USA > Georgia > Chatham County > Savannah > A history of Savannah and South Georgia, Volume II > Part 44
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The especially brilliant career of Judge Hicks thus far has been one that has brought honor to the family name, and established it even more firmly in the annals of his eounty, where the house of Hieks has long been known for many splendid qualities of heart and mind.
JUDGE ROBERT G. MITCHELL. A man of the true and noble charaeter for which the sons of the Southland are noted. Robert Goodwin Mitchell has played his part bravely and well in all the activities of his life. He has served his state in times of war, suffering severe wounds in the serv- iee of the eause of the Confederaey. and has served it no less efficiently in times of peace. as a legislator, and also as an industrious private eiti- zen and a Christian gentleman. A native of the community in which he has passed the greater part of his long and honored life. Judge Mitchell was born on a plantation in Thomas eounty. Georgia. July 15, 1843. His father. the Hon. Richard Mitchell, was born near Petersburg, Virginia. in 1797. the son of Col. Thomas Mitchell.
Col. Thomas Mitchell was a native of the Old Dominion state. and commanded a troop of cavalry in the War of the Revolution. After the colonies had been freed from the yoke of tyranny, Colonel Mitchell moved from Virginia, and settled in Montgomery county. Georgia, where he resided for some years. He finally left his home in that locality, how-
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ever, and became one of the pioneer settlers of southern Georgia, estab- lishing himself in Thomas county, on a tract of wooded land about nine miles southwest of Thomasville. There he built a log house, one of the early type, with a puncheon floor. He was the owner of a number of slaves, and set them to work to clear his land, and put it under eulti- vation. Colonel Mitchell is said to have been the first to grow sugar cane for market. He made what was called "sugar mush" of the cane, and hauled it in this form to the port of St. Marks, about sixty-five miles distant, for shipment to New York. This proved a profitable. ven- ture, and he continued to grow cane on his plantation until his death. He was buried on the plantation where he had lived, in the family bury- ing ground, where his wife also sleeps.
The father of the subject of this history was a mere boy when his parents moved to Georgia. Having received a good education as a foundation for success, he started out as a young man in the mercantile business at old Hartford, Pulaski county, Georgia. After a time, how- ever, he gave up this enterprise, and moved to Thomas county, where he bought land near his father's estate, and engaged in the pursuit of agriculture. Ile remained on this land where he had a number of slaves at work for him, until his death, which occurred on the twelfth of February, 1856. A member of the old Whigs, Richard Mitchell always took an active interest in public affairs. His devotion to his party and to the best interests of his community were rewarded in the 30's, by his election to the state legislature, a representative from Pulaski county.
Richard Mitchell was united in marriage to Sophronia Dickey, who was born near Sumpter, South Carolina, in the year 1808, and died many years after her husband, on the 17th of May, 1893, at the advanced age of eighty-five years. Sophvonia Dickey Mitchell was the mother of nine children. One of these, a daughter, and the second child, died in infancy, but the rest lived to the age of maturity. Their names are as follows: Ilenry, Frances Nelson. Richard Raines, William Diekey, Sarah Ann, Robert Goodwin, Harriet E., and Amy Susan.
After some preliminary work in the neighborhood schools, Robert Goodwin Mitchell attended Fletcher Institute, at Thomasville, and later he was a student in the preparatory department of Mercer University for one term. When but eighteen years old. he volunteered for the Confederate service at Thomasville, and was mustered in Savannah in July, 1861, as color bearer, in Company E of the Twenty-ninth Regiment. Soon after this he was appointed sergeant and at the re-organization in 1862, was made second lieutenant of his company.
The Twenty-ninth was held on the coast, serving abont Atlanta, and between that city and Charleston, until May, 1863, when it was sent to Mississippi as part of the command of Gen. W. H. T. Walker, for the re-enforcement of Gen. Joseph E. Johnston. There Lieutenant Mitchell participated in the fighting abont Jackson, and the march toward Vicksburg. and when Gen. C. C. Wilson. of the Twenty-first Regiment, was put in command of the brigade, including the Twenty- ninth, he was appointed to his staff as aide-de-camp. In this capacity he participated in the gallant and important service of Walker's divi- sion at the battle of Chickamanga, and during one siege of Chattanooga. and the battle of Missionary Ridge.
