the business being extensive and luerative.

On October 16. 1901, Mr. Jones was united in marriage with Allie Mae ITarman, who was born, March 25, 1882, in Boston, Georgia, but was brought up and educated in Dixie. Brooks county, where she lived until her marriage. Her father, James Jackson Harman, was born in Ringgold, Georgia. April 17, 1855, and at the age of nine years, during the Civil war, accompanied his parents to Boston, whither they Hed as refugees. On October 15, 1878. Mr. Harman married Sophronia Groven- stein, who was born, March 23, 1857, in Effingham county, Georgia, being a granddaughter of William Grovenstein, who was a lineal de- scendant of that branch of the Salsberger family that settled near Savan- nah, Georgia, in early colonial days.

Six children have been born of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Jones,

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namely : Agnes Lucile died at the age of twelve months; Asbury Har- man, born in 1904; Emily Mae lived but one short year; Martha Perry, born in 1908; Alfred Joseph, born in 1910; and Margaret Louise, born in 1911. Fraternally Mr. Jones is a member of the Knights of Pythias. Religiously he, his wife, and his son Harman, are members of the Meth- odist ehurelı.

ALEXANDER S. MCQUEEN. Energetic, enterprising and progressive, A. S. MeQueen has acquired prominence in business and political cir- cles, being connected with the Citizens Bank of Vidalia, and is now in 1912, running, without opposition. as candidate for justice of the peace in the fifty-first district. A son of the late Philip A. McQueen, he was born, October 4, 1889, in that part of Montgomery county, Georgia, that is now included within the boundaries of Toombs county. He is of pioneer stock, his paternal grandparents, Angus and Harriet (MeMillin) MeQueen, having migrated from North Carolina to Geor- gia, settling in this state as planters, the grandfather subsequently serving in the Confederate army during the Civil war.

Philip A. MeQueen was for many years one of the leading citizens of Toombs county. He served as county school commissioner for five years, in that position doing much to advanee the educational stand- ards. In June, 1908, in company with A. F. Sawyer, R. D. MeQueen established The Toombs County Local, and on January 1, 1909. Mr. Philip A. MeQueen bought Mr. Sawyer's interest in the paper, of which he was subsequently editor and general manager until his death, in July, 1911.

Philip A. McQueen married Minnie R. MeLeod, whose father was born in Toombs county, about four miles from Vidalia, where his an- cestors settled on coming from North Carolina to Georgia. Her father served as a soldier in the Civil war, being a member of General Wheeler's cavalry. Eight children were born of their union, all of whom are living, the five sons being as follows: H. M., assistant eashier of the First National Bank of Lyons. Georgia: R. D .: A. S., whose name we have placed at the head of this sketch : George D .; and Archibald A.

R. D. MeQueen was born on the home farm, in Toombs county, July 8, 1887, and as a boy and youth received excellent educational advan- tages. Since the death of his father he has had the entire control of the Toombs County Local, a weekly publication issued Thursday of each week, and is managing it ably and successfully. He is a young man of considerable prominence in the community, and an active mem- ber of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

A. S. MeQueen is a man of fine scholarly attainments, as a pupil in the Vidalia high school having won the state and first congressional dis- triet medals for the best essays. while at the Vidalia Collegiate Insti- tute he was graduated with honors, being valedictorian of his class. He has sinee studied law and is now justice of the peace. He is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. being now sec- retary of the local lodge, and belongs to the Oriental Order of Pilgrim Knights. Religiously he is a member of the Presbyterian church of Vidalia.

GEN. WILLIAM II. BOURNE. One of the important industrial en- terprises that contribute materially to the commercial prestige of the city of Savannah is the Bourne Lumber Company, of which the gentle- man whose name inaugurates this paragraph is president. He has for many years been one of the aggressive and enterprising business men who have aided in the up-building of the city and is especially well en-

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titled to consideration in this volume. He comes of a prominent southern family, both sides of which produced Revolutionary soldiers and spien- did citizens in times, of peace and he is himself a veteran of the Civil war. He has for a long number of years been engaged in lumber manu- facturing and in various phases of the lumber business.

