USA > Georgia > Chatham County > Savannah > A history of Savannah and South Georgia, Volume II > Part 42
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Dr. Harrison L. Watkins married Frances Miller. She was born in Sumter county, Georgia. a daughter of William H. and Amanda (Bird- song) Miller, her father being a native of Talbot county, this state. Her grandfather, William Miller, was a native of Ireland but of Seoteli aneestry, and on coming to America became a pioneer settler in Talbot county, where he spent the remainder of his days. He married a Miss Simmons, who long survived him. dying at the extreme age of ninety- eight. William H. Miller removed from Talbot county to Sumter county, where he bought land and was engaged in farming and merehandising until his death, which occurred in middle life. Amanda Birdsong, his wife, was a daughter of James and Sally (McCoy) Birdsong. the latter a native of Upson eounty. James Birdsong was for many years a farmer in Talbot eounty, but removed from there to Alabama, where he spent the last years of his life. Mrs. Harrison L. Watkins (the mother) is now residing on the home farm in Thomas county with her son William Lee and family. The late Harrison L. Watkins was an influential Demoerat, and represented his county in the state legisla- ture during 1884-85.
During his boyhocd Jolin E. Watkins attended school in Brooks county, and at Boston, and then began his studies for his profession under the direction of his father and also under Dr. J. T. Culpepper. He afterward entered Atlanta Medieal College, where he was graduated and reeeived his degree of M. D. in 1891. After a brief praetiee in Climax, Decatnr county, he eame to Brooks county, praetieing at Tal- lokas and Dixie until 1906. sinee which date he has attended to a grow- ing business in Boston and vieinity.
Dr. Watkins was married in 1892 to Miss Olive Whaley. who was born in Thomas county, a danghter of Jarman Howell Whaley. The doetor and wife are the parents of the following children: Howell Lee, Franees, Elliott, Elizabeth, Merriam, Gaulden MeIntosh and Olive. Dr. Watkins and wife are members of the Methodist church South, and he is a Democrat in politics, and a member of Horeb Lodge No. 281. F. & A. M., Boston.
JOSEPH WAY MOODY, D. D. S. The Moody family and its connec- tions have been identified with sonth and southwest Georgia for upwards of a century, and have furnished a number of men notable for nseful and honorable careers and public-spirited citizenship. As one of the younger representatives of the name, Joseph Way Moody has gained
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success in his profession at Boston in Thomas county, where he was born on the 10th of May, 1878.
His grandfather, S. S. Moody, was for nearly twenty years sheriff of Liberty county, and removed from that county to Savannah, where he was a cotton broker, and where he died during an epidemie of yellow fever. He married a member of the well known Georgia family of Bacons. Her first husband was named Way, and she was the mother of three children by that marriage, namely: Joseph Way, a graduate in medi- cine from the Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia, who afterwards pursued his studies abroad in Paris, and who for many years was one of the foremost physicians of southeast Georgia, practicing in Chatham and Liberty counties; Moses Way, who devoted himself to the field of scholarship, became a teacher and later a minister of the Methodist church; and Cornelia Way, who married a Mr. Byrd and was a resident of Thomasville.
Dr. Moody's father was the late Prof. Axson Quarterman Moody who was born at Hinesville, Liberty county, May 4, 1840, and who died at his homestead near Boston in Thomas county, April, 1912. His only brother was William Benjamin Moody, who went away to the war when a boy and lost his life in one of the battles at Atlanta. The late Pro- fessor Moody, after fitting for college under the instruction of his half- brother, Rev. Moses Way, entered the junior class of Chapel Hill Col- lege of North Carolina and was graduated with first honors. In 1858, about the time Brooks eounty was organized, he settled at Grooverville, and was engaged in teaching until the war. He did a soldier's duty throughout that great struggle, and at its close located in Thomasville, where he beeame connected with the Fletcher Institute. Some years later removing to Boston, he began his long service as principal of the Boston Academy. During the quarter of a century in which he was the active head of that institution he taught and gave the inspiration of his charaeter to hundreds of youth who have since filled worthy posi- tions in life. While teaching he bought the interests of the heirs in the Daniels homestead near Boston, and that was his home until his death.