General Wilson dying about this time at Ringgold. Gen. C. H. Stevens assmned the command of the brigade with his own staff, and Lientenant Mitchell returned to his regiment, and was at once appointed adjutant. in which capacity he performed his duty brilliantly throughout the Dalton and Atlanta campaigns. Ile was in battle abont Dalton, at Resaca, Cassville, New Hope Church. Kenesaw Mountain, Peachtree
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Creek, and was in the battle at Atlanta in which General Walker was killed, on July 22, 1864, and after serving in the entrenchments under fire following this last-named engagement, was severely wounded on the line southwest of the city. August 9, 1864. ITis wound entirely incapac- itated him for duty during the remainder of the war, and after remain- ing under treatment at Macon for some time, he returned home. IIe was forced, however, to use crutches for six months after peace had been declared.
The Twenty-ninth Regiment was commanded by Judge Mitchell's brother, Col. William Diekey Mitchell, who was severely wounded at Chickamauga. Having recovered from this wound, Colonel Mitchell joined Hood's command, and went on the Tennessee campaign, taking part in the battles of Murfreesboro, Franklin, and Nashville. He was captured in the battle of Nashville, and taken to Johnson's Island, Lake Eric, where he was detained as a prisoner of war until the contest was ended. Upon his return home he engaged in the practice of law at Thomasville, in which place he made his home, living in the honor and esteem of the entire community, and receiving many honors, among them the offices of county judge, in which capacity he was serving at the time of his death, which occurred in 1892.
It was while Robert G. Mitchell was disabled from the wound he received in the war that he began the study of law, a profession in which he was destined to attain many honors. After his admission to the bar, he formed a partnership with his brother William. In 1873 he was appointed solicitor general of the southern circuit of Georgia. a position which he held for about twelve years. At the end of this time he resigned. and in 1884 was elected to the state senate, serving in the ses- sion of 1884-5. In the year 1890, he was again chosen to receive the honor of the state senatorship, and represented his distriet in the legis- lature of that year, serving in that session and that of the following year as president of the senate. Upon the consummation of his term as senator, Judge Mitchell resumed the practice of his profession, and held no publie office until 1903, when he was elected judge of the superior court of the southern circuit of Georgia, to succeed Judge Hansell. He resigned from this office in 1910, having been one of the best judges the state of Georgia has ever known.
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Since his retirement from the judgeship, Judge Mitchell has been engaged in the peaceful pursuit of agriculture. He has a farm of about two thousand acres, situated from six to eight miles south of Thomas- ville. He resides in Thomasville on the outskirts of the city, in the home he has occupied since 1865. His house is a commodious frame structure, built in colonial style, with large pillars supporting the porch. It is situated about one hundred feet back from the street, in a lawn well- shaded by large oak and magnolia trees, and with an avenne of stately pecan trees leading to the door.
On the 21st of Janmary. 1864, Robert G. Mitchell was married to Amaretta Fondren, who was born in Dublin, Laurens county. Georgia, the daughter of John G. and Nancy Thompson Fondren. both natives of Laurens county, For many years Mr. Fondren was in the mercan- tile business in Dublin, afterward coming to Thomas county. where he bought a large traet of land. on which he employed as many as two hundred slaves. He spent the last days of his life in Thomasville, where he died before the war. Judge and Mrs. Mitchell have been blessed with nine children, who have reached maturity, and two others. Rufus L. and Harriet E., who died in childhood, aged fourteen and five years respectively. The children who have survived are as follows: Minnie Lee, Frances, Annette, Robert Goodwin, John Fondren, Ennnett, Carl,
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Julian Raines, and Richard. Of these, Minnie Lee married Dr. W. W. Bruce, of Thomasville, and has one child. Helen; Annette is the wife of Theodosius Winn. a resident of Thomasville, and has three children, Davies, Nettie, and Sarah ; Robert G., who is now an attorney of Black- shear, Georgia, is married to Mary O. Acosta, and has eight children, Blanche Acosta. Catherine, Robert Goodwin, Emily, Eustace, Mary Lillian, Nettie Fondren, and John Gorden: John F., married Anne Montgomery ; Emmett married Augusta Bowen Lathrop, and has three children, Lathrop. Emmett, and Fondren. Carl is cashier of a bank at Lyons, Georgia, and Julian R. is a resident of Kansas City, Missouri. The judge's daughters received their education in the Thomasville schools, graduating from the Young Female College.
John F. took a law course at Athens. Georgia, and served three terms in the Georgia legislature and lacked but two votes of being elected speaker.