General Bourne was born in Hanover county, Virginia, November 23, 1844, the son of John H. and Mary A. (MeLeod) Bourne. His father was born at Hanover Court House, Hanover county, Virginia, and came with his family to Georgia in the year 1855. After living a short time in Chatham connty he located permanently in Effingham county, where he established a sawmill, and engaged in lumber manu- facturing and as a planter. He was a successful man of affairs, but died in comparatively carly life, passing away in 1870. at the age of fifty-four. He was the son of Claiborne Bourne, who in turn was the son of Reuben Bourne, both of Hanover county, Virginia, the latter a soldier in the Continental line in the Revolutionary war.

The subject's mother, born in Richmond, Virginia, was the daugh- ter of George W. McLeod, who was the son of Daniel McLeod, a native of Edinburgh, Scotland, who came to America from " the land o' cakes" and settled in Alexandria, Virginia, The maternal grandmother of the subject was Eliza M. (Tinsley ) MeLeod, daughter of Col. Jack Tinsley, of Virginia, who was a soldier in the Revolution. Mrs. John H. Bourne was born in 1822 and died in 1881.

The fact that William H. Bourne was a very young man at the outbreak of the Civil war did not prevent his immediate enlistment and it was his portion to see some of the hardest service of the great con- fliet. In 1861, quite at the beginning of hostilities, he enlisted at Savan- nah for service in the Confederate army, becoming a member of Com- pany H, First Volunteer Regiment of Georgia. Company II was the second company of the Oglethorpe Light Infantry, one of Savannah's famous and historie military companies. In this service he was first engaged at Fort Pulaski, going there in October, 1861, and with the rest of his company he was captured there on May 11, 1862, and taken to Governor's island, New York. From there they were transferred to Fort Delaware, where in August, 1862, the company was exchanged. Upon the reorganization of his company in Savannah, Mr. Bourne con- tinued with it and spent the summer of 1863 on Morris island, partic- ipating in the battle of Battery Wagner. In November, 1863, they returned to Savannah for winter quarters and in the latter part of April, 1864, they joined Mercer's Brigade in north Georgia. They participated in the battle of Lost Mountain, where General Bonrne was wounded, and also in the battles of Kennesaw, Peach Tree Creek, At- lanta, Jonesboro and Lovejoy Station. Mercer's Brigade then went with the army that made the expedition into Tennessee, but on account of other duties, the forces with which Mr. Bourne's company were en- gaged did not engage in the actual fighting at the battle of Franklin. They went on to Nashville, but were not engaged in the battle of Nash- ville, having been sent to Murphysboro under General Forest. Snbse- quently they returned to Georgia, and then into the Carolinas, engag- ing in the battle of Bentonville, and surrendering with Johnston's army at Greensboro, North Carolina. when in the summer of 1865 the war ended. General Bourne enlisted with Company II, as stated above, as a private and remained with the same throughout the war. having been promoted to third sergeant of the company. General Bourne served as commander of the South Georgia Brigade, Georgia Division, United Confederate Veterans.

Following the general occupation of his father, General Bourne has

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praetieally all his life been associated in one way or another with the lumber industry in south Georgia, either as a manufacturer or as a dealer and he has also engaged extensively in the handling of timber lands. He located in Savannah after the war and has ever since resided here, witnessing a phenomenal half century of growth and development and at the same time contributing to it. Ile is the president of the Bourne Lumber Company, incorporated, whose manufacturing plant is located in Liberty county on the Seaboard Air Line Railway, their general offices being in Savannah, at 301-302 National Bank building. The company are manufacturers and wholesale dealers in long and short leaf yellow pine. It also owns the Bourne Brick Manufacturing Company, the plant of which is in Chatham county.