Professor Moody married Julia Catherine Daniels, who was born on the Daniels homestead a mile from Boston, and was a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Taylor) Daniels. Her grandfather, John Daniels, Sr., was one of the first settlers of southwest Georgia, locating there not long after the Florida purchase, when the south Georgia frontier first began to be settled. He settled in that part of Irwin county that is now Thomas county. Nearly all the land in this vicinity was still in state ownership, and could be bought for a price that little more than covered the cost of execution of the papers. He seeured large tracts, which he did much to develop. He was also prominent in public life. representing his county in the legislature several times. As a legislator he journeyed to and from Milledgeville, then the capital, on horseback, and on one of his return trips brought along two young elm trees, which he gave to a neighbor. They were planted and are still standing, the only ones in this section, and interesting relies to the descendants of this pioneer legislator. Ile remained a resident of Thomas county until his death. John Daniels, Jr., father of Dr. Moody's mother, was reared in Thomas county and at the breaking out of the Civil war enlisted and died during his service for the southern cause. His widow afterwards married C. H. Hicks, who is deceased, and she is now living with her children. Professor Moody and wife reared three children, named William Benjamin. Joseph W. and Ethel May. The daughter is now the wife of A. E. Massey, who is superintendent of government contract work in New Orleans. Benjamin W., a graduate of the Atlanta Medical
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College and the Atlanta School of Pharmacy, now represents the Parke- Davis Drug Company as eity salesman in New Orleans. Professor Moody was twice married, his first wife having been Fanny B. Groover, who died leaving two children. The son L. G., practiced dentistry at Monticello, Florida, until his death, and the daughter, Fanny Byrd, is the wife of Samuel D. Groover.
The late Professor Moody was one of the prominent Masons of this vicinity. He became a member of the Grooverville lodge in 1867, this lodge having since been moved to Dixie and now known as Dixie lodge. When Horeb lodge was organized at Boston, he was one of its charter members. He was also a member of Thomasville chapter of Royal Arch Masons, was a charter member of J. M. Rushin Commandery of the Kurights Templar, and at the time of his death had been for many years chairman of the committee on foreign correspondence.
Dr. Joseph W. Moody received his early education in the Boston publie schools. and after graduation from the high school entered Atlanta Dental College, where he graduated with the class of 1903. Since that time he has been actively engaged in practice at his home town of Boston and has a large patronage. He has also been licensed to practice in Florida.
He was married February 22. 1905. to Miss Ann Elizabeth Groover, a daughter of Wiley and Virginia Groover, of Brooks county: One daughter. Virginia Groover Moody, has been born to their marriage. The doctor and wife are members of the Missionary Baptist church.
JOHN G. BURNEY. One of the progressive and successful merchants of the town of Boston, in Thomas county, Mr. Burney represents an old and respected family in this section of the state. He has been identified with this vicinity since he was born, and got his start and won an independent position in business through his ability and industry.
John G. Burney was born on a farm four miles north of Boston, on May 7, 1872. He is descended from the Scotch-Irish stock that so largely settled and gave character to the Carolinas and Georgia. James Burney, his great-granfather, was born in North Carolina, and from that state brought his family into southeast Georgia and become a pio- neer of Glynn county. After a residence there for some years he moved to Florida. not long after the cession of that state by Spain, and served there during the seven years of Indian wars. He spent his last days in Duval county of that state. The maiden name of his wife was Elizabeth Freeman.
William Burney, the grandfather, was born and reared and married in Brunswick county. North Carolina, and after coming to Georgia bought land on Buffalo creek in Glynn county, where he was engaged in general farming and resided until his death at the age of seventy-one. His first wife died soon after coming to Georgia, and he then married Mrs. Rachel ( Hunter) Johnson, who was born in Washington county. Georgia, and was a widow of John Johnson. She had three children by her first marriage and eight by the second.
