USA > Georgia > Chatham County > Savannah > A history of Savannah and South Georgia, Volume II > Part 41
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At the age of eighteen, in 1864, Ansel B. Cone likewise offered his services to the southern government. He enlisted in Company F of the Fifty-seventh Georgia, known as the "Dixie Boys," and was with the regiment in all the battles from Dalton to Atlanta, afterwards went with Hood's army in Tennessee, and at the close of the war surrendered at Greensboro, North Carolina. Following his return home he attended school for a while. After his father's death he assumed the manage- ment of the home farm until he was ready to embark upon his inde- pendent career. He then bought one hundred and eighty-four acres at ten dollars an acre, this tract adjoining the old homestead. His agri- cultural enterprise prospered from the start, and to his original place he added until his farm comprised five hundred aeres. He gave his active supervision to this estate until 1887, but in December of that year established a warehouse in Boston, where he has since had his residence. After being in business fourteen years he retired, his atten- tion having since been directed in a general way to his farm and to the management of his town real estate.
Mr. Cone is affiliated with Horch Lodge No. 281, F. & A. M .; with J. M. Rushin Chapter. R. A. M .; and for the past seventeen years has been commander of the Boston eamp of the Woodmen of the World.
December 28. 1869. Mr. Cone married Miss Laura P. Johns. She was born in Bradford county. Florida. a daughter of Archibald Johns. who was an early settler of Bradford county, and had formerly been a resident of Bulloch county, this state. Mrs. Cone died on the 21st of November. 1870, leaving an infant daughter. Laura. Mr. Cone's second marriage ocenrred in February, 1872, when Mary J. Barrow,
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daughter of Joshma N. and Emeline (Ramsey) Barrow, became his wife. Mr. and Mrs. Cone are members of the Missionary Baptist church. Mr. Cone's only child, Laura, is now deceased. She married John J. Paramore and reared two children, named Dubel Ansel and Geneva Amanda. The grandson, Dubel A. Paramore, married Mande Norton, and they are the parents of two daughters, Laura Lonise and an infant. Geneva Amanda married Mims Groover, and they have one daughter, Pearl E. Thus Mr. Cone is the great-grandfather of three.
THOMAS J. HIGHT. Among Thomas county citizens few have been more popularly known than Thomas J. Hight, who for a number of years rendered the county efficient service in the office of sheriff and has been a resident of the county for many years, now living retired at Boston.
Mr. Hight was born on a farm in Barbour county, Alabama, August 29, 1852. His father, Felix Franklin Hlight, was born in Talbot county, Georgia, in 1817. The grandfather was Howell Hight, a native of Scot- land, where the name was spelled McHight. At an early age Howell Hight, being left an orphan, made his way to America with a family named Cole, who settled in Georgia, and after his arrival here he simplified his name to its present form. He was reared to habits of industry, and after growing to manhood commenced a successful career as farmer in Talbot county, this state, where he acquired a large farm, having a number of slaves to operate it, and where he resided until his death. He reared a large family of children.
Felix Franklin Hight, the father, when a young man moved to Alabama, where he was an overseer on the plantation of Reuben E. Brown in Tallapoosa county. Later he bought land in Barbour county and conducted it with the aid of slave labor. In 1862 he joined the cavalry forces under General Joe Wheeler, and under `that gallant leader participated in many of the hard-fought battles of the war. At its close he resumed farming and the raising of cattle, horses and hogs. He sold his farm in Barbour county in 1868 and bought a farm near Troy, in Pike county, where he lived until 1874, in which year he sold out and moved to Texas, where he bought a large traet of land and was engaged in farming and stock raising until his death in 1887. He was three times married. His first wife was Jane Padget, who died leaving two children, Robert Howell and Martha J. He married, second, Delilah Stuart, who was born in Barbour county, a daughter of Thomas and Jane (Lee) Stuart. and she died in 1862, leaving eight children, namely : Thomas J., Lorana Jane, Elizabeth, Josephine. John Alexan- der, Louise. Felix Franklin and Nathaniel W. His third wife was Elizabeth Stuart, a twin sister of his second wife. At her death in 1885 she left one daughter, named Roberta May. Robert Howell, the oldest son, enlisted at the first call for troops in Alabama in the First Alabama Regiment, and after serving the term of twelve months and being discharged. immediately re-enlisted in Company I of the Third Alabama Infantry. The regiment was in the Army of the Tennessee. under Generals Bragg. JJohnston and Hood, in the battles of the Atlanta campaign, was with Hood abont Nashville, and finally went to North Carolina. After the surrender at Greensboro he returned home.