General Bourne was married in Savannah in the year 1869, to Miss Julia Backley, whose demise occurred in 1906. This admirable lady bore her husband five children, all sons, as follows: Walter L., who is secretary and treasurer of the Bourne Lumber Company; Lescoe J., vice-president of the same; Vernon C., engaged in the wholesale produce business at Brunswick, Georgia; Oran Tinsley, of the firm of O. T. Bourne & Company (lumber manufacturers) ; and Frank R., who is mill superintendent for O. T. Bourne & Company. The name of Bourne is well and favorably known throughout Chatham county, father and sons having proved themselves men of exceptionally fine citizenship. General Bourne is a member of the session of Westminster Presbyterian ehurelı.

CAPT. ROBERT G. TUNNO, captain and adjutant in the Savannah Vol- unteer Guards, has been connected with that organization since 1891. Enlisting as a private in Company B, of that battalion. he served in that capacity until 1894, since which time his rise in rank has been gradual, but continuous. He is now captain and adjutant of the entire bat- talion, which consists of four companies,-1, B, C. and D. He has served with entire satisfaction not only to the battalion, but to the state and federal military authorities as well. He has been connected with the naval stores industry almost continuously sinee leaving school.

Born in Savannah, in 1870, Captain Tunno is a lifelong resident of this city. He is the son of Capt. Matthew R. and Isabel C. (King) Tunno, both of whom are residents of Savannah. The father was born in Charleston. South Carolina, and upon the breaking out of the war between the states he entered the Confederate service as a member of the Charleston Light Dragoons, as a private. He later left this organiza- tion and joined the army of the West, becoming post ordnanee officer at Columbus, Kentucky, holding this position until the evacuation of Columbus in September, 1861. IIe then became a staff officer with the rank of captain, on the staff of General Polk. In August, 1863, he was detailed to serve in the ordnance department at Columbus, Missis- sippi, continuing in that service until August, 1864. He then resigned, and again joined the Charleston Light Dragoons at Hixford, Virginia, remaining in active service with them until the close of the war, at which time he was with his command at Hillsboro, North Carolina. In 1866 Captain Tunno and his brother, Maj. William M. Tunno, who had also served with distinetion as an officer in the Confederate army. came to Savannah and engaged in the banking and cotton business. In late years Captain Tunno, the elder, has been retired from active business life. The mother of Capt. Robert G. Tunno is a member of a well- known old Georgia family, and is a native of Savaunah. Members of her family gave service to the cause of the Confederacy, among them being William C. King, first lieutenant of Company A of the Savannah

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Volunteer Guards Battalion. IIe was killed at the battle of Sailors Creek, Virginia, in the latter part of the war. Another of her relatives, Colonel Bayard, was at one time the commander of the battalion. The Kings are also related to the Barrington family, which is descended from Col. Josiah Barrington of the English army who came to Georgia with General Oglethorpe at the time of the settlement of the colony.

Captain Tunno was reared in Savannah and received his schooling in private and public schools of the city and in Porter Academy, Charles- ton. He has led a life of military activity since his early manhood, enlisting on February 9. 1891, as a private in Company B, of the Sa- vannah Guards Battalion (Coast Artillery Corps). February 1. 1900, he was promoted to first lientenant of his company, acting as such until March 13, 1904, at which time he was elected captain of Company B. He served as such until April 28. 1906. when on account of business. he resigned 'from the captaincy. IIe at onee re-enlisted in Company B as a private, and was sergeant and first sergeant of Company B from April 30. 1906. to October 5, 1909, when he was elected to his present position,-that of eaptain and adjutant of the entire battalion of four companies. His record throughout has been one of admirable efficiency, creditable to himself and to a family already distinguished for deeds of valor in a military way.

COL. CORNELIUS ALEX WEDDINGTON. That success is often the result of youthful enthusiasm and the uncompromising honesty that later in life are often battered down in the hard battles men have to fight to even hold a footing in the business world. is shown in the life of Cornelius Alex Weddington of Dublin, Georgia. Dependent on his own efforts for his education, he learned his hard lessons early in life, and entered upon his professional life as a lawyer with a knowledge of the world that does not come to many men until many years of ex- perienee have passed. His success as a lawyer, and his recognized ability as a publie official have been only a just reward of hard and earnest work.

