A history of Savannah and South Georgia, Volume II, Part 48

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

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Mr. Hill married, in 1873, Sarah Frances Bismuke, a daughter of William H. and Maria (Green) Bismuke, pioneer settlers of Stewart county, where both spent the closing years of their long and useful lives, Mrs. Bismuke attaining the venerable age of four score and ten years. Mr. and Mrs. Hill are the parents of eight children, namely : William Isaac, Miles Green, Addie Virginia, Alma, Pearl, John Carter, Emily May, and Fanny Ethel.

JOHN CULLEN HOLLINGSWORTH. An able representative of the pros- perous business men of Dawson. John Cullen Hollingsworth, a hardware merchant, holds an acknowledged position of prominence among the progressive and public-spirited men of the city and county as a citizen faithfully performing duties imposed upon him in official capacities. He was born and reared in Barbour county. Alabama, of old Virginia an- cestry, being a son of James Hollis Hollingsworth.

His paternal grandparents migrated from their native state, Vir- ginia, to Georgia early in the nineteenth century, and for six years lived in the vicinity of Americus, Sumter county, making the removal with teams. White settlers were then few and far between, and the dense forests were apparently filled with all kinds of wild animals and game. Not pleased with their prospects in Georgia. they removed with their family to Alabama, becoming pioneer settlers of Barbour county, where they established a permanent home.

Born in Virginia, in 1832. James Hollis Hollingsworth was but three years old when his parents made the overland journey to Georgia, and but nine years of age when they migrated to Barbour county, Alabama, where he began as soon as strong enough to assist in clearing a home- stead. At the breaking out of the war between the states, he enlisted in an Alabama regiment, and with the Confederate forces went to Virginia. He subsequently fonght bravely in many of the noted battles of the war, including the battles at Fredericksburg and Gettysburg, and the differ-

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ent ones around Richmond and Petersburg, continuing in active service throughout the conflict, returning home after the final surrender. His father having died while he was an infant, the care of his mother and sister fell upon him at an early age. He rented a mule and a piece of land, and though he had a late start that year, he was blessed with a good crop, which he disposed of at a high price. After renting a few years, he bought a plantation in the northwest section of Barbour county, near Mount Andrew, on the plantation standing the log cabin in which his son, John Cullen, was born. The little cabin, with a few other rude log buildings, and a few cleared acres, constituted all of the improve- ments upon the place. He possessed good judgment and excellent execu- tive ability, and with thrift and industry, both indoors and out, he and his family prospered, and in due course of time were installed in a sub- stantial frame house. He also erected good barns and sheds for the shel- ter of his stock and machinery, and put up tenement houses. There he lived contented and happy until his death,

The maiden name of the wife of James Hollis Hollingsworth was Amanda Currington. She was a native of South Carolina. Surviving her husband, she now makes her home with her children, of whom she has five, all sons, as follows: George, John Cullen, Jaines, Robert, and Edgar.

Receiving a good common school education in his youth, John Cul- len Hollingsworth, at the age of seventeen, began life for himself as a teacher, and for four years taught school. Changing his occupation, he was clerk in a general store at Clayton. Barbour county, Alabama, until December, 1896. , In January, 1897, Mr. Hollingsworth embarked in the mercantile business in Dawson, Georgia, with H. A. Petty, under the firm name of Petty and Hollingsworth, opening the first hardware store in the place, and for eight years carrying on a thriving business under that name. In 1905 the Hollingsworth Hardware Company was formed. with Mr. Hollingsworth as president of the corporation. Another store was purchased, the stock of the two establishments was consolidated, and this enterprising company now earries on an extensive and lucrative business, dealing in shelf hardware of every description, cutlery, kitchen furnishing goods, and farm implements, the firm aiming to anticipate as far as possible the wants and needs of their numerous patrons.

Mr. Hollingsworth married, August 10, 1905. Lillie Christie, who was born in Dawson. Georgia, a daughter of Samuel R. and Ella (Stevens) Christie. Three children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Hollingsworth, namely: Virginia, Ella May, and John Christie. Religiously Mr. Hollingsworth is an active member of the Baptist church, and superintendent of its Sunday school, and Mrs. Hollingsworth belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church. Fraternally Mr. Hollingsworth is a member of P. T. Schley Lodge, No. 229, Free and Accepted Masons, and of Lawrence chapter, Royal Arch Masons. He is now serving the city as a member of its common council, and is chairman of the board of county commissioners.

