USA > Georgia > Chatham County > Savannah > A history of Savannah and South Georgia, Volume II > Part 36
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Mrs. Thompson is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and is identified with the various organizations of that church.
HON. JAMES MATHEWS GRIGGS. A man of superior judgment and rare discrimination, thoroughly progressive and public-spirited. Hon. James Mathews Griggs, late of Dawson, attained distinction not only for his loyal citizenship and unquestioned legal ability, but for the services he rendered his fellow-men as a public servant. Summoned from the scene of his earthly endeavors while vet in the midst of life's most useful and honorable activities, his death having occurred Janu- ary 5, 1910, his name will be held in loving remembrance and lasting honor in the annals of Terrell county. A native of Georgia, he was born, Mareh 29, 1861, in La Grange, Tromp county, of Welsh ancestry, being fifth in direct line of descent from the immigrant ancestor, his Vol. II-16
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lineage being thus traced : William,1 John,2 Wesley,3 Angustus Frank- lin + and James Mathews.
William 1 Griggs was born and reared in Wales. In early manhood he came to America, accompanied by a brother who settled in New England, while he located in Virginia. During the Revolution he fought with the Colonists in their struggle for freedom, after which he settled permanently near Norfolk, Virginia, where he spent his remaining years.
John 2 Griggs was born and educated in Virginia, but when ready to begin life for himself migrated to Georgia, locating in Ilancock county, which was his home for many years. Ile died, however, in .Harris county, and his body was there buried on his son's plantation. The maiden name of his wife was Rebecca Pritchett. Wesley 3 Griggs en- gaged in agricultural pursuits, and with the help of slaves cleared and improved a valuable plantation in Putnam county, near Eatonton. He married Nancy Elizabeth Brown. a daughter of Jeremiah and Annie (Beasley) Brown, life-long residents of Clark county, Georgia.
Augustus Franklin + Griggs was born on the oll home plantation in Putnam county, and was there brought up. He finished his educa- tion at Mercer University. Soon after the breaking out of the war between the states, he enlisted in Company E, Forty-first Georgia Vol- unteer Infantry, under command of Capt. Charles A. MeDaniel. At Murfreesboro he joined Capt. C. B. Ferrell's Artillery Company, in which he served faithfully until the close of the conflict. He subse- quently embarked in mercantile pursuits, first at La Grange, and later in Atlanta, Georgia, where he continued in business until his death, in 1870. Ile married Elizabeth Rebecca Mathews, who was born in Stewart county, Georgia, of distinguished ancestry. having been a descendant in the fifth generation from Isaac Mathews, who was a grandson of Sir Thomas Mathews, of Mathews county, Virginia, and a lineal descendant of Sir David Mathews, of Llandaff, Wales.
Isaac 3 Mathews, third in descent from Sir Thomas Mathews, the immigrant, married his cousin. Mary Mathews, who, like himself, was a Virginian by birth. Mary Mathews was the fifth in line of descent from one Samuel Mathews, the line being thus traced: Samuel,1 Sam- uel,2 John," Samuel.+ and Mary ?. Samuell Mathews was born in Eng- land. a son of Tobias Mathews. When yonng he was sent by King James the First to Virginia, and by him appointed commander of the British army, later being made governor of the colony of Virginia. This Gov- ernor Samuel 1 Mathews married a danghter of Sir Thomas Hinton of Virginia. Their son, Samuel " Mathews, represented Warwick county, in the years 1652 and 1655, in the Virginia assembly. He was active in military and public affairs, having served as lieutenant colonel in the King's army, and as a member of the King's council. John 3 Mathews, the next in line of descent, was born in Virginia, and became a citizen of prominence. He married Elizabeth, the only daughter, and the heiress. of Michael Taverner. of York county, Virgina. and subsequently ocenpied the old Mathews homestead, "Denbeigh." near Blunt Point, Virginia. Samuel + Mathews; father of Mary Mathews. married a Miss Braxton, and their daughter Mary, as mentioned above, became the wife of Isaac # Mathews, and their son Moses was the great- grandfather of Elizabeth Rebecca Mathews.
Moses . Mathews learned the trade of a gun maker in Virginia. his native state, and when ready to establish himself in business removed to Winfield. South Carolina, where, during the Revolutionary war he made guns for General Sumter. Ilis wife, whose maiden name was Sarah Findley, was born and bred in Virginia.
