A history of Savannah and South Georgia, Volume II, Part 32

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

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One of the organizers of the Waycross Exchange Bank, Mr. Sweat served as its president from its formation until 1910, and is now one of its direetors. He was one of the six men who erected the Hotel La Grande block; is a stockholder in the Consolidated Naval Stores Com- pany; a director in the Citizens Bank of Douglas, Georgia; a stock- holder in the Southern Naval Stores Company ; a stockholder, and vice- president, of the Texas Turpentine Company; a stockholder in the State Life Insurance Company; and a stockholder and the vice-presi- dent of the Newillard Naval Stores Company of Texas.

Politically Mr. Sweat is a stanch Democrat, but has been too much absorbed in his personal affairs to engage in politics, although he has served as a member of the city couneil. Fraternally he belongs to Waycross Lodge, No. 305. Ancient Free and Accepted Order of Masons; religiously both he and his wife are consistent members of the Meth- odist Episcopal church.

Mr. Sweat has been twice married. On April 27, 1887, he was united in marriage with Miss Mollie MeDonald, who was born in Ware county, Georgia, a daughter of William A. and Mary Ann ( Deen) MeDonald. She died December 7, 1592. leaving two children. James Lester and Vera E. Mr. Sweat married second, May 14, 1901. Susan E. MeDon- ald, a daughter of Col. William A. and Rebecca ( Thompson) MeDon- ald. Of this union six children have been born, namely : Thehna

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Lueille, Lillian Marie, Carey MeDonald, Ralph Franklin, Juniatta Rebecea, and Norman Aneil.

JAMES EVERETT GORNTO, now a resident of Valdosta, is a son of a soldier of the Confederacy and a grandson of one of the earliest set- tlers in this section of the state, and by these distinctions and by his own career as a worthy and progressive eitizen he is entitled to mention among the representative men of southern Georgia. His nativity oe- eurred June 24, 1854, in that part of Lowndes county that is now ineluded in Brooks county, Georgia, and he is a son of James Gornto, who was born in Laurens county of the Empire state of the South. The grandfather, Nathan Gornto, was a stock-raiser in Laurens county, but as the country became more thickly settled and grazing facilities fewer he pushed on to the frontier and located in what is now Brooks county but then was included in Lowndes county. He purchased land there and grazed his herds on large traets that were vaeant, for at that time all of southern Georgia was sparsely settled. There were no railroads and no markets for produee nearer than the gulf ports, and the few farmers here at that time took their surplus erops to St. Marks or Newport, Florida with teams. As the land began to be taken up by settlers and farmed, he sold his land to a Mr. Spain and took his herds of cattle into Madison county, Florida, where he pur- chased land and where he continued to reside until his death when about ninety years of age. His wife was Esther Burnett before her marriage and she too lived to be full of years. The most of their deseendants are located in Florida. Their son James, the father of James Everett, was but a boy when the family settled in Brooks county and was reared amid pioneer scenes. He began his independent career by working out on a farm and soon became an overseer, continuing thus employed several years. Later he bought land west of Quitman, Geor- gia, but after operating it several years he sold it and purehased another farm south of Quitman on which he resided thenceforward until his death at the age of eighty. In 1864 he joined the Georgia Reserves and went to the defense of Atlanta, serving with that command until the elose of the war. He wedded Miss Mahala Dean, a daughter of John and Jane Dean, and she reached the age of seventy-eight years. They were the parents of seven children, namely: Jane, James E., Lavinia, Annie, Daniel, Sally and Elijah.

James Everett Gornto, the second of this family in order of birth, was the eldest son and as he grew up under the home roof his experi- enees were those which naturally come to a boy eommendably assisting his parents in developing a productive farm, and while they were not notably different from those of many others, eaeh had its value in developing self-relianee and the habits of industry and thrift. His earlier years of independent activity were spent as a farmer, and though he has not been following that voeation personally in reeent years he has never ceased to be interested in agricultural pursuits and has an estate a short distance from Valdosta which he operates by the help of tenants. Upon leaving the farm he took up his resi- dence in Quitman, where he elerked for a time and where he served as marshal three years; then in 1897 he removed to Valdosta. where he has since resided. Mr. Gornto has been thrice married. On Jan- uary 1, 1874, he was united to Miss Fannie Groover, a daughter of Henry Groover, who at her death in 1879 left two danghters, Lavinia and Fanny. His second marriage occurred in 1882 when he wedded Miss Fanny Lightfoot, daughter of Dr. T. J. Lightfoot. At her death in February, 1889, there were left three children, Katie, Beulah and