The father of the Boston merchant was William JJ. Burney, who was born in Glynn county. Jannary 11. 1832, spent his early life there, and after his marriage at the age of twenty-one engaged in farming. In 1861 he volunteered his services to the Confederate government, and was with the Fourth Georgia Cavalry in the coast defense until 1862. In the latter part of that year he put in a substitute, and after returning home removed his family, slaves and stock to Thomas county, where he. bonght four hundred and seventy aeres in lot 331 of the Boston district. In 1864, when Sherman invaded the state, he again enlisted. this time in
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the Eleventh Georgia Infantry, and was at the defense of Atlanta and with the regiment in other service until the close of hostilities. Upon being paroled he returned to the farm, and has been a resident there ever since, being at this writing past eighty years of age and one of the venerable citizens of Thomas county. William J. Burney was married in 1856 to Miss Rachel Foreman, who was a native of South Carolina and daughter of Glover and Melinda Foreman. Mrs. Burney died in 1884, leaving nine children. named Frances. Ella, Lula, Claudia, Will- iam W., John G., Henry L .. Alice and Margaret. In 1885 the father married for his second wife Mrs. Margaret ( Anders) Anderson. She was a native of North Carolina, daughter of Owen and Mary Anders and the widow of Dr. Richard Anderson. Mr. Burney and his first wife were members of the Methodist church.
John G. Burney spent his early life on the home farm in Thomas county, getting a practical education in the common schools, and lived at home until he was twenty-four. He began his mercantile career as clerk in the hardware store of F. C. Ivey, at Boston, and by his steady application to business and ability had acquired au interest in the busi- ness by 1900, and in 1907 bought out the entire establishment. He car- 'ries a large and well selected stoek of hardware, cutlery, stoves. har- ness, farm implements, paints. ete .. and supplies a large trade through- out the vicinity about Boston. His is one of the largest stores in the Boston trading distriet, and he also has a commodious warehouse.
October 30, 1907, Mr. Burney married Miss Minnie Elizabeth Ingram. Mrs. Burney was born at Danville in the blue grass region of Kentucky, and her parents were D. N. and Emily Ingram. One son, John Glover. Jr., was born to Mr. and Mrs. Burney on December 10, 1910, and a daughter, Emily Ingram, born July 9, 1912. Mr. Burney and wife are members of the Boston Presbyterian church, and he is affiliated with the Horeb Lodge No. 281, F. & A. M.
JOSEPH STEBBINS NORTON. For a period of nearly forty years Mr. Norton was continuously identified with the business enterprise of Bos- ton, in Thomas county, and while acquiring ample material prosperity has also rendered much useful service to his community as a citizen. He represented old and prominent families in Georgia and South Caro- lina, and many of his forefathers and relatives were men of mark in the profession and in business and civic affairs.
Joseph Stebbins Norton was born at Robertsville in the Beanfort district of South Carolina on the 31st of August. 1851. The founder of this branch of the Norton family in America was the Rev. Jonathan Norton, great-grandfather of the Boston business man. A native of England. he came to America during colonial times, settling at Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. He was a minister of the Baptist church and was pastor of the church at St. Helena Island and elsewhere in South Carolina.
Robert Godfrey Norton. the grandfather, was born at Bluffton in the Beanfort district, and became a prosperous planter in that vicinity. He also was honored with places of trust in the community. serving as sheriff and ordinary of the district for several years, and during his early life gave service to the united colonies as a revolutionary soldier. He was a lifelong resident of the Beaufort district. The maiden name of his wife was Sarah Morse. Her father. Dr. George Morse. who was throughout his life a resident of Beanfort district, was both a practicing physician and a minister of the Baptist church. Robert G. Norton and wife were blessed with long years and they celebrated the goldeu anniversary of their wedding day.
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Alexander R. Norton, the father, was born on a plantation on the May river in Beaufort distriet, September 2, 1812. After his early training in the common schools he was graduated from the Charleston Medical College and later from the Savannah Medical College. His entire professional career was spent in Robertsville, South Carolina. where he gave arduous and unselfish service to a large circle of patients throughout many years. His death occurred at the age of seventy-five. ( War record) Dr. Norton married Julia Elizabeth Greene, who was born in Sereven county. Georgia, in 1817. Her father, John Greene, was also an active member of the medical profession, was a native Georgian, and in addition to his practice conducted a large plantation. It is also noteworthy that he was a pioneer in transportation business on the Savannah river, owning the first "pole boat" that plied between Savannah and up-river ports. Both Dr. Greene and wife are buried in the Buck churchyard on Brier creek, Sereven county, near their old plantation home. Julia (Greene) Norton, the mother, died in her sixty-fourth year, and her seven children were named as follows: William B., John G., Robert G. Jr., Alexander C., Mary Eugenia, Susan Tallu- lah and Joseph S.