OWEN THOMAS KENYON, M. D. Engaged in the practice of a pro- fession which is one of the most exacting of all the lines of occupation to which a man may devote his time and energies, Owen Thomas Kenyon. M. D., of Dawson, holds a position of note among the leading physicians and surgeons of Terrell county. A son of Dr. Solomon H. Kenyon, he was born, May 7, 1866, in Stewart county, Georgia, on a farm situ- ated seven miles west of Lumpkin, coming from excellent New England ancestry. The immigrant ancestor of that branch of the Kenyon family from which Doctor Kenyon sprung was one JJohn Kenyon, who was

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born in England in 1657, came to America as a young man, and settled in Hopkinton, Rhode Island, where he married Elizabeth Remington.

George Kenyon, the next in line of descent, was born in Hopkinton, Rhode Island, February 4, 1733, and there spent his entire life. He married Martha Hoxie, whose birth occurred in the same place, May 2, 1735. Their son, Solomon Kenyon, grandfather of the doctor, was born in Hopkinton, Rhode Island, and there resided until his death, September 1, 1857, during his active career having been prosperously engaged in agricultural pursuits. Both he and his wife, whose maiden name was Eunice Sheffield, were birthright Quakers and reared their children in that faith.

Solomon H. Kenyon was born in Hopkinton, Rhode Island. May 19, 1793, and there acquired the rudiments of his education. A natural meehanie, he learned the trade of a carriage maker, and subsequently earned enough money as a carriage manufacturer to pay his way through the state university at Burlington, Vermont, graduating first from the literary department, and later from its medical department. After tak- ing a post graduate course in Boston. he was for three years engaged in the practice of medicine in Providence, Rhode Island. In 1829 Dr. Solomon H. Kenyon started for Florida, making the journey in a sail- ing vessel and being on the water six months. the voyage having been long and rough. A very few years later he came to Georgia, settling in Irwin eounty, where he became engaged in the practice of his pro- fession and with a Mr. Bowen improved a water power on House creek, near Ocilla. South Georgia then had comparatively few inhabitants, neither the Indians or the wild beasts of the forest having yet fled be- fore the advancing steps of eivilization. A few years later he moved to Talbot county, where he practiced medicine until 1852, when he bought land in Stewart eounty. seven miles west of Lumpkin, and turned his attention to farming. retiring from his professional labors. He was a great reader and student, and when, after he had passed the allotted three seore and ten years of man's life, a new grammar was introduced into the county schools. he attended school once again. and memorized the work. He died at the advaneed age of four seore and four years.

The maiden name of the wife of Dr. Solomon H. Kenyon was Luticia Pieree. She was born, August 18. 1820, a daughter of Allen and Sarah (Mulkey) Pierce. and died in 1895. at the age of seventy-five years. IIer paternal grandfather. John Pieree, was a native of Ireland and a pioneer of Burke county, Georgia. of which her Great-grandfather Mulkey was also an early settler. Of the union of Dr. S. H. and Mrs. Kenyon. ten children were born. as follows: John, Solomon, Allen, Mina. George. Sally, Amos Hoxie. Martha, Euniee, and Owen Thomas. The four older sons served in the Confederate army, John and Solomon losing their lives while in the service.

Laying a substantial foundation for his future education in the public schools of Lumpkin, Owen Thomas Kenyon was graduated when young from its high school. Having inherited in no small measure the mechanical talent of his father, he earned enough money while vet a student to pay his college expenses, and in 1886 was graduated from the medical department of Tulane University. with the degree of M. D. Commencing the practice of his chosen profession in Webster county, Doctor Kenyon remained there until 1900. when he removed to Dawson, where he has since continued. having built up an extensive and highly remunerative practice, and has won an enviable reputation as a physician and surgeon. An attentive reader and close observer, the doctor has kept paee with all of the important advances made in medical and surgical science, and has taken a post graduate course at Tulane Uni-

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versity, a course of six weeks in the Rhode Island state hospital. a special course at the Atlanta Medical College, and a course in the New York City Polyelinie.