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Their son, Rev. James . Mathews, went from Virginia to South Caro- lina, and did service as a soldier in the Revolutionary war. Soon after the close of the conflict he settled in Lineoln county, Georgia, where he bought a plantation, and in addition to his agricultural labors served as pastor of a Baptist church in Burke county, a brief aeconnt of his pastorate being given in Campbell's History of the Georgia Baptists. The maiden name of his wife was Rebecca Carlton. She was born, reared and educated in old Virginia. Her father, Rob- ert Carlton, who, with his brother. Thomas Carlton, emigrated from England to America, settling in King and Queen county. Virginia, where he married a Miss Wafford. He fought with the colonists in their struggle for independence, and later, in 1785, migrated with his family to Georgia, becoming a pioneer settler of Wilkes county, where he spent his remaining days.
Rev. James " Mathews entered the ministry when a young man, and for a time preached in Wilkes county. Moving from there to Stewart county, he bought a plantation in the vicinity of Lumpkin, and for many years carried on farming with the help of slaves. He held pastorates in Lumpkin and Benevolenee, and served as one of the first moderators of the Bethel Association. He died when but fifty years old, on his home plantation. He married Kiturah Pope, a de- scendant in the sixth generation from Lieutenant Colonel Nathaniel Pope, who was styled "A Gentleman of England," the line of descent being as follows: Lieutenant Colonel Nathaniel 1 Pope, Nathaniel 2 Pope, Nathaniel 3 Pope, John + Pope, John Henry 5 Pope, Capt. John " Pope, and Kitnrah? Pope.
Lieut. Col. Nathaniel 1 Pope sailed from Bristol, England, for Ameriea in 1634, and located in Maryland, where he became a leader in affairs of state, in 1637 and 1638 serving as a member of the Mary- land house of burgesses. Prior to 1650 he was granted by King Charles the First ten hundred and fifty acres of land in Westmoreland county, Virginia, and immediately assumed its possession, naming his new home place Pope's Creek. In 1652 he was appointed lieutenant colonel of militia, and had among his officers, as major, his son-in-law, Jolin Washington, great-grandfather of George Washington. Nathan- iel 2 Pope married Mary Sissons. Their son, Nathaniel 3 Pope, through whom the line of descent was continued, married Jane Brooks Brown, and continued a resident of Virginia until his death. Their son John + married his cousin, Elizabeth Pope. John Henry 5 Pope, a native of Vir- ginia, married Mary Burwell. He was an ensign in the Revolutionary army, serving in North Carolina. After the war he eame to Georgia, settling in Wilkes county, where he remained a resident until his death, in 1804. Of his five sons, one died ere the family left North Carolina, and the others settled in Georgia.
Capt. John " Pope commanded a company of North Carolina troops in the Revolutionary war, and after locating in Georgia had command of a body of sokliers in Wilkes county. Ile married Elizabeth Smith, and both spent their last years in Wilkes county. Kiturah ? Pope, who became the wife of Rev. JJames" Mathews, survived him, and married for her second husband Henry Long. She died, at the age of seventy- six years, in Senoia, Georgia.
Elizabeth Rebecca . Mathews, mother of Hon. James Mathews Griggs, married first at a very early age Ephraim Smith Vernal. After his death she became the wife of Angustus Franklin . Griggs, whom she sur- vived, passing away in Dawson, Georgia, June 21, 1910, having then lived a widow for forty years. She reared four children, as follows: Ella Vernal ; James Mathews, the special subject of this sketch ; Charles Brown, and Angustus Pope.
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IIon. James Mathews > Griggs acquired his elementary education in the public schools of Senoia. After the death of his father he made his home for a time with Dr. Albert Mathews, in Elberton, where he eon- tinued his studies in the public schools. Subsequently completing the course of study in the Peabody Normal School, at Nashville, Tennessee, Mr. Griggs went from there to Palatka, Florida, where for two years he was principal of schools. Desirous of entering the legal profession, he then began the study of law in Canton, Georgia, with Hon. George Brown, and was admitted to the bar in 1884. Locating immediately in Jackson, Georgia, Mr. Griggs was for awhile there associated with JJudge Marcus Beek. Going then to Berrien county, he embarked in journalistic work, editing a paper in Alapha.