Joseph S. Norton, reared in one of the cultured homes of the south, received a good education, attending school in his native state and in Savannah, where the family lived during two years of the war. He began his business career with his brother at Stockton in Clinch county, and from there came to Boston in 1874. At that time Boston was a mere hamlet, and he was one of the first men of commercial enterprise to locate here, and was an important factor in the subsequent develop- ment of the town. He opened a store with a stock of general merchan- dise, and kept building and broadening his trade constantly for nearly forty years. He was at the head of the Norton Mercantile Company. For some time also he was engaged in sawmilling, and conducted one of the good farms in this vicinity.
Mr. Norton was married December 3d, 1874, to Miss Ella May Gro- venstein. She was born in Effingham county, this state, a daughter of Benjamin and Emma (Metzger) Grovenstein. Both her parents were natives of Georgia, and their ancestry goes back to the original German stock that along with the Scotch-Irish and English composed the first Georgia colony, the Grovensteins and Metzgers having come in with the Salzbergers. Mr. and Mrs. Norton became the parents of ten children, named as follows: Binney A., Frederick S., Emma Augusta, Edward Jndson. Bessie May, Hugh Grovenstein, Katie Eugenia, Josie Maude, Ruby Tallulah and Martha Louise.
Mr. Norton was a member of the Missionary Baptist church. as is his wife, he having served as clerk of the board. Fraternally he affil- iated with Horeb Lodge No. 281. F. & A. M., and J. M. Rushin Chapter, R. A. M. In polities he was a Democrat. and for a time served as mayor of his home town of Boston. He died July 9, 1912.
JOHN W. DUKES. Only a few of the Georgian families of today can trace their ancestry in an authoritative .line back to the original colony planted in this state over a century and a half ago. One repre- sentative of that period of beginnings in Georgia history is Mr. John W. Dukes, of the Boston district in Thomas county, who is only three generations removed from the founding of Georgia. His great-grand- father came to America with General Oglethorpe, and the Dukes family were among the very first settlers in Liberty and Tattnali counties.
John W. Dukes, who has spent a long and prosperons career in south Georgia, was born in what is now the Boston district of Thomas
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county, May 9, 1839. The date and place of his birth also indicate that the Dukes family, previously identified with the original colony of Oglethorpe, was in a subsequent generation likewise connected with the pioneer development and first settlement of southwest Georgia. His father, Edward C. Dukes, was born in Liberty county, January, 1810, and after reaching manhood brought his family to Thomas county. This migration was accomplished with horses and wagons and with slaves and many cattle. Only a few years before had the Floridas been transferred to the United States, and the entire southwest frontier of Georgia was a wilderness. Most of the land was owned by the state and sold as low as ten dollars per lot of four hundred and ninety acres. The father bought two lots numbered 330 and 331, built a log cabin in the forest, and then with his slaves set to work to clear up a farm. After a few years' residence there he gave one of his lots to a preacher friend, and moved to what is now the Dry Lake district of Brooks county. He bought a large tract of land, erected a commodious frame residence, and lived there until his death on July 17, 1855.
Edward C. Dukes married Nanny Hodges, who was born in Tatt- nall county, February 6, 1813, a daughter of William Hodges. She survived her husband and was married a second time, to John Han- cock. Her death occurred in 1872. The twelve children of Edward A. and Nanny (Hodges) Dukes were: Martha A., Elizabeth J., Caroline, John W., George R., Elias C., Julia A., Edward T., Henry C., Millard F., Florenee C. and William B. Of these, Jolin W., George R., Elias C. and Edward T., were all soldiers for the Confederacy.
John W. Dukes was a child when. the family moved to Brooks county, and was reared and lived at home until the war. In 1861 he enlisted in Company C of the Sixth Georgia Infantry, and was attached to Gordon's corps in the army of North Virginia. During the follow- ing three years he did a soldier's duty in many of the great battles of the war, ineluding Gettysburg. In 1864, in the terrifie struggles at the Wilderness, he was taken prisoner. was placed in the federal prison at Elmira, New York, and was not released until the end of the war. He was then earried as far as Point Lookout in Maryland. and from there made the best of his way home, walking most of the distance to southern Georgia.