Doctor Kenyon married. February 14, 1889, Mary Almira Kimbrough, who was born at Weston, Webster county, Georgia, a daughter of C. A. Kimbrough. Her paternal grandfather. Stephen P. Kimbrough, was born in Greene county. Georgia. but when a young man removed to Webster county, where he bought a large traet of land, which he oper- ated with slave labor. owning a large number of slaves. He subsequently settled in Stewart county, where his death oeeurred when he was eighty- three years old. He married Agnes Peak, who lived to the age of eighty- nine years. C. A. Kimbrough enlisted in the Confederate army in 1864 and with his command went to Florida. At the elose of the war he lo- cated in Webster county, where he still resides. He married Matilda Paschal, who was born in Putnam county. Georgia, where her father was an extensive farmer and a slave owner, who married Mary Ingram, a life-long resident of Putnam county.

Dr. and Mrs. Kenyon have two sons, namely : Stephen P. Kenyon, who was graduated from Mereer University in 1912 and now fills the chair of science in the Gainesville high school; and John C. Kenyon, a student. The doctor and Mrs. Kenyon are members of the Baptist ehureh. Fraternally the doctor belongs to P. T. Schley Lodge, No. 229, Free and Accepted Masons.

GEORGE L. DUREN. Representing a family whose members have been identified by residence and citizenship with Georgia for more than a century. George L. Duren is one of the enterprising merchants of Meigs in Thomas county. Beginning when the present flourishing little city was a village. he has built up a large business, and has performed his share of the development which has been so notable in Southwest Geor- gia during the last quarter century.

This branch of the Duren family is of Seoteh-Irish ancestry, and the great-grandfather of Mr. Duren eame from the north of Ireland. the seat of the Scotch-Irish. and settled in Augusta, Georgia. where he spent the remainder of his days and followed his trade of blacksmith. He reared two sons, Thomas and George. but the former left Augusta and disap- peared from the knowledge of the family. Mechanical skill has been almost a family asset of the Dnrens. The grandfather. George, was a skilled worker in wood and iron, and in his generation manufactured looms, spinning wheels. churns, earts and wagons. And his son. the father of the Meigs merchants, inherited the same genius but did not follow it as a regular gainful oeenpation, though he built the first wagon he ever owned.

George Duren, the grandfather, was born in Angusta and when a young man drove stages from Augusta to interior points, and later moved to Gwinett eounty, where he bought land and engaged in farming and resided until his death. He was known as a man of sterling charac- ter and was thoroughly honest in all his dealings. The maiden name of his wife was Sneed, and they reared ten sons and one daughter. All of the sons who were living at the time served in the Confederate army, and few families of the south were better represented at the front than the Dnrens.

W. N. Dnien, the father, was born in Gwinett county on the 27th of September, 1824. was reared in his native connty, and after attaining manhood bought a farm in the same county and also became proprietor of a grist mill on Yellow river. Being a miller, he was exempt from mili- tary service nntil the last call during the war, and was given what was

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really a greater responsibility, that of caring for the families of those who had gone to the front and supplying them with flour and meal for their daily bread. But in 1864, when Georgia became one of the prinei- pal centers of armed invasion, he joined the state militia and went to the defense of Atlanta. In 1865, having sold his possessions in Gwinett county, he came to Southwest Georgia, and bought land in the eastern part of Thomas county, where he spent the remainder of his years. He married Miss Elizabeth Flowers, a native of Gwinett county and daugh- ter of James and Minerva (Chandler) Flowers. Both her parents were natives of Scotland and on coming to America first settled in North Carolina and later in Gwinett county, where they spent the rest of their lives, the mother being upward of seventy-six years at the time of her death. A few years after the Duren family moved to Thomas county the mother was left a widow with ten children to her care. She sue- ceeded in keeping them all together until they were grown and had homes of their own. She spent her last days with a daughter in Thom- asville, her death occurring at the age of seventy-six. The names of her ten children were: Mary J., Charlotte A .. Reno M., William A., Emery G., Thomas C., Pinckney F., George L., Ella M. and Buna V.

