USA > Georgia > Chatham County > Savannah > A history of Savannah and South Georgia, Volume II > Part 56
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On November 11, 1866, Mr. Hood was united in marriage with Miss Amanda A. Lasseter, a native of Sumter county, Georgia. Mrs. Hood's father, David Lasseter, was born, it is supposed, in Jasper county, Georgia. He was a pioneer of Sumter county, where he bought a tract of wild land near the present site of Plains, and with slave labor improved the homestead on which he spent his remaining days. Mr. Lasseter mar- ried Elizabeth Asbury Speer, who belonged to a prominent family of Georgia, of which she was a life-long resident. She passed to the higher life November 4. 1861, leaving eleven children, as follows: John H., Martha G., William F., James A., Simeon N., Jeremiah C., Henry M., Margaret -J., Mary E .. Amanda A., and Sarah C. All of the sons. with the exception of the elder one. served in the Confederate army. Henry lost his life in the service, having died the same date of his mother, but the others served throughout the entire war.
Mrs. Hood acquired her preliminary education in Dawson, attending first the school taught by Professor Tom Brantley, and afterwards was a pupil in Professor MeNulty's school. Completing her early studies at the Americus Female College, she came to Dawson at the age of twelve years to open a private school. Her brother, Simeon F. Lasseter, M. D., was there engaged in the practice of medicine, and she started her school in his office which was located on Stonewall street, adjoining the present site of the Presbyterian church. Very successful as a teacher, she con- tinued in her chosen occupation several years, her school being well attended and very popular. Mrs. Hood is well educated. having been a reader of good literature, and a student all of her life. She is an inter- esting conversationalist, fluent in language, and a forceful writer when- ever occasion requires it.
Mrs. Hood's parents were Methodists, but she departed from the faith in which she was reared, and before her marriage united with the Baptist church. of which Mr. Hood was also a member. In 1901 Mrs. Hood invited the daughters of veterans of the Confederate army to meet at her house, and there the assembled group of ladies organized the Mary Brantley Chapter, United Daughters of the Confederacy. Mrs. Hood was elected president of the chapter, and was continued in office, by re-election, until 1911. Mr. and Mrs. Hood had no children of their own, but they assisted many young people to acquire an education. and since the death of her husband Mrs. Hood has continued the good work, in many ways assisting those less fortunate than herself.
FRANCIS M. WILITTLE. Conspicuous among the foremost citizens of Savannah is Francis M. Whittle, who as division manager of the Virginia- Carolina Chemical Company is identified with one of its more important industries, at the same time being an active member of the public-spirited group of young men that are fostering the progressive movement for the greater development of the city. A son of the late Rev. Francis M. Whittle, he was born at Berryville, Clarke county, Virginia, on the paternal side tracing his ancestry back to John Roffe and Pocahontas. the Indian princess, from whom were also descended the Randolph, Bolling, and other noted Virginian families.
Two of Mr. Whittle's uneles, the late Lewis M. Whittle, of Macon. and Col. Powhatan Whittle, settled in Georgia prior to the Civil war. both being lawyers. Colonel Whittle enlisted as a soldier in that con- fiet. and while serving as colonel of a Georgia regiment lost an arm at the battle of Gettysburg. A civil engineer in his earlier life, Lewis M. Whittle became a cripple as the result of an accident which befell him while he was assisting in the building of the railroad between Atlanta and Chattanooga. Going then to Macon, Georgia, he took up
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the study of law, was admitted to the bar, and became one of the most distinguished lawyers of the state. He was also prominent in public affairs, serving as member of the Georgia state senate under the Con- federate regime.
Born in Mecklenburg county, Virginia, Rev. Francis M. Whittle, D. D., came from a family that for many generations had been prominent in the history of the Old Dominion. Admitted to the priesthood of the Episcopal church in Virginia, he was made reetor of an Episcopal church in Louisville, Kentucky, prior to the Civil war. Soon after the outbreak of that conflict, on account of his unqualified adherence to the Confed- erate cause, he was taken prisoner by the Federal authorities and con- fined in prison for some time. Elected bishop of Virginia in 1868, he subsequently served in that capacity until his death, in 1905. He mar- ried Emily Carey Fairfax, who passed to the higher life. She was born in Virginia, a descendant of George Fairfax, a nephew of Lord Thomas Fairfax, one of the landed proprietors of Virginia, George Fairfax having married a Miss Carey, who was sister to the wife of Lawrence Washington.