Thomas J. Hight was reared and educated in his native state and remained on the farm until the age of twenty, when he became clerk in a' store in Coffee county. Alabama. continuing at that one year. Then for two years he was employed at sawmilling in that state, and after a year spent in farming in Pike county came to Georgia and was a farmer in Boston district seven years. His next experience was as baggage
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master on what is now the Coast Line Railway, his run being from Way- cross to Chattahoochee, Florida. Ill health compelled him to give up this occupation after a year, and he located at Boston. For fourteen years he served as the town marshal, after which for two years he was in railroad construction work. Mr. Hight was then chosen by the voters of Thomas county to the important office of sheriff, and he dis- charged the functions of that position eight years. Since leaving office he has lived retired in Boston.
At the age of twenty Mr. Hight was married to Mrs. Laura ( Rem- bert) Dekel. She was a daughter of Caleb Rembert, Jr., and grand- daughter of Caleb Rembert, Sr., the latter having been an extensive planter with an estate about twenty-five miles from Charleston, South Carolina. Mrs. Ilight's first husband was Mathew Dekel. Mr. and Mrs. Hight have reared four children, Beulah, Sarah Elizabeth, Mar- garet L. and Thomas W. Beulah, who married Sterling Kingsley. died leaving two children, George Thomas and Georgie Louise, who now live with their grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Hight. Sarah Elizabeth mar- ried J. B. Daniel, and has five children, named Emmett W., Annie L., Sarah, Hight and Emily. Margaret L. is the wife of R. Jones and has two children, William W. and Margaret C. Thomas W. married Minnie Jones and they are the parents of one son, Thomas W., Jr. Mr. Hight and wife are members of the Methodist church, South; he is a Democrat in politics and is affiliated with the Woodmen of the World.
EDWARD COKE MILLIGAN. None of the residents of the Boston district in Thomas county are better known or more closely associated with the varied activities of this vicinity than Mr. Edward Coke Milligan, mer- ehant and farmer of Boston.
Mr. Milligan, who represents the sturdy Scotch-Irish stock was born in Dale county, Alabama, September 10, 1858. His grandparents were natives of the North of Ireland, and thence brought their children to Ameriea, first settling in North Carolina and after several years remov- ing to Alabama, where they settled in Pike eounty, bought land and engaged in farming, and spent the rest of their days there. The grand- father was very proficient in the use of tools and did all his own building.
Edward Alexander Milligan, the father of the Boston merchant, was one of a large family of children, was born in the North of Ireland and was still young when the family crossed the Atlantie. Reared in Alabama at a time when free schools had not yet come into existence, he nevertheless made use of every opportunity and acquired a profi- ciency which enabled him when still in his 'teens to teach school. He thus earned the money with which to advanee his education and prep- aration for a higher career. He took up the study of law. was admitted to the bar, and gained considerable success in the law at Newton, in Dale county, Alabama. He also bought a farm and combined legal practice with the pursuits of agriculture, operating his land with the aid of slave labor. In 1862 enlisting in an Alabama regiment, he served with his command in many of the important battles of the war. After the close of hostilities he returned home and resumed practice and farming. In 1877, having sold his Alabama interests, he came to Thomas county, Georgia, and in order to give his sons the benefit of farm life and training bought land in the Boston distriet. Here he was engaged in the active direction of his farm for ten years, and then removed to Moultrie, where he bought town property and farm lands in the vicinity, and as a resident of Moultrie continued farming and stock raising until his death, which occurred at the age of eighty-one
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years. The late Mr. Milligan married Lorena Jane Jones, who was a native of Oglethorpe county. Her father, Moses JJones, it is thought was also born in Oglethorpe county, where he spent many years as a farmer, and he afterward moved to Dale county, Alabama. where he continued the same oeeupation. He was a natural mechanie and built his own houses and farm wagons. He married a Miss Matthews, and she died in Oglethorpe county, and he spent his last years in Dale county. Mrs. Lorena Milligan, the mother. died at the age of sixty-five. and her children were named as follows: Edward Coke. Augustus Charles, John Calhoun, Mattie D., William Moses and Allie Cumy.
