A history of Savannah and South Georgia, Volume II, Part 49

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

USA > Georgia > Chatham County > Savannah > A history of Savannah and South Georgia, Volume II > Part 49

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The early days of Joe MeHancock were passed on his father's farm on the Allapha river, in Wilcox county, and there he early learned the business of farming under the insistent instruction of his parent. As a consequence, he turned his attention to that business when he reached years of manhood. and up to the time when he was elected ordinary of Turner county. had continued to devote himself to that industry. Mr. MeHancock has been identified with the county in an official capacity since it was organized in 1905 and was chief clerk of the first ordinary of Turner county up to 1908, elected to that office with a majority of three to one. Since 1906 Mr. MeHancock has maintained a residence in Ashburg, but he still conduets his farm in the vicinity of the city.

On February 22, 1870, Mr. MeHancock was married to Mary W. McCall, and to them eight children were born. Mrs. MeHancock died on June 11, 1905. The children are named as follows, in the order of their birth: John, of Lake Kerr, Florida, is assistant postmaster at that place and bookkeeper of a large lumber company; Dave is en- gaged in the livery business in Rebecca, Turner county. Georgia; Charles is a farmer of Rebecca : Samuel, also in the livery business ; Essie, living at Atlanta, Georgia; Joe, Jr .. Estelle and Domer are all students and living at home. In 1909 Mr. MeHancock married Miss Nettie Barron- ton, the daughter of Mrs. J. W. Barronton, of Lafayette county, Georgia.

Mr. MeHancock is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows and the Rebekahs, and is also identified with the Masonie fra- ternity, Sycamore Lodge, No. 210, with membership in the Chapter, R. A. M. He and his wife are members of the Baptist church. Mr. Mc- Haneoek is the youngest member in a family of eleven children. His brothers and sisters are named as follows: Martha, Elizabeth, Amanda, J. G. B., E. L., Catherine, Jane. John. Ellen and W. J. The latter is clerk of the supreme court of Wilcox county. J. G. B. MeHancock was sheriff two terms in Irwin eounty, in 1876 and 1878. and E. L. MeHan- coek was county treasurer of Irwin county two terms. in 1882 and 1884. All the family is yet living except Amanda. E. L. and Martha, and . the children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren number over 420. The family is an old and well known one in this section of the state and many of the name have given valued service to the county and state in various capacities.

JOSEPH WESLEY CAMERON, elerk of the superior court of Telfair county, is a native of Georgia, born in the same county in which he now lives. His birth occurred on March 14, 1852, and he is the son of A. J. and Margaret Cameron, the father a native of Telfair and the mother of Tattnall county. The father was a gunsmith by trade and was foreman of the Georgia state army during the war, and for twenty- four years thereafter he was messenger of the Georgia senate, a position which he was filling when his death occurred, in 1888. The Cameron

860

SAVANNAH AND SOUTH GEORGIA

family is one which has been prominent in Georgia for a number of generations, and representatives of the family have ben identified with the fortunes of Telfair county since its organization in 1807. Dunean Cameron, the grandfather of Joseph Wesley Cameron. of this review, represented this county in the legislature five terms. He was a native of North Carolina, and the family is one of Scottish extraction. He also represented the county in the senate three terms and in the house two terms. The father, A. J. Cameron, was a member of both constitutional conventions after the close of the war. He was born in 1826 and died in 1888, as mentioned previously. The mother, who was born in 1825, died in 1898.

Mr. Cameron was the only child of his parents. He was educated primarily in the schools of MeRae. On reaching years of maturity, he engaged first in the merchandise and timber business in this section, and he continued in that line of enterprise with more or less success until in 1890, when he was elected assistant doorkeeper in the house of representatives for a term of four years. In 1894 he was elected assist- ant doorkeeper in the senate for a five years' term, and on January 1, 1899, he took charge of the office of clerk of the superior court of Telfair county. his election to that position coming in the latter part of 1898. Mr. Cameron is still the incumbent of that office, a fact which is elo- quent of ability and fitness for such a position.