Throughout practically all of his life George L. Duren has been a resident of Thomas county, and since childhood has witnessed the changes made by half a century in this part of the state. He was born in Thomas county, September 27, 1866, and when a boy attended the school in the neighborhood of his home. Up to the age of nineteen he assisted in the work of the farm. and then with a capital of three hun- dred dollars, given him by his mother, he opened a small store in Thomasville. That was the start of his long and successful career as a merehant. He was in business at Thomasville one year, then two years at Stone Mountain and five years at Cairo, after which hie lo- cated in Meigs and as a merchant and publie-spirited citizen has ever since been elosely identified with this community. On coming here there were several frame but only one brick building in the village, and · his own enterprise had a small frame structure for its first home. In 1905 he erected a commodious briek store, in which he earries a stock of general merchandise including almost everything in daily use in the house and on the farm. In 1913 he erected a large brick store in addi- tion, in which he will carry a large stock of hardware, machinery, bug- gies and all kinds of feed stuffs.

Mr. Duren has been twice married. He was married in Gwinett county to Miss A. L. Williams, a native of that eounty and daughter of Pittman and Sally ( Rowe) Williams. Mrs. Duren died at Cairo in 1895. By the second marriage, which was celebrated near Meigs, Miss Rosetta Viek became his wife. She was born in Colquitt county, this state, a daughter of James and Martha J. (Carlton) Vick. One daugh- ter, Ola Belle, was born of the first marriage and the two children of the present union are Schiley and Ella Vernon.

Mr. and Mrs. Duren are active members of the Missionary Baptist church. Ile is a prominent Mason, being master of Meigs lodge, F. & A. M., No. 459 ; Pelham chapter, R. A. M., and the Crusader Commandery K. T., No. 17, Bainbridge. Georgia. He is also a member of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias and the Wood- men of the World. Mr. Duren has always been one of the influential Demoerats in his locality, has been a member of the district exeentive committee, and in Meigs has done his share of public service as mem- ber of the town council.

JAMES N. ISLER, M. D. Both as a physician and an enterprising business man. Dr. Isler has taken a prominent part in the improvement

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and development of the town of Meigs and its environs during the last fifteen years. It is due to the work and influence of such citizens that Southwest Georgia owes its rapid material progress of recent years.

James N. Isler has spent most of his life in this section of the state. Born on a farm in Calhoun county on the 21st of July, 1874, he was a son of Becton Isler, who was born in the same county in 1844. The grandfather, John Isler, was a native, it is thought. of Wilkinson county, this state, and a descendant of Swiss ancestors. The name is found in different states of the Union, sometimes being spelled Izler. The grand- father moved from Wilkinson county to Baker county during the early forties and settled in that part now included in Calhoun county. He bought land and devoted the rest of his career to the clearing and till- ing of the soil. For many years after his settlement no railroads had penetrated into Southwest Georgia, and the farmers had to market their products at the river or gulf ports many miles away. It was a pioneer epoch in this region, when deer, turkeys and all kinds of game were plen- tiful. Calhoun county was the home of the grandfather until his death. He married a Miss Bailey.

Becton Isler (the father). though not sixteen years old when the war broke out, enlisted in a Georgia regiment, was for a time assigned to duty in guarding the magazines at Macon, and then took the field with his regiment and served until the end of the war. He then bought land in his native county and has ever since been identified with the agricultural interests of that locality. He was thrice married, and the maiden name of his first wife and the mother of the doetor, was Elizabeth Smith. Of her four children, one died in infancy and the others are named Judge Becton. James Nathaniel and Naomi Elizabeth. From the third marriage there are four children living: Guery Beaton, Louie, Jesse M. S. and Elsie.

Doctor Isler was reared and educated in his native county of Cal- houn, attending the common schools and then the high school at Leary. His determination to study medicine was adopted at an early age and he began his reading when seventeen with Dr. W. R. Terry at Leary. In the fall of 1894 he entered the Southern Medical College at Atlanta, where he was graduated M. D. with the class of 1897. IIe chose for his residence and place of practice the city of Meigs, which had then had several years of slow growth. After two years he was induced to remove to Pearson in Coffee county, where he remained three years, and then returned to Meigs, which has been his home ever since. He enjoys a large practice, and is one of the most popular and successful physicians in Thomas connty. Dr. Isler was married at Pearson in 1902 to Miss Lena, daughter of Louis and Phoebe (Simmons) Holtzendorff.