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Samuel. In November, 1889, Mr. Gornto took as his third wife Miss Ella Roberts, a daughter of Ashley G. Roberts, and to their union have been born three children, Lorenzo, Flora and James Everett, Jr. Mr. Gornto is. a Democrat in polities and cast his first vote for Samuel J. Tilden for president. Fraternally he is affiliated with the Valdosta Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons and with the chapter of Royal Arch Masons in the same city and belongs to Alee Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. He is also a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.

REMER YOUNG LANE. The president of the Merchants Bank of Val- dosta is one of the oldest residents of Lowndes county. and for more than half a century has been closely identified with its agricultural and business development. A pioneer himself, Mr. Lane also represents a family of Georgia pioneers, and its members have been worthily con- nected with civic affairs and business enterprise in America from before the Revolutionary war down to the present.

Remer Young Lane was born in that part of Emanuel now known as Jenkins county, Georgia, on November 18, 1826. His grandfather, Abrahamn Lane, a native of Duplin county, North Carolina, was one of seven brothers each of whom gave soldier's service to the cause of independence during the Revolutionary war. Soon after the close of that struggle he came into Georgia, locating in what is now Jenkins county, and took a pioneer's part as a settler and upbuilder of that region. Practically all of Georgia was then a wilderness, the land not yet surveyed, and many years passed before all the Indian titles were quieted. In this sparsely settled region he acquired several thousand acres, and spent the rest of his years in the management and cultiva- tion of his broad aeres. He died in 1826, aged eighty-one years. His wife, whose maiden name was Martha Wood, passed away some years before him.

John Lane, son of Abraham and father of the Valdosta banker, was born also in the present Jenkins county on April 1, 1795, and was reared amid pioneer seenes. Following in the footsteps of his father, he became a planter and with slave labor condueted a large estate. His death occurred at the early age of forty years. He married Mary Heath, who was born and reared in the same neighborhood with him. Her father, a native of Charlotte, North Carolina, was Louis Heath, who married a Miss Vickers. John Lane and wife had five children, and after the father's death the mother directed the home plantation and kept the children together until they had homes of their own. She lived to the age of about seventy years.

Remer Young Lane was in his ninth year when his father died, and he lived at the old home until he was twenty-one, being educated in the schools of the neighborhood. On leaving home he established a store at "No. 8" on the line of the Georgia Central in Burke connty, and continued there for seven or eight years. The date of his settle- ment in Lowndes county was 1855, fifty-eight years ago. At that time the county comprised a large territory in southern Georgia. and the county seat was Troupville. Near Clyatville he bought a large traet of new land, and with the aid of slaves developed and farmed it for a number of years. Agrienlture was his regular vocation until 1875, in which year he located in Valdosta. In association with Hon. A. T. Melntyre of Thomasville he engaged in banking. a business with which his name has been substantially identified ever since, and he is one of the oldest bankers of south Georgia. In 1889 he organized the Mer- chants Bank of Valdosta, and has been president of this institution ever

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since. Mr. Lane is one of the largest land owners of Lowndes county, his holdings comprising over four thousand acres, and through its management and his other business enterprises he has been for years one of the largest producers of aetual wealth in this seetion of the state.

On September 13, 1855, Mr. Lane married Miss Henrietta Brin- son. She too is a descendant of Georgia pioneers. Her parents were Mills M. and Sarah ( Hines) Brinson, natives of Sereven and Burke counties respectively. Mr. and Mrs. Lane have reared seven children, namely: Mary, Walter Thompson. Mills B., John, Augustus II., Ed- ward W. and Ben. Mary is the wife of E. P. S. Denmark, and her five children are Remer Z .. Elisha P .. Augustus H .. Irwin and Mary Estelle. Walter T., a resident of Valdosta. married Katherine Gairard. who died, leaving three children, Katrina. Almerine and Walter T. J .: Mills B., who is president of the Citizens and Southern Bank at Savan- nah, married Mary Homer. and their children are Mary, Remer Y. and Mills B .; John, who is a planter in Lowndes county, married Emma Tillman, now deceased, and their children are Mills B. and Isaiah T .: Augustus II., the fifth child. is deceased; Edward W., who is presi- dent of the Atlantic National Bank of Jacksonville, Florida, married Anna Tollivar, and has two children, James T. and Edward Wood. Ben, the youngest of the family, is engaged in business at Douglas in Coffee county. One of Mr. Lane's granddaughters, Katrina Lane, mar- ried William Ashley, and their child, Mary Katrina, represents the fourth living generation.