Mr. Cameron is a member of the blue lodge of the Masonic fra- ternity, and with his family, is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

On May 11, 1876. Mr. Cameron was united in marriage with Mollie J. Paschal, daughter of William Paschal of MeDuffie county, Georgia. William Paschal was a veteran of the Civil war, having served in the Georgia army. Twelve children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Cameron, of which number nine are yet living. Their names are here given in the order of their birth: Minnie Lee, the wife of W. H. Turner of Telfair eounty, is deceased; Annie Laurie, who married C. A. Graham. a contractor of McRae, is also deceased, her death occurring in 1898; Alice Jane, is the wife of W. W. Simmons, an architect and contractor of. McRae; Maggie Mae is the wife of M. A. Birch, a farmer of Dodge county ; William J. is a pharmacist of Montgomery county; Josie L. is a teacher in Glenwood; M. A. and Lillie Endell, living at home: Earl Duncan, Max Lamer and Joseph Terrill are still attending school in McRae.

ROBERT LEE GROOVER. One of the many enterprising men extensively engaged in farming in Brooks county, Robert Lee Groover has brought to his chosen calling superior knowledge, excellent judgment, and fine business methods, and his labors are crowned with success. A native of this county, he was born October 27, 1862, in Hickory Head district, not far from the birthplace of his father, Allen W. Groover.

His grandfather, James Groover, was born, reared and married in Bulloch county, Georgia. From there he came to Southwestern Georgia, making his way thither with teams, bringing with him all of his worldly possessions, including his household goods. his stock and his slaves. He located in that part of Irwin county that was later made into Lowndes eounty, and has since become a part of Brooks county. Buying a tract of timber, he erected a rude log house in the wilderness, and later sawed boards to seal the house and floors. For many years thereafter there were no railroads in this section of the country, all of the cotton pro- duced being hauled to the gulf ports, fifty miles away, it taking a week to make the round trip. Indians were then numerous, and deer, bear

861

SAVANNAH AND SOUTH GEORGIA

and wild game of all kinds inhabited the deep woods. Clearing quite a tract of land, he was busily employed in cultivating the soil until his death, at a good old age. To him and his first wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Denmark, twelve sons and four daughters were born, and by his second wife, one son was born.

Born in Hickory Head district. Brooks county, September 4, 1832, Allen W. Groover was brought up in what is now Brooks county. In- heriting a tract of land, he engaged in agricultural pursuits as a young man, continuing thus employed until the fall of 1862. Enlisting then in the Georgia Volunter Infantry, he served with the Confederate forees until the elose of the war. Returning home, he resumed farming on an extensive scale, becoming owner of about two thousand acres of land in Brooks county, where he continued a resident until his death, Septem- ber 4, 1907. He married Martha MeMullen, who was born in Brooks county, Georgia, a daughter of James MeMullen. She died in 1892, leaving six children. as follows: Feliz R., Frank C., Robert Lee, Hattie, Eliza L., and W. Blewett.

An excellent scholar as a boy, Robert Lee Groover acquired a prac- tical business education in the eommon sehools, and until twenty-five years of age remained beneath the parental roof, being in the employ of his father. He then purchased land in the Nankin distriet and was there successfully engaged in tilling the soil until 1903. He then bought the place on which he is now living. it being the R. I. Denmark homestead property of seven hundred acres, and still retains the eleven hundred acres in the Nankin district.

In 1890 Mr. Groover married Peggie Wyche, who was born in Madison county. Florida. a daughter of James L. and Mary ( Rossiter) Wyche. Five children have been born of their nnion, namely: Robert Lawrence, Allen W., Vaun. Rossiter, and Frank Clayton. Religiously Mr. Groover is affiliated with the Missionary Baptist church, and Mrs. Groover is a member of the Presbyterian church. Politieally a Democrat. Mr. Groover served for fourten years as county commissioner. He be- longs to the Hickory Head Farmers' elub, of which he has been presi- dent. He is a man of much ability and is now vice-president of the Bank of Quitman.

ALBERT JACKSON HODGES, a successful merchant and farmer at Mor- ven, Georgia. was born in Brooks county of this state on September 9. 1867. His father, Joseph J. Hodges. was born in Bullock eounty. Georgia, in 1836, and his grandfather, James C. Hodges, was a native of the same county, where he was born of ancestors that were of English descent and were numbered among the early settlers of that county. James C. Hodges removed to southern Georgia in 1838 and located in that part of Lowndes county that is now included in Brooks connty. At that time the greater part of southwestern Georgia was a wilderness. deer, bear, turkeys and many other kinds of game were still plentiful, and the Indians yet contested this as their hunting ground. He pur- chased a tract of timbered land five miles north of the present site of Quitman and began to hew a farm from the wilderness. There were no railroads in this section for many years afterward. He went to New- port. Florida, to market his products and on the return would bring back supplies for the house and farm, it requiring several days to make the trip. After clearing quite a tract of land there he soll his hokl- ings and purchased land in Brooks county in the locality known as Okapilco, where he spent the remainder of his life and passed away during the war between the states. His wife, who was Miss Sarah New- ton before her marriage, survived him many years and died at the ad-