Mrs. Mitchell and the judge are both members of the Missionary Baptist church. and have reared their sons and daughters in the same faith. Besides his many interests in public and private life, Judge Mitchell has found time to affiliate with the Masonic fraternity, belong- ing to the Thomasville lodge of that organization. He is also a member of the W. D. Mitchell Camp of Confederate Veterans.
The following. which appeared in a paper in the locality in which Judge Mitchell makes his home, is a true testimonial of the esteem and honor in which he is so deservedly held:
"Throughout all his career. civil and military, he has been loyal to his country, his party. and generous and publie spirited. * * * He did heroic service in redeeming Georgia from the second invasion, known as the 'reconstruction,' and he is one of the old guard, never departing from the faith. always holding to the time-honored principles of his party, warning against strange doctrines and new departures."
HON. ARCHIBALD THOMPSON MACINTYRE. Among the notable Georgia families none has been more conspicuous in public and professional life nor borne the responsibilities of citizenship with greater dignity and social service than have the MacIntyres during three generations of their residence in this state.
The family was identified with colonial and revolutionary times as well as the activities of the later national period. Daniel MacIntyre, the founder of the American branch. was a native of Scotland and a North Carolina settler. During the Revolution he served as a patriot soldier from January, 1777, to August, 1780. So far as known, he spent all his latter years in North . Carolina.
Archibald MacIntyre. son of this Scotch immigrant and Revolu- tionary soldier. was born in North Carolina in 1776 and probably early in the following century came. into Georgia, settling first in Twiggs county, and then becoming a pioneer of southwest Georgia, in Irwin county. He bought land in that part of the county now known as the Grooverville district of Brooks county. Archibald MacIntyre was a scholarly man, and by profession a civil engineer, and in the latter capacity made a number of surveys in this section of the state. With the aid of his slaves ho cleared a farm. on which he resided until his death in 1830. Hannah Lawson, who became the wife of Archibald Macintyre, also represented a prominent name in colonial history. Hugh Lawson. her great-grandfather, came to America and lived for a time in the Pennsylvania colony, and from there to Ennenburg. Virginia. in 1743, and was judge of the county court there in 1746. Hle later moved to Rowan county, North Carolina, where the records show that
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he bought land from Earl Granville in 1759. His death occurred in 1772. Roger Lawson, a Revolutionary soldier and the grandfather of Hannah, married Hannah Thompson, whose father was a minister of the Presbyterian church. Their son, Col. John Lawson, the father of Hannah, was a commissioned officer during the Revolutionary war. He married Alice Moore. Hannah (Lawson) Macintyre survived her husband and died in 1842. Roger Lawson and his son Col. John Law- son, both received grants of land for their services in the Revolutionary war.
Archibald Thompson Macintyre, Sr., son of the above Archibald, was born in Twiggs county, Georgia, October 27, 1822, and in 1843 was admitted to the bar and opened an office at Thomasville. In a few years distinction and success came to him both in his profession and in public affairs. In 1847-48 he was a member of the state legislature. During the war he was a member of Gov. Joseph E. Brown's staff and for a time commanded a regiment of state troops. He was also a useful mem- ber of the state constitutional convention after the war. From 1876 until his death he served as one of the trustees of the state university, and for several years as trustee of the state insane asylum. During the forty-seventh congress he represented his district in the house, and hon- ored his state by the quality of his service. The members of that con- gress, it will be remembered, voted themselves an increase of salary. His vote was cast against the measure, and after it had passed he turned the excess of his salary over the previous amount into the state treasury of Georgia. For thirty years he was a ruling elder of the Presbyterian church, and his life was lived in conformity with high ideals and relig- ious convictions. His death occurred on the 2d of January, 1900.
The maiden name of his wife was America Young. She was born in Bulloch county, Georgia, a daughter of Michael and Sarah ( Everett) Young. Her paternal grandparents were William and Mary ( Hender- son) Young, and her grandparents on the maternal side were Joshua and Jane (Carter) Everett-all of whom were, so far as known, life- long residents of Bulloch county. The Young family was prominent in Georgia from colonial times. William Young was member of a com- mittee of safety appointed in Savannah on the 22d of June, 1775, and on the 4th of July, 1775, represented the town and distriet of Savannah in the session of the provincial congress of that date. America (Young) MacIntyre, whose death occurred in 1910, reared six children, namely : Hugh James, Archibald T., Jr. (see below), Mary America, Michael Young, William Remer and Daniel Irwin.