BENJAMIN P. JONES, the president of the Valdosta Bank and Trust Company has had a long career in business, has won prosperity and infinence much above that of the average man, and yet began with little or nothing and for a number of years had a hard struggle with the obstacles of business life. Mr. Jones is one of the prominent eiti- zens of south Georgia, and has been identified with Valdosta from the time it was a small village.

Mr. Benjamin P. Jones was born June 25, 1837, in that part of Camden now Charlton county, Georgia. His grandfather was James Jones, thought to have been a native of Georgia, who was a Camden eounty planter, having a number of slaves, and died there at the age of seventy-five, his remains now reposing in the Buffalo churchyard. He married a Miss Davis, who was npwards of eighty when she died, and they reared a large family of children. They were Primitive Bap- tists in religion.

Burrell Jones, father of the Valdosta banker, was born in Wayne county, Georgia, April 29, 1803. About the time of his marriage he bought land near Folkston, living there a few years, and about 1840 returned to Wayne county and located on a farm near the pres- ent site of Lulaton, where he made his home until his death in 1877. He married Mary Margaret (known as Peggy) Mizell, who was born in Bulloch county, Angust 9. 1809. Her father, Jesse Mizell, of English stock and a native of North Carolina, was a soldier of the Revolution under JJasper at Savannah and with Marion during that leader's valor- ons exenrsions against the British. He was with the command when it crossed the Peedee river, first lay blankets on the bridge to deaden the sound of the horses' hoofs, and in this way surprised the enemy. Some years after the Revolution Jesse Mizell came to Georgia. living two years in Camden county. and then moved into the interior. settling near the present site of Folkston in Charlton county, where he bought land and was engaged in farming and stock raising until his death

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at the age of abonty sixty. He married a Miss Stallings, a native of North Carolina and of Dutch ancestry. Mary M. Mizell, the mother of Mr. Jones, spent her early life on the Georgia frontier, and for the lack of educational advantages she compensated by her great natural ability and foree of character. Her husband was for many years an invalid, and the care of the children devolved entirely upon her. She reared them to habits of industry and honor. and they paid her all filial reverence. Her death occurred in 1885. Her nine children were named as follows: Harley, Joseph, Benjamin P., Margaret, James B .. Nancy C., Harriet, Jasper N. and Newton J. Harley and Joseph were Confederate soldiers and died during their service for the sonthern cause.

Though in his youth he had little opportunity to obtain an educa- tion, Benjamin P. Jones managed to obtain an education largely through his own efforts at self-improvement and an. ingrained habit of elose observation. When he was seventeen he became a teacher, and while he did good service while in this occupation it may be remembered that qualifications for teaching were not very high at that period. Anyone could teach who could find others who knew less than himself, and there was no formality of examination. Intellectual curiosity was a passion with him from an early age, and the time most children give to play with their comrades he devoted to association in company with his elders, thus learning by listening. When he was twelve years old he once attended a court session, listening attentively to the evidence and the charge to the jury. At recess the judge asked why he was so absorbed in the proceedings. The boy replied that it was because he wanted to learn, and then asked the judge why he charged the jury as he did. That was equity, responded the judge, and after explaining the meaning of that word told the boy that if he ever had occasion to make out papers to make them out in accordance with equity and justice and he would sanction them if brought before his court. Chop- ping cotton at twenty-five cents a day and board was the means by which Mr. Jones earned his first money. A little later he became clerk in a general store at Lulaton, and after a time engaged in busi- ness for himself at Stockton, Georgia. Hardly had his trade started when a panie paralyzed all business, and he found himself in debt fifteen hundred dollars, which took him some time to pay off.