Taking up his residence in Dawson in 1885, Mr. Griggs soon built up an extensive and lerative law patronage, and likewise beeame prom- inent and influential in publie affairs. From 1888 until 1893 he was solicitor general of the Pataula Cireuit Court, and from 1893 until 1896 was judge of the Superior Court, Pataula Cireuit. In 1896 Mr. Griggs was elected to represent the Third Congressional District of Georgia in the United States Congress, and gave such eminent satisfaction in that high position that he was continued as a representative to Congress by re-election until his death, in 1910. He served on many important com- mittees, including that of Committee on Ways and Means. Mr. Griggs was not known as a temperance man or a church worker. but he won recognition as an able lawyer and legislator, and was popular with the masses.
On July 14, 1886. Mr. Griggs was united in marriage with Miss Theo- dosia Stewart, who was born in Randolph county, Georgia, a daughter of IIon. Daniel Randall Stewart, and granddaughter of John Stewart. who was for more than four score years a resident of Georgia. Mrs. Griggs's great-grandfather, Daniel Randall Stewart, was born and bred in Scotland, and there married Margaret Smith. Shortly after that im- portant event, he came with his bride to America. crossing the ocean in 1800, and loeating first in Buncombe county, North Carolina. Coming from there to Georgia in 1816, he purchased a traet of land bordering on Tobesofkee creek. in Bibb county. At that time all of South Georgia was in its primeval wildness, Indians claiming the country roundabout as their happy hunting grounds, while the forests were inhabted by deer. turkeys, and wild animals of many kinds. He subsequently moved to Marion county, where he resided until his death, at the advanced age of four score and four years.
John Stewart was quite young when brought by his parents to Georgia. When ready to establish a home of his own. he bought land in Randolph county, and was there engaged in general farming until his death, at the venerable age of eighty-nine years. Ilis wife, whose maiden name was Catherine Giles, died when but forty-three years old. She was a danghter of John and Mary (Tarver) Giles, the former of whom was born in Jones county, Georgia, and the latter in Hancock county, of Virginian ancestry.
Honorable Daniel Randall Stewart, father of Mrs. Griggs, was born in Marion county. Georgia, and there obtained his early education in the rural schools. When seventeen years old he enlisted for service in the war between the states, joining the first body of state troops, and with his command going to the coast. Afterwards becoming a member of Company G, Fifty-fifth Georgia Volunteer Infantry, he served until the close of the confliet. Two of his older brothers served throughout the entire war, and a younger brother was an active participant during the latter part of the conflict. After the war, he was for a time employed
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as a clerk in the store of Captain Ben Smith, at Cuthbert, and later bonght a farm lying twelve miles south of Cuthbert, and there spent the remainder of his aetive life engaged in agricultural pursuits. Active and alert. and possessing sound judgment and good executive ability, he was successful from the beginning of his career, by means of thrift and excellent management accumulating a fortune. On retiring from active business, he moved to Dawson, where his death occurred at the age of three score and ten years. Mr. Stewart became prominent in public affairs, for upwards of twenty years serving as jury commissioner, while for two terms he was representative to the State Legislature, and for one term was state senator.
The maiden name of the wife of Honorable Daniel Randall Stewart ·was Nancy Olivia Pope. She was born in Washington county, Georgia, a daughter of Reverend Wiley Mobley Pope, and is now living in Daw- son with Mrs. Griggs, her only child. Her paternal grandfather, Jona- than Pope, was born and bred in Virginia, from there going as a young man to Sampson county, North Carolina, where he resided several years. In 1814 he migrated to Georgia, settling in Laurens county, where he bought a traet of wild land, and began the pioneer task of clearing and improving a farm. He was making very good progress in his work when, three years later, in 1817, he passed to the life beyond.
Jonathan Pope married Elizabeth Cooper, who was born in Duplin county, North Carolina, a daughter of Reverend Fleet Cooper, Jr. Her grandfather, Fleet. Cooper, Sr., who married Emily Anders, a life-long resident of North Carolina, was one of the signers of the North Carolina Oath of Allegiance and Abjuration passed by the Assembly at Newbern, November 15, 1777. He was exempt from taxes in Duplin county, where, as far as is known, he spent his entire life. His son, Reverend Fleet Cooper, Jr .. was a prominent preacher in North Carolina, holding pastor- ates in various Baptist churches, and both he and his father received large grants of land in Duplin county. The maiden name of his wife was Sarah Seott.