Archibald Thompson Macintyre, Jr., was born on a plantation in Thomas county, June 6, 1852, and died in his home at Thomasville, July 11, 1897. In his comparatively brief span of life he added dis- tinetion to the name he bore, and was one of the leaders among his con- temporaries of the Georgia bar and public life. At the age of seventeen, in 1869. a graduate of the state university, he then began the study of law and was admitted to the bar when nineteen. For a time he was associated with his brother Hngh and later with his father, and in his practice was early recognized as a lawyer of high attainments and sne- cessinl ability. Though very young at the time, he took an active part in the reconstruction period, and was a bold and daring advocate of home rule. He was later prominent in Democratie politics, and chair- man of the executive committee. He was an elector when Grover Cleve- land was elected for the first time. In 1889 he was elected to the state legislature, and there as in every other position of responsibility dis- charged his duties with conscientious ability. Ill health finally com- pelled him to retire from law practice, and ended in his death, July 11, 1897, at the age of forty-five.
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He was married on the 11th of December, 1880, to Miss Margaret Fraser Livingston, daughter of Hon. Thomas J. and Margaret S. (Wyche) Livingston, the history of this well known Georgia family being given in following paragraphs. Mrs. Machityre lives in one of the beautiful homes of Thomasville. Her four children are Hugh James, Archibald Thompson, Remer Young and William Fraser. Hugh is a successful attorney and the present mayor of the city of Thomasville. Archibald T. was cashier for a time of the First National Bank, of Thomasville. He died at the age of twenty-seven. Remer Young, is an electrician, and William F. is still pursuing his studies.
CAPT. THOMAS JOHN LIVINGSTON. A South Carolinian who for many years was prominent in the public life of the state of Georgia, the late Capt. T. J. Livingston was born at Abbeville, South Carolina, on the 25th of February, 1828, and was a son of Thomas and Margaret ( Fraser) Livingston.
The first of the name to come to America was Robert Livingston, who settled in New York and lived there the rest of his life. He married Alida Schuyler. He was known as first lord of Livingston Manor. From him the line of descent is through the following: His youngest son Gilbert who married Cornelia Beekman was born in 1690 and died in 1746; was registrar of the colonial court of chancery, 1720; county clerk of Ulster county, 1722; member of the assembly for the manor, 1728-1737, and lieutenant colonel of the provincial militia. Cornelius, son of Gil- bert, married a Taliaferro. and both died in Virginia. Their son Thomas was twice married, his wives being sisters, Mary and Nancy Childs, of Virginia. He was a private in Company Eight of Virginia, under Capt. Thomas Tebbs, April, 1777, as shown by record of Revolutionary war by W. T. R. Saffell, page 275. Thomas, a son of Thomas, married Margaret Fraser, of Abbeville. South Carolina and they were the parents of the late Captain Livingston. Leaving South Carolina, they became pioneers of Madison county, Florida. For a number of years after their settle- ment the Indians were so troublesome that each community had its fort or block-house, to which the inhabitants fled on the first alarm. Thomas Livingston, the father, was a lawyer by profession, but spent most of his years as a planter. having a large number of slaves. He and his wife spent their last years on the plantation home near Madison.
Thomas John Livingston, their son, was eight years old when the family moved to Florida, in which state he was reared and educated. He began his career as a farmer and was engaged in that occupation when the war between the states began. Raising a company for the Confederacy, he was made captain, and as a comrade wrote after his death, he performed his duty faithfully and with ability in every posi- tion he was placed. At the close of the war he entertained for a few days at his home Gen. J. C. Breckinridge, who was then trying to elude capture by his federal pursners. ' Captain Livingston and Captain Tucker took this noted Confederate leader in a boat down the Suwanee river to the coast, whence he embarked for Cuba.
After the war Captain Livingston engaged in merchandising at Quit- man, Georgia, for a time, and then retired to his farm in the Groover- ville distriet of Brooks connty. During succeeding years he took a high stand as an influential and able leader in civic affairs. He was chosen state senator and represented the counties of Brooks. Thomas and Colquitt. During his youth he united with the Methodist church, and for a quarter of a century was superintendent of his local Sunday-school. He was faithful in his religion, making it a practical guide in his every- day life, was a just and upright man, and a splendid type of the old
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southern gentleman. His death oeeurred at his homestead in Brooks county on the 15th of February. 1903.