Colonel Weddington was born in Douglas county, Georgia, on the 11th of November. 1874. He is the son of Charles William Wedding- ton and of Virginia L. Weddington, both of whom were born in Douglas county. His father was born in 1843, and his mother in 1853.

The early education of Colonel Weddington was obtained in the country school of Douglasville. Georgia, and after he had gained as much learning as the school master of the the was able to impart he became in turn a school master and until 1894 taught in the country schools of his native state. By dint of rigorous saving he was enabled to enter the University of Athens, at Athens, Georgia, at this time. He was graduated from this institution in 1898. and for a year read law with Dorsey Brewster and Howell of Atlanta. Ile was admitted to the bar in 1899.

Shortly after his admission to the bar, on the 5th of January 1900. he eame to Dublin, Georgia, and began his practice of the law. ITis ability was speedily recognized and in 1903 he was elected city attor- ney, which office he held for a term of two years. In 1911 he was made city clerk, his term to expire in July, 1913. His rapid advance in his profession may be accounted for by the fact that he is possessed naturally of a keen logical mind and a capacity for hard work, but his speedy elevation to office is due to the fact that he has the highest regard for his profession and is one of that group of lawyers who are endeavoring to lift the stigma of corruption and dishonesty from the bar.

On the 18th of December. 1901, Colonel Weddington was married

CenWellington

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to Georgia Smith. His wife is the daughter of J. D. Smith, a man well known throughout the state for his activity in state affairs. Three children have been born to them. Virginia was born on the 27th of October, 1902, Gladys on September 15, 1907, and the youngest. a son, C. A. Jr., on the 15th of December, 1900. All of the children were born in Dublin. Mrs. Weddington received her education in the schools of Dublin and finished at the seminary at La Grange, Georgia.

Colonel Weddington is very prominent in the varions fraternal or- ganizations of which he is a member. He is a Mason, being a member of Olivet Commandery of Knights Templars, No. 27, and is a Noble of the Mystie Shrine, belonging to Al Sihah Temple of Macon, Georgia. In the Knights of Pythias Colonel Weddington holds the office of Past Chancellor, in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows he is a Past Grand and also Past Exalted Ruler of Dublin lodge 1163 of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. These various offices are the strongest evidence of Colonel Weddington's fine qualities as a man among men.

NICHOLAS PETER CORISH. a native born resident of Savannah and clerk of the eity council since 1907. is the son of Richard and Ellen (Stafford) Corish, both natives of County Wexford. Ireland, born there in the year 1829, who eame to the United States in their early years.

With the breaking out of the war between the states, Richard Corish promptly enlisted at Savannah in the Irish Jasper Greens, and for the first few months of the war was stationed at Fort Pulaski, near Savan- nah. The Irish Jasper Greens were a part of the First Volunteer Regi- ment of Georgia and were a notable company of brave and efficient soldiers. Later in the course of the war Mr. Corish was captured and confined as a prisoner of war at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, where he underwent severe hardships and almost suffered starvation, his sole food for a long time consisting of nothing more than raw Irish potatoes. As a result of the intense suffering caused by the unhealthful eondi- tions of the prison and the continued starvation rations, Mr. Corish was strieken with paralysis within a few years after the elose of the war. Following the return of peace he had been successfully engaged in the tailoring business in Savannah, but his illness eaused the discontinu- anee of the family ineome, and for a time the condition of the family was most serious. Mr. Corish died January 3, 1903, after a long and lingering illness, during which time his patient and courageous wife sneeeeded in rearing their children to years of usefulness and maintained the home comfortably and happily. She died Jannary 24, 1910, after a long and useful life.

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A history of Savannah and South Georgia, Volume II, Part 28

Author: Harden, William, 1844-1936 Publication date: 1913 Publisher: Chicago, Lewis Publishing Company Number of Pages: 1208

Author: Harden, William, 1844-1936
Publication date: 1913
Publisher: Chicago, Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1208