Franeis M. Whittle was educated. principally, in Richmond College, Virginia, and was early trained to business pursuits. Since 1897 he has been connected with Virginia-Carolina Chemical Company, during the first five years being located in Atlanta, Georgia. In 1902 he came to Savannah as division manager for the company, which is among the world's largest manufacturers of fertilizers, and whose Savannah plant is one of the city's greatest industries.
Progressive and enterprising, Mr. Whittle has ever evinced a warm interest in local progress and improvements, heartily endorsing all en- terprises conducive to the welfare of the community. He is a member, and one of the directors, of the chamber of commerce; a member of the cotton exchange; of the yacht club; and of the automobile club. He is an Episcopalian and a vestryman of Saint John's church.
Mr. Whittle married Louise T. Hansell, of Roswell, Georgia, and into their home four children have been born, namely: Lucy, Mary A., Lulu T., and Emily Fairfax.
JOHN GOLASPY STANLEY. A man of marked enterprise and ability, John Golaspy Stanley is numbered among the substantial and prosper- ous agriculturists of Brooks county, and is also actively associated with various important enterprises in Quitman. A native of Georgia, he was born December 9, 1855. in Houston county, which was likewise the birth- place of his father, William Haddock Stanley.
Leary Stanley, his grandfather, was born in Goldsboro, North Caro- lina, November 24, 1802. As a boy he had no opportunity to attend school, but having mastered the alphabet he learned to read, and being a diligent student acquired a medical education without attending any educational institution. Coming to Georgia in carly manhood, he bought timber land near Perry, Houston county, and on the farm which he reclaimed from its pristine wildness lived a mimber of years. Removing in 1857 with his family to Lowndes connty, he purchased a tract of wild land lying four miles north of the present site of Quitman, in what is now ineluded within the bonndaries of Brooks county, and in addi- tion to clearing and improving a farm was actively engaged in profes- sional work, practicing medicine throughont Brooks and adjoining con- ties. Ile was very successful both as an agrienlturist and a physician, and on the farm which he improved resided until his death. November 6, 1865, while yet in the prime of life. He married Charity West, who was born September 17, 1798, and died at the home of her oldest son.
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William H. Stanley, April 26, 1878. Eight children were born to them, as follows: William H., John, James B., Sarah. Mattie, Susan, Ann. and Mary. All of the sons served in the Confederate army during the war between the states. John, who was then teaching in Texas, enlisted in a Texas regiment and was never again heard from. James B., a practieing lawyer, enlisted as a soldier, went to Virginia with his regi- ment, which was assigned to the Army of the Potomae, and bravely met his death on the field of battle.
Born on the home farm in Houston county, Georgia. November 24. 1831, William Haddock Stanley received a common school education. and soon after attaining his majority bought land in Houston county and was there employed in tilling the soil until 1856. Coming then to what is now Brooks county, he purchased a tract of timber situated eight miles south of the site of Quitman. a very few acres of his land having been previously cleared, and in the opening a set of buildings had been erected. All of southwest Georgia was then a wilderness, with comparatively few public highways and no railroads. Tallahassee and Newport, in Florida, being the nearest markets and depots for supplies. With the help of slaves he began the improvement of his land, continuing his agricultural labors until the outbreak of the Civil war, when he offered his serviees to the Confederaey.
Returning home at the close of the conflict, he continued the im- provements previously begun on his homestead. The commodious frame house which he then erected was burned soon after its construction, and he then put up a less pretentious structure, in which he resided until his death, January 2, 1894. He married Mary J. (Baskin) Had- dock, who was born in Houston county, Georgia, a daughter of William Baskin, and widow of William Haddoek. She survived him, passing away February 26, 1896, leaving four children, namely : John Golaspy, Millard L., George W., and Mattie A. By her first marriage there were two sons, Franklin L. and James W.