862

SAVANNAH AND SOUTH GEORGIA

vaneed age of ninety-three. They were the parents of six children, namely : J. Lafayette, Robert L., Joseph J., Margaret, Mary and Mag- gie. All of the sons served in the Confederate army. Joseph J. Hodges, the father of Albert J., was reared on the farm. After he had attained his majority he went to Florida, where he clerked for an elder brother until the breaking ont of the Civil war, when he enlisted in a regiment of Florida cavalry in which he served until the close of the war. Hle then returned to Brooks county, Georgia, the fortunate possessor of $200, which was his entire capital. With more valnable assets, however, in the way of energy, ambition and undaunted courage, he began anew his campaign for success. Purchasing the interests of the other heirs in the homestead of his father, he began farming in a small way and prospered from the start. As his means accumulated he invested in land until his holdings comprised about three thousand acres, besides outlying tracts, and he was also a stockholder in the banks at Pavo and Quitman, Georgia. He continued to reside on his estate until his death on July 25, 1910. The maiden name of his wife was Rachel Caroline Delk. She was born in Brooks county. Georgia, a daughter of John and Jane (Hodge) Delk. and still resides at the old homestead. Joseph J. and Rachel C. (Delk) Hodges became the parents of eight children, viz. : Albert J., Wesley, Sally, Charles W., James C., Eugene E., Judge R. and Mary. Wesley died at the age of seventeen and Charles passed to the life beyond when thirty years of age. Both parents were consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal ehureh and the father was an ardent advoeate of prohibition.

Albert Jackson Hodges, the eldest of his family and the immediate subject of this review, received his education in the common schools of Brooks eounty. Reared to habits of industry, he began in early youth to assist in the duties of the home farm and gained thereby a knowledge and a training that have been the foundation of his subsequent success- ful business career. He remained with his parents until twenty-three years of age and then purchased land near the old home, where he followed farming ten years. At the end of that period he removed to Morven to engage in the mereantile business and so continued there. carrying a large stock of general merchandise, including everything in daily use in the home and on the farm, until January 1, 1913, when the store and all the goods were burned. Since then he has been farming, his place of 350 acres adjoining the corporation of Morven, and is a stockholder in the Citizens banks at Quitman and at Morven. Mr. Hodges -is also a member of the legislature and has been mayor of Morven two years.

At the age of twenty-three he was united in marriage to Mamie Griffin, who also is a native of Brooks eounty and is a daughter of Simeon and Emma Griffin. Mr. and Mrs. Hodges are both members of the Methodist Episcopal church. They have seven children: Euler F., Joseph J., Maude, Edwin D., Marion, Claude W. and Laura.

ASHLEY LAWSON. A life-long resident of Georgia, Ashley Lawson gained distinction not only: for the active part he took in the develop- ment of the agricultural interests of the southern part of the state, but as a splendid representative of those brave men of old, who out of the dense forests of what is now Brooks county established for themselves permanent homes. A son of John Lawson. he was born in 1810. in Lawrence county. coming, probably, of Scotch ancestry. Lawson is a common and an honored name in all parts of the Union. many members of the family tracing their lineage back to one Roger Lawson, who re- sided in New York state during the Revolution, and was murdered by

863

SAVANNAH AND SOUTHI GEORGIA

the Tories, he having reared eleven stalwart sons, who, as they grew to manhood, separated, settling in different localities in the north, south, east and west.