In the meantime his mother had removed from the home farm, which he now took charge of and managed for three years. Then at the set- tlement of the estate, he bought the homestead and continued farming it for ten years, when he sold. He next bought a tract of timbered land on Mule creek in the Tallokas district of Brooks eounty, and after clearing up part of it traded for a farm and water-power site with a grist and saw mill on the Ochlochnee river in Thomas county. This place was exchanged two years later for his present homestead, situated close to the place on which he was born, and consisting of five hundred and twenty acres in lots 360 and 361.
In 1860. Mr. Dukes married Miss Wealthy E. Peacock, of an old and prominent family in this part of Georgia. She was born in Brooks county, a daughter of Dr. Howell and Mary ( Mitchell) Peacock. Dr. Howell Peacock, who was a son of Robert and Wealthy (Howell) Peacock, was for many years a practicing physician, and spent his last years in Thomas county. His wife, whose maiden name was Mary Raines Mitehell, was a daughter of Col. Thomas Mitchell. a native of Virginia, who commanded a troop of cavalry during the Revolutionary war (see sketch of Hon. R. G. Mitchell elsewhere in this work). After a wedded companionship lasting nearly a half century, Mrs. Dukes passed away in 1909. She reared two children, Mattie and Edward. The latter has
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always lived at home and has been associated with his father in farm- ing. The daughter Mattie is the wife of A. J. MeKinnon, and has six children, Frank L .. Clara May, Wealthy E .. Luey A .. George R. and Howell E. Mr. Dukes, as was his wife, is a member of the Baptist church, but their children are all members of the Methodist church.
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GEORGE W. HOWARD. Some of the earliest settlers of Thomas county and vicinity are represented by Mr. George W. Howard, who is himself somewhat of an old settler, having been born in what is now the Metcalf district of Thomas county on the 27th of August, 1846. At that time population was sparse and practically none of the modern improvements had appeared in the great forest-covered district of southwest Georgia.
This branch of the Howard family on coming from England had first settled in Maryland, but Mr. Howard's father. William Howard, was a native of Virginia. At the age of twenty-one he had left home and entered the employ of Dr. Epps. for whom he made an overland trip to Florida, taking along his employer's slaves. For several years he remained in Florida as an overseer of large plantations, and then came into southwest Georgia and bought two hundred and fifty acres of land in the present Metcalf district. Only a small elearing had been made in the midst of the forest which covered his purchase, and he erected a set of log buildings for shelter to his household and then set to work to clear the land for a farm. In those days and indeed for a number of years he marketed his crops in Tallahassee, all transportation being over the country roads and with wagons and teams. As a tiller of the soil he became very prosperous, acquired seven hundred and fifty acres of land and had a number of slaves to make the crops. His death occurred at the age of seventy-one. being caused by an accident at the cotton press.
William Howard married Miss Meeky Ferrell, whose family were likewise early settlers in this part of Georgia. She was born in North Carolina. Her father, Hutchins Ferrell, also a native of that state, brought his family and household in wagons and other conveyances to south Georgia, locating in Metealf district of Thomas county. There he bought land and with the aid of his slaves cleared up another farm from the wilderness, thus adding to the productive area which has made modern conditions possible. Hutchins Ferrell spent the remainder of his life in this vicinity. He married Elizabeth Morgan, who survived his death many years. Mrs. William Howard, who died at the age of seventy-nine, was the mother of nine children, whose names follow : Elizabeth, George W., Anna, Jennie, Virginia, Amanda. John F., Thomas J. and Mary Lee. The father of this family was an old-line Democrat. and both he and wife were devont Methodists and brought up their children in the same faith.
During his boyhood spent on the home farm George W. Howard attended the common schools, and lived at home and assisted in the work of the farm until he was seventeen years old. In November. 1863. he offered his services to the Confederate government and became a soldier in Company D of the Second Florida Cavalry, serving with that regiment until the close of the war, when he returned home. After the death of his father he managed the home estate for several years. and finally bought a part of it from the other heirs, and made his home there nutil 1897. He then lived with his brother Jolm nutil the latter's death, at which time he located on his present farm two miles west of Boston. His nephews are associated with him in the ownership of this place. Mr. Howard is a member of the Methodist church, and in polities follows the example of his father.
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