After leaving the publie schools John Golaspy Stanley entered the University of Georgia, in Athens, and was there graduated with the class of 1879. Not caring to adopt a profession. he embarked in the peaee- ful pursuit of farming. His father being in poor health, he returned home and for ten years superintended the work on the parental home- stead. Buying then six hundred acres of land south two miles from the old home, he spent five years in adding to its improvements. living there until 1895. In that year Mr. Stanley bought the interests of the re- maining heirs in the old homestead, which he has since managed with unquestionable suecess. He has now one thousand acres of valuable land. a good set of farm buildings, the improvements which he has made upon the place being of a substantial character.
Possessing excellent business tact and judgment, Mr. Stanley is identified with various organizations of importance. He is a director and vice-president of the First National Bank of Quitman. and one of the direetors of the Alliance Warehouse Company. He is now presi- dent of the Hickory Head Agrienltural Club, an old and influential society ; a life member of the State Agrienttural Society and a member of its executive committee : and is a trustee of the Eleventh District Agri- cultural School. He also belongs to the jury commission. He has al- ways been a stanch supporter of the principles of the Democratic party and for ten years a member of the county board of education.
In 1891 Mr. Stanley married Frances AAlberta Kinnebrew, who was born in Floyd county, Georgia, near Rome, a daughter of Newton Kin- nebrew. Mrs. Stanley's grandfather Kinnebrew, who was of Seoteh- Irish ancestry, was engaged in farming in Elbert county, Georgia, in
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his early life. Ile subsequently spent a few years in Chambers county, Alabama, but returned to Georgia, and spent his last days in Oglethorpe county. Born and reared on a farm in Elbert county, Newton Kinne- brew sueeeeded to the occupation which he became familiar with in boyhood. He was a natural mechanie, and though he never learned a trade he could make anything in the line of furniture, wagons, or fashion any of the wood-work connected with farm machinery, being a skillful workman. He farmed for himself first in Oglethorpe county. Georgia, later in Chambers connty, Alabama, finally settling on an estate in Floyd county, Georgia, where he resided until his death. The maiden name of the wife of Newton Kinnebrew was Mary E. Pinson. She was born in Oglethorpe county, a daughter of Thomas and Nancy (Patman) Pinson. Nine children blessed their marriage, as follows: Henry T .; Nannie S .; Sarah J .; Martha A .; J. Edwin; Olivia; Albin ; Petty Alberta, now Mrs. Stanley, and J. Shannon.
Mr. and Mrs. Stanley are the parents of four children, namely : William K .; Baskin and Pinson, twins; and Nannie Belle, who lived but eighteen months.
DR. CHARLES HYATT RICHARDSON, praetieing physician in Monte- zuma, and well known to the medical profession as well as the laity in this county, has been a resident of this region all his life. He followed in the footsteps of a worthy father, and in his capacity has earried on the good work that he laid down in 1886. Doctor Richardson has taken a notably important place in the communal life of Montezuma, and has given serviee in more than his medieal eapaeity. As mayor of the eity for three years and as alderman for seven years, mueh good has acerued to his eommunity as a result of his whole-souled and honest services in those offices, and he oeeupied a sure place in the esteem and eonfi- dence of the people of his town and the surrounding region.
Born on March 3. 1859, Charles Hyatt Richardson is the son of Dr. Charles Hyatt Richardson and his wife, Margaret (Bettles) Richardson. Doctor Richardson was born in 1829 in Sumter county, South Carolina, and came from that place in 1855, loeating at Fort Valley, Georgia, later engaged in practice in Byron. He died in 1886. after many years of faithful service in his medieal eapaeity, and his name and fame is being carried on in the activities of his son, the subject of this review. The mother was born in Suinter eounty, South Carolina. also, and is still living at the age of eighty-six and makes her home in Byron, Georgia.
Doetor Richardson received his early education in the common schools of Byron and was later graduated from Mercer University with an A. B. degree, in 1878. He later entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Baltimore, Maryland, and was graduated in 1883, taking a post-graduate course in 1900 at the New York Post Graduate Col- lege. Following his graduation from Baltimore, he established himself in practice in Montezuma, where he has sinee carried on an active prae- tice. and where he has gained reputation as a medical man of splendid ability.