Born and brought up in North Carolina, John Lawson came when young to Georgia, traveling thither in his own conveyance. He located first in Laurens county, later coming south, and settling in that part of Irwin county which was subsequently converted into Lowndes county. and now forms a part of Brooks county. Purchasing land in the part now included in the Barney district, he began the improvement of a homestead. The wild and heavily wooded country roundabout was habited by wild animals of many kinds, and Indians were still numer- ous and troublesome. He began the pioneer labor of clearing the land, and raised his first crop on soil that had previously been used for the same purpose by the redskins. There being no railways in this vieinity for years after he came to Georgia, all surplus productions of the land had to be hauled to either Saint Marks, Georgia, or to Newport, on the Tallahassee, the general custom of marketing the goods being for a few of the neighbors to combine, and start with a number of teams loaded with produce, taking along with them provisions and cooking utensils, and eamp by the way, on the return trip bringing home the household supplies needed. Having improved quite a tract of land, John Lawson occupied it several years, but later in life removed to Colquitt county, where he spent his declining days, passing away at the age of eighty-seven years. His wife, whose maiden name was Rachael Green, was born in North Carolina, and died, at a good old age, in Col- quitt county. They reared four children, as follows: Eliza, Ashley, Greene, and Daniel. -

The oldest son of the parental household, Ashley Lawson, began in his youthful days to assist in the arduous labor of redeeming a farm from the forest, sharing both the pleasures and hardships of frontier life. Little do the people of this day and generation realize what they owe to those brave spirits of old, who first uprooted the trees, ploughed the sod, and made a broad track for the advance of civilization. As a young man, Ashley Lawson joined a company organized for protection against the redskins, and was an active participant of the wars of 1836, when the Indians made their last stand in this part of Georgia. He was past military age when the war between the states broke out, but in 1864 he was called to the front, and, with the old and the young valiantly opposed the advance of the Federal army into Southwest Georgia.

Soon after attaining his majority. Ashley Lawson purchased land in Lowndes county. and on the farm which he reclaimed from its virgin wildness spent the remainder of his four score and four years of earthly life. During his active career he saw Lowndes county grow from a wil- derness into a quite well developed farming country, with a railway passing through his own estate. He married Cynthia Folsom, who was born in Burke county. Georgia, a daughter of Lawrence A. Folsom. and granddaughter of William Folsom, who was born in England, and who, as far as is known, was the only member of his family to come to Amer- ica. He settled in Virginia, and having purchased land lying on the Potomac river there spent his remaining years.

Born on the Virginia plantation. Lawrence Armstrong Folsom spent . his early life with his parents. bured southward as a young man. he lived for a time in Burke county, Georgia. In 1815, accompanied by three other enterprising and adventurous young men, James Ronn- tree, Drew Vickers and Alfred Belote, he came to that part of Irwin county now inelnded within the boundaries of Lowndes county, blazing his way through the wilderness on horseback. After exploring a consid-

864

SAVANNAH AND SOUTII GEORGIA

erable portion of South Georgia the quartet invested in government land, Mr. Folsom buying a tract about a mile from Little river ; Messrs. Roun- tree and Vickers located near by; and Mr. Belote purchased land that ineluded the present site of the village of Mineola. Going back to Burke county for their families, these gentlemen .returned to Brooks county with their wives and children. making the overland trip in carts drawn either by horses or mules, following Indian trails a part of the way, at other times making their own path through the trackless woods. When- ever they came to a stream too deep to ford, they swam their. stock aeross, and built rafts on which to take their carts and household goods aeross. Those four families were pioneers in very truth, being the first permanent white settlers of Lowndes county, more especially of its northern portion. There were no mills in that section of the country for several years thereafter, all the grain being ground in mills operated by hand. They kept sheep and raised cotton, and the women used to card, spin and weave the homespun material from which she fashioned all the garments worn by the family. The wild game found in the for- ests furnished the early settlers with a large part of their subsistenee. while acorns, beech nuts and walnuts were so plentiful that the only need of feeding hogs was to keep them from growing wild, an occasional meal serving for that purpose. Very little ready money was then in eireu- lation in the south, and in the newer settlements few store goods were used, salt, sugar and coffee being the principal articles brought in.

In the development of the community in which he located, Lawrence A. Folsom took an active part, and on the homestead which he built up spent the remainder of his life, passing away at an advanced age. His wife, whose maiden name was Rachel Vickers, was born in Virginia, and died on the home farm, in Lowndes county. They were the par- ents of nine children, as follows: William; John; Maston; Randall ; James; Elijalı; Cynthia, who became the wife of Ashley Lawson; Ra- chael, and Betsy.

Mrs. Ashley Lawson attained the age of seventy-two years, having reared a large family of children, namely: William, John. Hardy, James, Hugh. Greene, Nancy, Lawrence, Ivey, Martha, Irvin, Susie and Jane. Six of the sons, William, John, James, Hugh, Greene and Law- rence served during the war between the states in the Confederate army. Hugh and Greene died while in service, and Lawrence was se- verely wounded in battle.