Early in 1861 Mr. Jones enlisted in Company D of the Twenty- sixth Georgia Infantry, and was with that connnand in the coast defense until the regiment was ordered to Virginia, when he secured a substi- tute. Confederate money was then plentiful but away below par, and he bought a farm for three thousand dollars, at war-time prices, going in debt for the greater part of this amount. He was busily engaged in farming until 1864, when he enlisted with the Georgia Reserves, being commissioned first lientenant and being in actual command of his company. The Reserves went to the defense of Atlanta, but from Griffin his company was sent back to recruit and apprehend deserters, and he was on detached duty until the close of the war. After making three crops on his farm he sold the land for four hundred dollars, and with that money and what he had realized from his erops engaged in the mercantile business at Milltown in Berrien connty. Nine days after opening his store an epidemic of smallpox broke out, he was quar- antined fifty-two days, and at the end of that time offered to sell his entire stock for three hundred dollars but could not find a buyer. Owing to this circumstance he went on with his business, at the same time buying cotton and dealing in live stock, and in four years had so reversed the current of his previous fortunes that he had cleared

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up fourteen thousand dollars. Then selling out at Milltown he went to southern Florida, where he opened two stores and established a grist and saw mill, and was engaged in business there until 1874, when ill health compelled him to make a change. He sacrificed eight thousand dollars by the move, and then came to Valdosta, which was then a village. Here he bought an established general store and a home for three thousand dollars, and was prosperously identified with the mer- eantile enterprise of. this eity for twenty years. In 1894 Mr. Jones organized the Valdosta Guano Company, and in 1906 the Valdosta Bank & Trust Company, of which he has since been president, with his son C. L. as cashier.

On June 25, 1862, Mr. Jones married Miss Elizabeth Knight, who was born in Clinch county, October 18, 1843, representing an old family of southern Georgia. Her grandfather, Rev. William Knight, was a pioneer preacher in this part of the state. He married a Miss Cone. Jonathan Knight, the father of Mrs. Jones, was born in that part of Lowndes now Berrien county, and spent his life as a farmer in Clinch and Berrien counties. Mr. and Mrs. Jones reared thirteen children, named as follows: Jonathan H., Charles Lee, Frances M. Mckenzie; Lillie Roberts, Samuel W., Elizabeth Fry, Benjamin U .. Jimmie Staten Green, Eulah Norris, Pearl Mashburn, Lloyd E., Lotta and Audrey Terry.

Mr. Jones has been identified with the Masonic order since he was twenty-seven years old. He is a member of the Economic League of Boston, Massachusetts, a society for the betterment of mankind. He has been one of the influential men in political life for many years. His first presidential vote was cast for John C. Breckenridge in 1860. He was opposed to secession. in a speech in which he said that if the sixteen southern states would all go out in a body, taking the consti- tution in one hand and the flag in the other, he would favor the move- ment with his vote, but not otherwise. In subsequent years he has served as delegate to many county and state conventions, was a dele- gate to the national conventions that nominated General Hancock and Grover Cleveland, and was also one of the sound-money Democratic delegates of 1896 who nominated Palmer and Buckner. Since 1898 he has not been allied with any party, and as a free lance has supported the individual who best represents his ideas of government.

CHARLES B. PEEPLES. When a lad of six years Mr. Peeples came to Valdosta with his parents, and saw Valdosta grow from a incre hamlet to one of the flourishing cities of south Georgia and he took a very important part in its business and civic enterprise during these years.

Charles B. Peeples was born at Milltown, on September 2, 1854. He represents one of the old families of this part of the state. His grandfather, Henry Peeples, a descendant of pure Scotch stock, was a native of South Carolina, which was his home until 1835. With his own wagons and teams he then brought his family and household goods from his old home near Anderson to Jackson county, Georgia, later bought land in Ilall county, where he was both a farmer and merchant. In 1848 he came to Lowndes connty, settling on Flat creek about two and a half miles from where Allapaha now stands, and there established a store, the locality hence taking the name of "People's Store." He continued in active business until his death at the age of sixty years. He married a Miss Smith, and the names of their eight children were Jackson, Thompson, Cincinnatns. JJohn, Anson, Edwin, Richard and Josephine.