Ilis public service has been of a most praiseworthy nature, and it was during his administration as mayor, in which office he served three years, that Doctor Richardson brought about the establishment of the Carnegie library fund. Doctor Richardson was made chairman of the building committee and handled the fund thus donated. The building was ereeted at a cost of $10.000 and the library has about $5,000 worth of books. While he was alderman in 1889 the steel bridge spanning the Flint river was built by the city at a cost of $10,000, and the same . has been a big source of growth to the city in that it has made possible
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easy access to the city from towns on the other side of the river, as a result of which trade has been on the continuous inerease since that time. He was mayor of Montezuma while the A. & B. R. R. was in course of construction through the town. and upon its completion a banquet was held. at Atlanta, at which Doetor Richardson, as mayor of Montezuma, was one of the principal speakers.
Doctor Richardson has always been held in high esteem by his brother physicians throughout the state, which is evidenced by the faet that he was elected vice-president of the State Medical Association in 1911. In 1912 he was elected president of the Third District Medieal Association. This association will convene at Fort Valley, Georgia, on the third Wednesday in June under his presideney.
Recognizing his ability'in pulmonary diseases, he was appointed by the president of its session in Augusta, Georgia, in 1912 ( while he him- self did not attend the meeting), as chairman of the committee on tuberculosis to write a series of articles on the great white plague.
In 1909 Doctor Richardson was appointed by Governor Smith as a member of the board of trustees of the state tuberculosis sanitarium to be established. At the first meeting of this board Doctor Richardson was appointed one of the five members of the executive committee whose duties were to select a location, build the sanitarium, and start it in operation. The terms of office of this board expired in January, 1913, and Doctor Richardson and three others were the only ones of the old board reappointed by Governor Brown, with twenty new members. Again Doctor Richardson was appointed one of the five members on the executive committee to control this sanitarium.
In 1889 the Central of Georgia Railroad decided to employ railroad surgeons on its road. Doctor Richardson was one of the first to be ap- pointed as local surgeon for Montezuma and he has the honor of re- taining this position to this day, twenty-four years of continuous service. Only two or three still hold the office now that were originally appointed.
In the spring of 1912, the political year in Georgia, it became Macon eounty's time to name the senator from the thirteenth district. The pro- gressive element of the Democratic party in that county prevailed upon Doctor Richardson to enter the race. His opponent had represented the county twice in the house and was a gentleman of large and influential family connections. Doctor Richardson was elected in this race, carry- ing five precincts out of the seven precincts in the county. He will enter the Georgia senate as a progressive Democrat of the Woodrow Wilson type.
In addition to his many other interests. Doctor Richardson is deeply concerned in farming and on his eight hundred acres under cultivation, twenty plows are pressed into service in the preparatory seasons. He has twelve hundred acres in all, and his agricultural operations furnish employment to twenty families. He is a director in the First National Bank, owns a prosperous drug store in Montezuma, as well as other business property, and is a stockholder in a well known fertilizer com- pany of the city.
In 1879 Doctor Richardson married Alice Cullen, the daughter of Dr. A. C. Cullen, of Sandersville, Georgia, a practicing physician of that place. Three children have been born to them: Dr. Charles Hyatt Richardson, IHI, a practicing physician of Macon, Georgia: Carrie, the wife of George W. Chastain. of Montezuma ; and Augusta Cullen. who will graduate from Emory College in June, 1913. Doctor Richardson has one brother. C. C. Richardson. an attorney of Byron, who served as a member of the state legislature from his county for three terms. and a sister, who married Dr. C. Warren of Byron, Georgia, and who died in 1891.
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DAVID WILLIAM PITTMAN. A man of mark and of recognized worth as a citizen, David W. Pittman. of Waveross, sheriff of Ware county, enjoys the confidence and esteem of his fellows to a high degree, and is filling the position to which he has been chosen with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of all. A native of Georgia, he was born De- cember 10, 1872, in Ware county, which was likewise the birthplace of his father, Rev. Travis Pittman.
His paternal grandfather. Linsey Pittman, was born in Robinson county, North Carolina, and there "did his growing." Attaining his majority, he boldly struck out for himself. coming to Georgia and settling in Ware county, which was then a frontier region. Indians still inhabited the woods. far outnumbering the whites. and frequently terrorized the new settlers. He first purchased a tract of wild land on Kettle creek, and later bought land including the present site of the Congregational church. After improving a part of his land. he moved to the southern part of the county, and on the farm which he there bought and improved spent the remainder of his long life, passing away at the age of four score and four years.