Edward C. Milligan was reared and educated in his native state of Alabama, but sinee the age of nineteen has been a resident of Thomas county. Three years later he began his independent career as a clerk in a general store at Boston, where during the next eighteen monthis he laid the foundation of a solid business experience. He then engaged in the livery business, and also bought land and praetically throughout his career in business has been identified more or less actively with the cultivation of the soil. After about ten years in the livery business, he bought an interest in a cotton warehouse in association with Mr. A. B. Cone and six years later became sole proprietor of the establisli- ment. In 1907. with a partner, he engaged in merehandising, and sinee 1910 has owned and conducted the business alone. For several years he also handled a large trade in fertilizers. Mr. Milligan is now owner of over four hundred aeres in the Boston distriet, devoted to general farming, is proprietor of the eotton warehouse. and eonduets a store with a stoek that supplies nearly every want on the farm and home.
As one of the prosperous and influential business men of his eom- munity, Mr. Milligan has also performed publie-spirited serviee for his home town. He is now a member of the eouneil, and has served as mayor and also as president of the board of education. He affiliates with Horeb Lodge No. 281, A. F. & M .. with the Odd Fellows, and with Columbia Camp of the Woodmen of the World. He and his wife are members of the Missionary Baptist church.
October 25, 1885, Mr. Milligan married Miss Florida Adora Taylor, who was born in Jefferson county, Florida, a daughter of Dr. Wesley and Jane (McCoy) Taylor. Mr. and Mrs. Milligan have reared five children, namely: Ernest Coke, J. Alexander, Jane Orina, Allie May and Wesley Alexander. Ernest C. married Hester Parker and has one son named Edward Carlyle.
EZEKIEL RAMSEY WHALEY. The prosperity and enterprise of the south Georgia agriculturist are well represented in Mr. E. R. Whaley, who for many years has directed the production of extensive lands in the Boston district of Thomas eounty, and is one of the well known and progressive citizens of that county.
Ezekiel Ramsey Whaley was born in the Boston district of Thomas county on the 19th of June. 1862. and represents pioneer families in this section of the state. His grandfather was named Ezekiel Whaley, who when a young man came from his native England to America. his brother being his companion on the voyage, and after arriving in this country joined the Revolutionary army as a fifer in General Washing- ton's command, with which he served throughont the war. Later he beeame a settler in Lenoir county, North Carolina. where he bought land bordering on the Neuse river. He married a Miss Jarman, and both spent their last years in Lenoir county. They were the parents of three sons and several daughters. One of the sons. Jolm. came to Georgia and lived in Hawkinsville, but as his only son died mimarried he left no
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descendants. Another son, Evans, settled in Florida and reared a large family.
Jarman Howell Whaley, the father of Ezekial R., was born in Lenoir county, August 10, 1809, was reared and educated there, and at the age of twenty-one came to Georgia and spent two years with his brother John in the central part of the state. He then moved to Thomas county, where he was one of the early settlers. Previously he had acquired the trade of clock maker, and was also possessed of considerable musical talent. So for some years after his location in Thomas county he gave his service to the community in repairing clocks and in teaching musie, being the pioneer music teacher in this part of the state. After his marriage he lived two years at Grooverville, and then bought land in the Boston district. A log cabin was his first home, and with the aid of his slaves he cleared land for one of the early farms in that district. With subsequent prosperity he built a log house containing nine rooms, ceiled inside, making a very comfortable residence. For many years after his settlement here the country was without railroads, Newport and Tallahassee, Florida, were the nearest markets, and he hauled his products to those points. He remained a resident on his farm home until his death on the 30th of August, 1878. In 1864 he had joined the Georgia Reserves and participated with them in the defense of Atlanta.
Jarman H. Whaley married Eliza Ramsey, who was a native of Bladen county, North Carolina. Her grandfather was Mathew Ramsey, a native of England, who came to America in colonial times and served in the Revolution. William Ramsey, her father, was born, reared and married in North Carolina, and in 1829 came to Georgia, using teams and wagons to carry all his movable property and family and slaves, and driving his stock. He was one of the first settlers in what is now the Boston district of Thomas county. The land which he purchased was heavily timbered and he built a log house and cleared a farm from the midst of the wilderness. He was a devout Methodist, the first of that faith to settle in this vicinity, and he put up a commodious log building which was used as a church until one was erected in Groover- ville. His death occurred on his homestead at the age of eighty-four. He married Dorcas Bivens, who survived him, and they reared a large family of children, one of whom was Eliza Ramsey, who became the wife of Jarman H. Whaley. The latter couple were the parents of eight children, namely : Julia, Laura, Ida, Ezekiel R., William, Anice, Olive and Birdie. Julia now makes her home with her brother Ezekiel and her sister Birdie. Ida married R. C. McMurray, and after her death her sister Laura became the wife of Mr. MeMurray. William is deceased. Aniee, also deceased, married P. P. Joiner. Olive is the wife of Dr. J. E. Watkins, a sketch of whom is found elsewhere in this work. Birdie is the wife of I. S. Futeli.