Reverend Wiley Mobley Pope was born in Sampson county, North Carolina. Studying for the ministry, he became a Baptist preacher, and after coming to Georgia held pastorates in both Laurens and Washing- ton counties. After the death of his wife he moved to Randolph county, and for several years filled the pulpit of the Rehobeth Baptist Church, near Shellman. He married Martha Williams Bryan, whose father, Jason Bryan, migrated from North Carolina, his native state, to Georgia, and spent his last days in Washington county, where he was a success- ful agricultorist. JJason Bryan married Penelope Gainer, whose father, William Gainer, married, near Petersburg, Virginia, Martha Williams. and settled in Washington county, Georgia, where. in 1790, land was granted him by the Government. Ten children, nine daughters and one son blessed their union, a descendant of one of the daughters, having married Honorable Daniel Randall Stewart. as before mentioned.
Mr. and Mrs. Griggs were the parents of three children, namely : Ella Vernal, Daniel Stewart, and Angusta Pope. Ella Vernal Griggs, who married Edgar Whitfield Hollingsworth, died at the age of twenty- two years. leaving one child, Theodosia Hollingsworth. Angusta Griggs married Thomas B. Raines.
LUCIUS LAMAR WOODWARD, attorney-at-law of Vienna. Georgia. has been active in the practice of his profession in the town of his birth since he was admitted to the bar in 1897. He was born there on May 5, 1879, and is the son of Judge John Hartwell and Nancy B. ( MeCor- maek) Woodward, natives of South Carolina and Georgia, respectively.
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Judge Woodward, for such he came to be in later life, was born in Sumpters district, South Carolina (now Sumpter county) on January 16, 1831. Ile is the son of Stephen and Jane ( Barnett) Woodward, natives of South Carolina, and when he was about one year old aecom- panied his parents to Missouri county, Alabama, where they remained until he was about six years of age. when they moved to Georgia. The family located seven miles south of Macon. Bibb county, Georgia, where they made their home until 1863. at which time they settled in Dooly county, in which district Judge Woodward has since made his home. As a young man, he read law at the suggestion of Capt. Robert A. Smith, and took advantage of the generosity of Captain Smith by mak- ing use of his office and books, prosecuting his studies principally in the evenings. He was admitted to the bar in January, 1873, but deferred the initiation of active practice for some little time, owing to a preju- dice peculiar to the South which held that a gentleman might not engage in the practice of law or kindred professions and continue to hold rank as a gentleman. It is worthy of mention that the natural good sense of Judge Woodward came to his rescue after a time, and he settled down to the practice of the profession for which he had so laboriously prepared himself. He attained a degree of prominence in the politics of his state. and served in the state legislature in 1871-72. and in 1880 was a mem- ber of the senate. He was judge of the county court of Dooly county for two terms, and in all these offices he acquitted himself as a gentleman and a scholar might be expected. During the Civil war Judge Wood- ward was not inactive. In February, 1862, he, with W. B. Busbee, or- ganized the Whittle Guards, Company D, Tenth Georgia Battalion. and were immediately mustered into the service. He was offered the captaincy of the company, but declined and was unanimously elected first lieutenant. His health failed to such an extent that in August of that year he was compelled to resign. In July of 1863 his wife died. and Mr. Woodward again joined the army at Macon, where he was elected second lieutenant. He served two months and was again compelled to resign owing to the impaired condition of his health. Judge Woodward was thrice married. His first wife was Carrie Sheats, daughter of Ben- jamin S. Sheats of Clarke county. She passed away on July 6. 1863. leaving one child, Stephen B., born October 21, 1862, who lived to reach the age of twenty years, when he died on November 27, 1882. The second marriage of Judge Woodward occurred on July 18, 1865. when he married Miss Mamie McCormack of Hawkinsville, Georgia. Nine children were born of this union. They were: John M., a merchant of Hawkinsville, Georgia; William Thomas, who died at the age of eighteen months; James Madison, a farmer near Vienna: David M., expert accountant of Tampa, Florida : Charles Cannon, editor of the Daily Tampa Times of Tampa, Florida; Mary Jane, the wife of Charles H. Turton of Vienna : Lucius Lamar, practicing law in Vienna: Car- rie Sheats, the wife of Charles Gurr of Vienna; Emma B .. who shares her father's home. The second wife of Judge Woodward died on Decem- ber 17, 1895, and in the following year he contracted a third marriage, when Emma Peacock. the daughter of John Peacock of Houston county, became his wife. She passed away on August 26. 1901.