Captain Livingston was twice married. Margaret S. Wyche, who became his first wife, was born at Madison, Florida, daughter of John Scott and Hannah Lawson ( Macintyre) Wyche. Her ancestry is inter- esting. Ilenry Wyche, founder of the family in America, was born in England and came to the colonies about 1679, settling in Surry county, Virginia, and is mentioned as one of the foot soldiers of Surry county, Virginia. ITis son George (IL) lived in Sorry county, and George's son Peter (III) lived in Brunswick county, Virginia. George (IV), son of Peter, married a Miss Scott and became a pioneer settler in Richmond county, Georgia. Batte (V), the next in line, married a Miss JJarrett. John S. (VI), son of Batte, married Hannah Lawson L. MaeIntyre. The latter was a daughter of Archibald and Hannah ( Lawson) MaeIn- tyre, and a lineal descendant of Daniel MaeIntyre, founder of that name in America (see Macintyre sketeh). Captain Livingston's first wife died at the age of thirty-five. and he later married Ellen Groover. The children of Captain and Margaret ( Wyche) Livingston were: Margaret Fraser, who became the wife of the late Archibald T. MacIntyre, of Thomasville (see preeeding sketch ) ; Lula Lawson, who married William H. Mitchell and lives in Thomasville; Irvene Camillas, who married, first, T. J. Howard, and, second, T. L. Shofner, and lives in Dade City, Florida; Thomas John, who married Mary MeCall and lives in Fitz- gerald. The children of Captain Livingston's second marriage are: Donald Madison; Emily Josephine, wife of McCall Quarterman, of Lane Park, Florida ; LeRoy Rushin; and Helen Lueile, wife of R. W. Adams, of Boston, Georgia.
ROBERT EDWARD LEE BOWER. A prominent farmer and merehant of Dixie, Brooks county, Robert Edward Lee Bower takes an intelli- gent interest in everything tending to promote the welfare and progress of town and county, being a public-spirited and useful member of his community. A son of George MeIntosh Troup Bower, he was born July 14, 1862, in Newton county, Georgia, of honored New England ancestry, being a direet descendant in the fourth generation of the noted sculptor, John Bower, and his wife, Honora Bower, nec Jacobs.
Ebenezer Bower, Mr. Bower's grandfather, was born, bred and edu- cated in Providence, Rhode Island. Foreseeing the future development of the South, he camne as a young man to Georgia, and lived for a while in Savannah, where he met and married an heiress, Miss Margaret McConkey. Removing with his bride to Jones county, Georgia, he became an extensive and prosperous planter and merchant, in the man- agement of his land having plenty of help, owning as many as two hun- dred and fifty slaves. About 1830 he moved with his family to Florida, becoming a pioneer of Marianna, and there ereeting the first brick house built in that locality. He operated large traets of land, and leased many slaves to vessel owners doing shipping business between Apalachicola and Mobile. When he came South there were no railroads in Georgia. the country being largely in its pristine wildness, game of all kinds roaming at will through the forests, in which Indians still lived. and at times made raids upon the new settlers. All farm produce had to be teamed to either the Atlantic or gulf ports. the round trip having been long, tedious, and sometimes dangerons if the savages were on the war path. Both Ebenezer Bower and his wife spent their last years on their large estate in western Florida. They reared six children, five sons and one daughter.
George MeIntosh Troup Bower was born in 1825, in Jones county,
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Georgia, and as a lad of five years accompanied his parents to Florida. The facilities for obtaining an education in that state being then very limited, he was sent North, and in the publie schools of Providence, Rhode Island, acquired his early book knowledge, which was subse- quently supplemented by a course of study at Emory College, in Oxford, Georgia. When ready to establish himself in business, he settled in New- ton county, Georgia, and was there an honored and esteemed resident until his death, in 1897. He became prominent in publie affairs, hold- . ing many offices of trust and responsibility, including those of county judge and county sheriff. He was a great reader, and a constant student, remarkably well informed on all topies, and was very frequently called upon as an adviser and counsellor. During his life he saw wonderful changes in the face of the country roundabout, witnessing with just pride and gratification the growth of Georgia from a wilderness to a rich and prosperous state, in which are large and populous cities, and magnificent agricultural regions, while railroads traverse the country in every direction.
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