Ezekiel R. Whaley received his early education in the common schools of the home neighborhood. When he was sixteen his father died, and that event threw the management of the entire home farm upon his shoulders, a responsibility he discharged with faithful effort, and with his mother helped to keep the family together until all became inde- pendent. He has been a successful and enterprising farmer from the beginning, and finally bonght out the interests of the other hours in the old homestead, which he continued to occupy until 1909. In that year. in order to give his children the advantages of the town schools, ho moved to Boston, where he had built a fine large residence, with wide verandas and all the modern improvements. Mr. Whaley owns about nine hundred acres of the good farming land abont Boston, and is still engaged in farming and stock raising on an extensive seale.
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April 27, 1892, he married Miss Minnie Clanzelle Williams. Mrs. Whaley is a native of Eufanta, Alabama. Her grandfather, Zachariah Williams, spent all his life in the vieinity of Augusta, Georgia, and her father, Gazarway Williams, was born there, but when a young man went to Alabama and became one of the early settlers at Eufaula. With the aid of his slaves he conducted a large farm there and lived there until his death. His first wife was a Miss Abercrombie, who died leav- ing several children, and he afterwards married a Miss Lucy Belle Puryear, who was the mother of four children, namely : Minnie C. (Mrs. Whaley ) ; Waller C. ; Gazarway Davis: and Fay Belle.
The children of Mr. and Mrs. Whaley are Eldred Williams, Clauzelle, Rebecca, Julia, Mary Lonise. Minnie Lee and Waller. Mr. Whaley and wife are members of the Methodist church South, at Boston, and he has served the church as steward and also as teacher in the Sunday- school. In politics he has taken an active interest in the Democratic party and in public affairs. He was elected county commissioner in 1894, serving until 1899, and was again elected to this office in 1909. Fraternally, he affiliates with Horeb Lodge No. 281, F. & A. M., and with J. M. Rushin Chapter No. 23, R. A. M.
JASON M. RAMSEY. Born on the farm which he now owns and occu- pies, in the Grooverville district, Brooks county, on February 26, 1858, Jason M. Ramsey has long been an important factor in developing and promoting the agricultural prosperity of his community, and is held in high esteem by his neighbors and friends. His father, Richard Ram- sey, was born in Bladen county, North Carolina, and his grandfather, William Harvey Ramsey, was born and bred in the same county.
While yet in the prime of a vigorons manhood William Harvey Ramsey left his native state, and, accompanied by his family, came to South Georgia in search of a more advantageous location, the overland journey made with ox teams consuming several weeks. Settling as a pioneer in Thomas county, he bought a traet of wild land, and with the help of the slaves which he brought with him cleared a farm from the wilderness, and was there employed in tilling the soil during his remaining days. He was a man of deep religious convictions, and the first Methodist to settle in what is now Thomas county. The first Metho- dist Episcopal church of that part of Georgia was the log eabin which he built, and in it the Methodists for miles around convened until the erection, several years later, of a church of that denomination in Groover- ville. He was twice married, by his first wife having one daughter, Sally Ramsey. He married seeond, Dorcas Bivin, and to them ten children were born, as follows: William II., Dorcas B., Richard, Eliza- beth, Ezekiel, Eliza, Thomas. Owen, Julia, and Henry. All of the sons served in the Confederate army.