Lucius Lamar Woodward was educated in the high school of Vienna after which he read law in the offices of his father, Judge Woodward. and Senator Crum. He was admitted to the bar on September 17, 1897. and took up the practice of law in Vienna almost immediately. He has gained a goodly clientele in the years of his labors and is highly regarded among the legal fraternity and among all those who have had occasion to look to him for legal aid or advice. His standing in the
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community is of a high order, and his circle of friends is unlimited, his long acquaintance in and about Vienna having won to him hosts of life-long friends. Mr. Woodward is a member of the Masonic fraternity, his affiliation being with the Shriners of Savannah, and he is a Baptist in his religious faith, while his wife is of the Methodist persuasion.
Mr. Woodward was married on October 21, 1909. to Miss Louie Fenn, the daughter of HI. R. and Elizabeth (Collier ) Fenn, natives of Dooly county. Two children have been born to them: Elizabeth Barmelia, and an infant son, Lamar Fenn.
COL. WILLIAM HERSCHELL DORRIS. In no profession is there a career more open to talent than is that of the law and in no field of endeavor is there demanded a more careful preparation, a more thorough appreciation of the absolute ethics of life or of the underlying princi- ples which form the basis of all human rights and privileges. Col. Wil- liam IIersehell Dorris is a lawyer of the highest ideals and also a most public-spirited citizen, this fact having become happily evident in his administration as mayor of Cordele. his election to the mayoralty having occurred in 1910. He is a native son of the state, his life record having begun on a farm in the vicinity of Douglasville, Douglas county, August 9, 1871. He remained upon the parental homestead until the age of twenty-one years, gaining his elementary education in the pub- lic schools and under paternal instruction gaining a practical experience in the many sided science of agriculture. He entered Douglasville Col- lege about the age mentioned and was graduated from that institution of learning in 1892 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. While in col- lege he was a member of the Greek letter fraternity, Phi Cappi.
Having determined to adopt the profession of law as his life work, young Dorris began his study of Blackstone in the office of A. L. Bart- lett, of Brownsville, Georgia. and was admitted to the bar in the year 1896, under examination by the committee appointed by the court. He engaged at once in general practice and his gifts and attainments have received signal recognition. He located at Cordele in the year 1896 and has ever since retained his residence here. He has been extremely loyal to its interest and it was due to his efforts that the fine Carnegie library, which is one of its most useful institutions, was secured for the city. Ile was a member of the first board of trustees appointed to super- vise the affairs of the library. He served his city as alderman for two terms and in 1910 was elected mayor, of which office he is the present incumbent.
Colonel Dorris is the son of William C. and Matilda (Lowe) Dor- ris, both living and both natives of Georgia, the father's birthplace having been Carroll county, and the mother's Cobb county. ITis grand- father, Rev. John Dorris, was a distinguished member of the conference of the Methodist Episcopal church. Sonth.
William C. Dorris served in the Civil war as first lieutenant of Com- pany I, of the Fifty-sixth Georgia Infantry. He was in the thickest of the fight, serving at the siege of Vicksburg. at Missionary Ridge, at Baker's Creek, ete., and being captured at Vicksburg. The other mem- bers of the subject's family are JJames A., Marvin Homer, Mrs. Ola Stone, Alrs. L. C. Satterfield, Mrs. E. II. Hutfines, and Miss Emma Dorris.
The colonel is a Mason of high standing, belonging to the blue lodge the chapter, the commandery at Cordele, and having "traveled cast' with the Shriners at Savannah. IIe is a member of the Methodist Epis- copal church at Cordele and is helpfully interested in all the good meas- ures promulgated by the church. lle is president of the Chamber of
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1
Commerce and has for several years been identified in praiseworthy fashion with all public affairs looking toward the welfare and progress of city, county and state.
LEONARD MARCELLUS SUMNER. It is the privilege of the young men and young women who grow up in this country to select whatever occupa- tion they desire and they may reserve the right to change such occupa- tion whenever they please. In this way the occupation best fitted to them, or the one which they wish to pursue, is open to them at any time. It is not always that a young person is able to tell what pursuit he is best qualified to follow, so that as time passes and his own wants and abilities are developed. he may change his occupation and strike his proper sphere before it is too late. Then for the first time life is to him an earnest quantity. So the subject of this brief review has found it. Leonard Marcellus Sumner, now chief of police of Cordele, Georgia, and an admirable offieer and eitizen, was engaged in a number of occu- pations prior to his becoming a public official. He was born April 1-4, 1875, at Sumner, Worth county, Georgia, or rather on a farm in the vicinity of that place, and there he resided until reaching the age of twenty years. He received his first introduction to Minerva in the pub- lie schools and subsequently graduated from the higher department of the Summer school.
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