Born in Ware county, Georgia, Travis Pittman assisted his father in the pioneer labor of redeeming a farm from the wilderness, and well remembered through his life many of the thrilling incidents of those early days. As a boy he heard the report of the guns when the Wilds family was massacred, and saw the soldiers rushing madly by in their pursuit of the fleeing savages. that having been one of the worst crimes committed by the redskins within his memory. On reaching man's estate, he bought land near the old homestead, and by dint of heroic labor cleared and improved a farm from its original wildness. In his early days, there being no railroads in this section of the country, he was forced to team all of his surplus farm productions to Centerville, and on the Saint Mary's river, forty miles away, that being the nearest market and depot of supplies. Selling his farm in 1886, he explored Florida, looking for a more promising location. After a thorough search in the more fertile parts of that state, he became convinced that Georgia had much greater advantages and resources, and came back to his native county. Purchasing land near Waresboro. he subsequently resided there until his death, in 1906.
Converted in his youth. Travis Pittman joined the Methodist Episco- pal church, and having been licensed preached for some years in Ware and adjoining counties. He subsequently united with the Congrega- tional Methodist church, which later became the Congregational church. and continued a preacher in that denomination. being for many years an earnest and zealous worker in the Master's vineyard.
Rev. Travis Pittman married Kate Mills, who was born in Milledge- ville, formerly the capital of Georgia. being a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Mills. She is now living on the home farm, near Wares- boro, where she is enjoying all the comforts of modern life. To her and her husband seventeen children were born.
An ambitious scholar when young. David W. Pittman attended the public schools of Ware county. in his thirst for knowledge oftentimes walking a distance of six miles to attend school. Assisting his father on the farm. he received an excellent training in habits of industry and economy. and when ready to begin life on his own account bought land in the vicinity of Waresboro, and was for several years actively en- gaged in agricultural pursuits. Removing to Wayeross, he opened a grocery. which he managed for two years, and was afterwards simi- larly employed at Fort Meade, Florida. for a year. Returning then to
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his farm, which he still owns, Mr. Pittman continued general farming for some time, being quite successful as a tiller of the soil. In 1910 he was elected sheriff of Ware county and has since been a resident of Waycross.
Mr. Pittman cast his first presidential vote for William J. Bryan, and has always been a stanch adherent of the Democratic party. Fra- ternally he is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Order of Masons; of the Knights of the Modern Maccabees; and of the Wood- men of the World. Religiously both he and his wife are valued and active members of the Missionary Baptist church.
At the age of twenty-five years Mr. Pittman was united in mar- riage with Ida Rigdon, who was born in Waresboro, Georgia, a daugh- ter of John and Sally (McQuaide) Rigdon, and into their home two children have been born, namely: Geneta and Bradford.
JOHN MADISON COX. A man of energy and brains, honest, efficient and progressive, John Madison Cox has been a dominant factor in the development and promotion of the mercantile prosperity of Way- cross, as one of its leading merchants having the distinction of being the second to establish a wholesale grocery business in this section of Ware county. A son of James Madison Cox, he was born on February 27, 1868, in Woodville, Greene county, Georgia. His great-grandfather, Captain Stemridge Cox, a Virginian, born of Scotch-Irish ancestors, served as an officer in the Revolutionary war, having command of a company.
The grandfather of Mr. Cox, who was J. S. Cox, a life-long resident of Virginia, was not old enough to bear arms during the Revolution, but he entered the employ of the government, being engaged in the manufacture of guns in a government factory.
James Madison Cox was born and brought up in Mecklenburg county, Virginia. As a young man, seized by the Wanderlust, he migrated to Georgia, locating in Greene county, where he engaged in farming, and also in mercantile pursuits. opening a store at Woodsville. Al- though past military age at the breaking out of the war between the states, he enlisted during the second year of the struggle, went with his command to Virginia, where he took an active part in many battles of note. Returning to Woodville, at the close of the war, he resumed his occupation of farming and store-keeping, continuing both until well advanced in years, when he gave up all connection with business and thenceforward lived retired until his death, which came at the vener- able age of ninety-two years. He married Sarah Ann Newson, who was born on a farm at Union Point, Greene county, Georgia, where her parents spent their last years. Four sons and three daughters were born of their marriage.
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