Born March 6. 1822. Richard Ramsey was a small boy when brought by his parents from North Carolina to Georgia, where he grew to man- hood, spending his carlier life on the home farm. For a few years after his marriage he was engaged in farming in the Boston district, of what is now Thomas county, Selling that property he removed to what is now Brooks county, buying a farm on the Boston and Grooverville road. and continued his chosen pursuit. Joining the Georgia Reserve Corps in 1864, he went to the defense of Atlanta, and served until the close of the war. Very successful in his agricultural work, he acquired a large tract of land, erected good buildings, and remained on his well- managed farm until his death, October 30. 1904. He married, Jannary 23, 1846, Melvira Move, who was born Jannary 23, 1829, in Sereven county, Georgia, a daughter of Furney Move. Her father, whose birth
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occurred in 1785, was one of the pioneer farmers of Screven county, from there coming with his family to what is now Brooks county, and spending his remaining days in the Grooverville district. Thirteen children were born to Richard Ramsey and his wife, as follows: Ella, Henry, Mary P., Gardner V., JJason M., Richard R., Annetta. Valeria P., Novella, Anna D., Homer II., Thomas L., and Evelina G. By his first wife, whose name was Narcissa Hurd, he had one son, William II. Ramsey.
Edueated in the rural schools of his native distriet, Jason M. Ramsey became thoroughly versed in the theory and practice of agriculture when young, and later took charge of the home farm, and as his parents ad- , vaneed in years looked carefully after their welfare. Subsequently pur- chasing the interests of the remaining heirs in the parental homestead, he succeeded to its ownership. and has since carried on general farm- ing and stock raising most successfully, in his operations using modern methods.
In 1906, Mr. Ramsey married Hattie Louise Watkins, a daughter of Clark and Sally (Miller) Watkins. and granddaughter of Dr. Baker Ewing Watkins, of whom a brief account may be found on another page of this work, in connection with the sketch of Dr. J. E. Watkins. Coming to Georgia with his father in pioneer days, Clark Watkins lived in Col- quitt county several years, but in 1886 bought land in the Boston dis- triet, Thomas county, and was there employed as a tiller of the soil until his death in 1890. Mr. and Mrs. Ramsey are people of much refinement, upright in principles, and are consistent and active men- bers of the Methodist Episcopal church.
JOHN EWING WATKINS, M. D. For twenty years an active physician in southern Georgia, having a large practice and influential position as a eitizen at Boston, in Thomas county. Dr. Watkins is the third doctor in as many successive generations of his family. For nearly a century the profession of medicine has been followed from father to son, and along with professional success have come honors in citizenship.
Dr. John E. Watkins was born in Colquitt county, Georgia, Decem- ber 11, 1867. The family at a very early generation, probably about the time of the Revolutionary war or soon after, emigrated from the eastern colonies into the then west beyond the Blue Ridge mountains. From the best information obtainable, Joel Watkins. the great-grand- father of the doctor, was born in Tennessee, and from that state became an early settler in Whitley county. Kentucky. He married Martha Baker, a native of Virginia and a danghter of General Baker, who held a commission as an officer in the continental forces during the Revolu- tion.
Hon. Baker Ewing Watkins. M. D .. the grandfather, was born in Whitley county, Kentucky, in 1800, was reared and educated in his native state, and during his active career combined the professions of physician and a minister of the gospel for the Methodist church. In 1847, having sold his interests in Kentucky, he moved to Alabama, buy- ing land in Coosa county and living there until 1859. when he sokl out and came to Georgia. It was in this way that the family. planted in the west during one generation, was returned to the Atlantic slope dur- ing another. After two years in Webster connty the grandfather bought a plantation in Terrell county, again selling this in two years, and finally bought an improved farm in Colquitt county, where he lived in the quiet pursuits of the country and in the practice of medicine until his death in 1877. He always took an interest in public affairs, and in 1825 served as a member of the Kentucky legislature. He married Sally
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Berry, who was born in Kentucky and died in middle life, leaving thir- teen children, whose names were: Willis, Emily, Adaliza, Crittenden, Elizabeth, Jackson, Virginia, Clark. Gideon, Harrison Lee, Sally, Har- riet and Ruth.
The father of Dr. John E. was Harrison Lee Watkins, who was born in Whitley county, Kentucky, September 30, 1840, and was in his nine- teenth year when the family came to Georgia. About that time he turned his attention to the study of medicine, but his course of preparation was interrupted by the outbreak of the war, at which time he entered the service of the Confederacy as hospital steward and remained until the end. He was in Atlanta during the siege, but at the fall of the city made his escape to Columbus. Though not yet a graduate in medieine, after the war he began praetiee in Colquitt county, and in 1869 settled at Tallokas, in Brooks county. He soon afterward entered the Southern Medical College at Savannah, where he was-graduated M. D. with the class of 1873. Continuing his practice at Tallokas until 1881, he then returned to Colquitt county, and in 1887 removed to Thomas eounty, which remained his home until his death on August 22, 1906.
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