His part in the advancement of modern improvements and in civic and social affairs is not less important than his work in his profession. Realizing the need of the modern facilities of telephone service. a few years ago he established the Meigs Telephone Company, of which he is now sole owner. The service was at first confined to a small area about Meigs, but has been since extended to Mitchell and Grady counties, and in 1912 his system was established at Ochlochnee. In 1905 the doctor started a drug store in Meigs, and has since conducted one of the well appointed stores of the county. He is a stockholder in the Bank of Meigs.

Doctor Isler is a charter member, past master and was first junior warden of the Meigs Masonie Lodge, No. 459. F. & A. M., and is affiliated also with Pelham Chapter. R. A. M., and Crusader Commandery. K. T., at Bainbridge, His other fraternal associations include membership with the John B. Gordon Lodge, No, 163, K. of P., at Pelham, of which

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he is a charter member: member and past grand of Meigs Lodge, No. 241, I. O. O. F .. and is one of the charter members; and past council, commander and eamp physician of Meigs Camp, No. 157, W. O. W., and also one of the organizers. As a Democrat he has never taken any part in practical polities, but has done his duty as a voter and good citizen.

ANDREW JONES BOND, who belongs to one of the old families of Southwest Georgia, is a well known and prosperous citizen of Meigs. He is a native of Stewart county, having been born on a farm there the 1st of May, 1864,

His grandfather, Thomas Bond, a farmer by ocenpation, who so far as known was a life-long resident of Elbert county, reared seven sons and two daughters. John Rafe Bond, the father of Andrew JJ., was the seventh son. and was born at Elberton, Elbert county, in 1833. When a very young man he came to South Georgia, buying land in Stewart county, and was there successfully engaged in farming and stock rais- ing until his death, which oceurred in 1899. The maiden name of his wife was Martha Franees Broach, and she was a daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Broach. She is still living, at a good old age. on the home farm in Stewart county, her son, John Willis, being manager of the estate. Her five children are Josephine, Andrew Jones, Eliza Cor- nelia. John Willis and Dora.

Andrew J. Bond was reared and educated in his native county, and has always been an industrious worker and good business manager. At the age of twenty-three he moved out to Texas, where he bought a traet of land in Hunt county and developed it as a farm, selling it at the end of three years. After six years' residence in Texas he returned to Georgia and for a time lived on the home place in Stewart county. In 1899 he bought land in Mitchell county six miles from Pelham, sell- ing this in 1902, and during the following six years was a resident of the town of Pelham. After a sojourn of about six months in Florida he selected as his next place of residence the town of Meigs, where he is now owner of seventy-five acres within the corporate limits, and he also has a farm of 125 acres in Grady county. Most of his land is operated by tenants. He has been very successful in business, has de- veloped a good deal of country property, and is a man of mueh enter- prise. In 1905 he became a civil service employe of the government, and is still in charge of a rural mail route from Meigs.

Mr. Bond was first married in July, 1904, to Miss Enla Hand, whose father, Amos F. Hand. is a well known resident of Meigs. Mrs. Bond died in June, 1905. In 1907 he was united in marriage with Miss Vera May Young. daughter of William J. Young, of Meigs. The two children of Mr. Bond and wife are named Edgar E. and Velma Eilene.

JOE McHANCOCK. Up to the time of his election to the office of ordi- nary of Turner county, Joe MeHancock had devoted himself with all diligence to the farming industry, wherein he had experieneed a very fair degree of success. His election to the office of ordinary came with the organization of the county in 1906 and continued for a term of four years, and as the incumbent of that office he verified to the utmost the expectations of his constituents, and proved himself a capable and wise official. Mr. MeHancock has not relinquished his farming activi- ties, but owns and operates a small and productive place, thongh his residence has been maintained in Ashburg since 1906.

Born on the 11th of September, 1859, in Pulaski county, JJoe MeHan-

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cock became a resident of Wilcox eounty in 1863. This county later was subdivided and Turner county was formed as a result, as was also Ben Hill county, in 1907, by act of legislature. The parents of Joe Me- Hancock were Joseph J. and Sarah ( Watson) Haneoek. The father was born in 1818 and died in 1879. He was a farmer and divided his time between that work and the vocation of a Baptist minister. of the denomination known as Hard Shell. He was a pioneer preacher of his time, and was a resident of this community during the war. His wife was a daughter of Frederick Watson, one of the old settlers living in the vicinity of Houston county, near Perry, Georgia.

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A history of Savannah and South Georgia, Volume II, Part 48

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

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