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Judge Richard A. Peeples, father of Charles B., was born in South Carolina in 1829, and during his lifetime became one of the prominent men of south Georgia. His early years were spent in Hall county, where he made the best of his school opportunities and became a well educated man. During his youth he began helping his father in the store and continued with him until the latter's death. After his mar- riage he located at Milltown and was engaged in saw-milling for a time. Upon the organization of Berrien county in 1856 he was elected clerk of the superior court, removing his residence to Nashville, which was then but a mere hamlet, far from railroads. That was his home until 1860, at which date he moved to the new town of Valdosta, buying land in that town that adjoined the county's land. While clerk of court in Berrien county he had studied law, and on being admitted to the bar opened an office as one of the first lawyers resident in Val- dosta. During the war between the states, he commanded a company of Georgia Reserves, being stationed at Savannah until the capture of that city, and then in Columbia, South Carolina. After the fall of the latter city he was sent home sick, and was unable to rejoin his command before the close of the war. He was engaged in active prac- tice at Valdosta until his death, which occurred in 1892. For twelve years he filled the office of city judge, and was one of the influential Democrats and public-spirited citizens of this part of the state. He was twice married. His first wife, whose maiden name was Sarah J. K. Camp and who was the mother of Charles B., was a native of Jackson county, and her death occurred at the age of thirty-two. Her father, Berryman Camp, was born in Jackson county in 1800, followed farming there many years, and later settled near Cedartown in Polk county, where he died. He married a Miss Lyle. The second wife of Judge Peeples was Sarah Virginia Dent, who is still living. By the first marriage there were four children-Henry C., Charles B., Mary Emma and Sally. The five children of the second marriage were Wal- ter, Etta, Alexander, Fannie and Cincinnatus.

Charles B. Peeples during his youthful years in Valdosta attended the public schools, and when sixteen years old began learning the trade of brick layer, which he followed two years. For five years he sold sewing machines, then conducted a mereantile business until 1880, at which time he became a clerk for the Atlantic Coast Railroad Company, continuing five years. From 1887 Mr. Peeples conducted a successful business in the sale of builders' materials at Valdosta, and was one of the oldest merchants of the city.

On March 11, 1880 he was married to Lilla C. Keller. Mrs. Peeples, whose ancestry on both sides included some of the first settlers of Georgia, was born in Effingham county and was a daughter of Thomas M. and Margaret ( Weisenbaker ) Keller. Mr. Peebles was and his wife is a member of the Missionary Baptist church. As a Democrat he served several terms in the city council, was mayor for one term, and for ten years was chairman of the board of county commissioners. Fra- ternally he was a member of Phoenix Lodge. I. O. O. F. Mr. Peeples died October 6. 1912. and was buried in the Valdosta cemetery. Their adopted daughter is Mrs. T. B. Converse of Valdosta.

RANDOLPH AVERA. One of the first men to engage in mercantile business at Quitman was Randolph Avera, who died at his home in Quitman, December 22. 1912. Mr. Avera was born in Washington county, Georgia, on May 21, 1826. His father, David Avera, was born in the same county, February 2. 1800, where he was reared and mar- ried, and in 1828 moved to Crawford county, where he bought a planta-

Randolph Avera.

Mary Jane Avena

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RESIDENCE OF MRS. RANDOLPHI AVERA BUILT IN 1859

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tion and operated it with his slaves for upwards of twenty years. He was also a member of the legislature. He then moved to the adjoining county of Ilouston, where he spent the rest of his days and died at the age of seventy-six in 1876. He married Elizabeth Hood. She was born in Washington county, and was a danghter of William Hood, a planter and lifelong resident of that county. David Avera and wife reared twelve children.

Randolph Avera spent his youth on the home farm and at the age of twenty-one began his independent career even with the world. He took up the carpenter's trade, and having served his apprenticeship followed it in various places until 1859. In that year he located at the new town of Quitman and with a brother established a store. He built the first brick store and set out the first shade trees-French mulberry. The town as yet had no railroad communication, and it was necessary to haul all goods in wagons from Dupont, forty miles away. When the war broke out Mr. Avera tendered his service to the Confederate government as a mechanie, and up to the close of the war was employed in the ear-shops at Thomasville. After the war he was identified chiefly with the management of his home estate near Quitman, and lived retired up to the time of his death.

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A history of Savannah and South Georgia, Volume II, Part 32

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