LAWRENCE F. LAWSON. A prominent and prosperous agriculturist of Brooks county, and the proprietor of one of the most attractive estates in the Morven distriet, Lawrence F. Lawson is distinguished not only as a successful farmer, but as a veteran of the Confederate army, and as the descendant of an honored pioneer of southern Georgia. He was born Jannary 29, 1849, in Lowndes county, Georgia, a son of Ash- ley and Cynthia ( Folsom) Lawson, of whom an extended account is given elsewhere in this volume.

Growing to manhood on the homestead, Lawrence F. Lawson gleaned his early education in the rural schools, and under the wise instruction of his father acquired a proficient knowledge of farming. At the out- break of the war between the states. he enlisted in Company II, Twenty- sixth Regiment of Georgia Volunteer Infantry, and at Staunton, Vir- ginia, joined Stonewall Jackson's army. With his regiment he partiei- pated in many engagements of importance, at the second battle at Manassas being severely wounded. He lay upon the fiekl between the two armies for several hours. seeing many of his comrades shot down. General Lawton having been standing by his side when he was wounded.

865

SAVANNAII AND SOUTH GEORGIA

while Lieutenant Colonel Griffin fell dead at Mr. Lawson's feet. Of the twenty-eight men of his company that went upon the battlefield, four, only, escaped unhurt, the others being either killed or wounded.

After the battle was over, Mr. Lawson was taken to the field hospital for treatment, and for twelve months was unable to rejoin his command. Being then transferred to Liberty, Virginia, he remained there in duty until the elose of the conflict. Returning home, he assisted his father, in the summer of 1865. in harvesting his erops, and then began life for himself as an independent farmer. Buying land in the Hahira district, Lowndes county, he lived there two years, and then sold and purchased two hundred and twenty-five acres in the Morven district, Brooks county. Mr. Lawson cleared one hundred acres of that tract, meeting with such encouraging success in his operations that he bought other tracts in that vicinity, obtaining title to upwards of two thousand acres. In 1881 he bought his present property, which borders on Lawson's -pond, in the Morven district, it being one of the most beautiful and desirable loca- tions in South Georgia. Near his house, which stands on high land, is a magnificent grove of oak, pine, and other trees native to this section, and within one hundred yards of his residence is a well of pure, cool, and sparkling water, none better to be anywhere found.

Mr. Lawson has been four times married. He married first Josephine Scruggs, who was born in Brooks county, a daughter of Richard and Mary (Goldwire) Sernggs. She died in early womanhood, leaving two children, Edwin and Luther. Mr. Lawson married second Mary Joncs, who was born in Talbot county, Georgia, a daughter of Fennel and Susan (Brown) Jones. At her death she left one child, William. For his third wife Mr. Lawson married Laura Scruggs. a sister of his first wife, and to them six childern were born, Roberta, John Pleasant, James Bennett, Armsted, Richard Garland. and Mamie. After her death Mr. Lawson married Fannie King, who was born in Berrien county, Georgia, a daugh- ter of James and Celia (Myers) King. Mr. and Mrs. Lawson are the parents of five children, namely: Yeatman, Sned, Hugh. Celia. and Rachael. Mr. and Mrs. Lawson are members of the Missionary Baptist church, to which his first and third wives also belonged, while his sec- ond wife was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, South.

IRVIN LAWSON. As an active, enterprising, and industrious farmer, Irvin Lawson materially assists in maintaining the reputation of Brooks county as a superior agricultural region, having a well-appointed and productive farm in the Morven district. A member of the well-known and much respected Lawson family, and a descendant of the first settler of Southwest Georgia. he was born August 6, 1854, in Lowndes county, a son of Ashley and Cynthia (Folsom) Lawson, of whom a sketch may be found on another page of this work, and a grandson of John Lawson. the pioneer.

Acquiring his education in the public schools. Irvin Lawson was trained to habits of industry and thrift on the home farm, and re- mained with his parents as long as they lived, caring tenderly for them in their later years. His father gave him one-half of the old home- stead property, and he, having purchased the remaining half from the other heirs, lived there until 1888. Selling out in that year. Mr. Lawson bought his present farm in lot number 225. Morven district, and has now three hundred acres of good land. on which he has im- provements of a substantial character, including a comfortable set of farm buildings.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

A history of Savannah and South Georgia, Volume II, Part 49

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