USA > Georgia > Chatham County > Savannah > A history of Savannah and South Georgia, Volume II > Part 58
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82
920
SAVANNAH AND SOUTH GEORGIA
life a wealthy manufacturer at Atlanta, Georgia; and Philip Coleman, the father of our subjeet.
Philip Coleman Pendleton was born in 1812 in Eatonton, Putnam county, Georgia, and for many years was prominently connected with the press of Georgia. Associated for a time with C. R. Hanleiter in the . publication of the Southern Post at Macon, he severed his connection with that paper in 1836 to serve in the war against the Seminole Indians in Florida. About 1840, with Rev. George F. Pierre, afterward a bishop in the Methodist Episcopal church, he began the publication of the Southern Ladies' Book in Macon, but later changed the name of the periodical to that of The Magnolia and published it first in Savannah, Georgia, and then later in Charleston, South Carolina. Upon ceasing the publication of The Magnolia, which was the first magazine ever pub- lished south of Richmond, Virginia, he took up the practice of law in Sandersville, Georgia, and also published the Central Georgian until 1857, when he removed to Ware county and there bought a large tract of wire grass land which included the present site of Waycross, Georgia. He named his estate "Tebeau," after his wife's family name, and here he gave himself up wholly to agricultural pursuits for a few years. In the great issue between the South and the North he did not favor seces- sion, but when war had actually begun he responded to the call of the Southland, enlisted for its service and was made captain of his company. When the Fiftieth Georgia Regiment was organized lie was elected a major and served in that capacity through several of the Virginia cam- paigns. In 1863 he was obliged to resign on account of ill health. Dis- posing of his estate in Ware county, he then removed to Lowndes county, where he purchased a farm ten miles south of Valdosta. In 1867 he began the publication of the Southern Georgia Times, which he continued until his death in 1869 as a result of injuries received when thrown from a carriage. While living in Savannah he married Miss Cath- erine Tebeau, daughter of Frederick E. Tebeau, and a descendant of James Tebeau, one of the first settlers in Savannah. John, the son of James Tebeau, just mentioned, married Catharine Treutlen, daughter of Frederick Treutlen. The Tebeaus were French and the Treutlens were English. Frederick Treutlen was a native of Holland, but for polit- ical reasons fed that country with his wife and two sons, John Adam and Frederick, locating in London, England. where they resided a few years and where the wife and mother died. From there the father and his two sons embarked for America, but France and England being at war at that time, their vessel was captured by the French and all on board were taken to France and put in prison. There the father died. The sons were released after several months and returned to England, wlience they onee more turned toward the New World. Landing on St. Simons island, off the central coast of Georgia, they made their way from there to Savannah, where they arrived about two years after Governor Oglethorpe first settled there. The son John Adam finally settled in Effingham county and was governor of Georgia from May, 1777. to January, 1778. Frederick Trentlen, the other son, married Margaret Schadd, daughter of Col. Solomon Sehadd, who settled on Wilmington island at the mouth of the Savannah river, in a very early day. Ilis estate is still in the possession of descendants of his and the house which he built there in 1748 is said to be the oldest building yet remaining in Georgia. Frederick and Margaret (Schadd) Treutlen were the parents of Catherine. the wife of John Tebean, who was a son of James, the early settler in Savannah, and father of Frederick E. Te- beau, the maternal grandfather of our subject. To Philip Coleman and Catherine (Tebeau) Pendleton were born the following children: Will-
1
921
SAVANNAH AND SOUTII GEORGIA
iam F .; James A .; Philip C .; Chas. R. Pendleton; Emline T .; Mary Z .; Louis B., and Nathaniel D., of whom James and Philip are deeeased. William F. Pendleton, the eldest son, a captain of the Fiftieth Georgia Regiment during the Civil war, served three years and participated in nine of the hard fought battles of that conflict as well as in a number of minor engagements. He is now a bishop in the Swedenborgian church. Charles Rittenhouse Pendleton. who is well known throughout Georgia as the editor of the Macon Telegraph, ranks among the best journalists of our country and is well known for his independent views on political issues and for his fearless advocacy of them. Louis Beauregard Peudle- ton is a well known author aud some of his novels and juveniles have been translated into four different languages. Nathaniel D. Pendleton is a minister in the Swedenborgian church.
Alexander Shaw Pendleton was born at Sandersville, Washington county, Georgia, March 17, 1855. He was educated at Valdosta In- stitute, Valdosta, Georgia, and after his father's death assisted his elder brother in the office of the Valdosta Times for a while. In 1873, then a youth of eighteen, he began his independent business career by opening a small groeery store at Valdosta, small beeause his means were very limited. ITis business steadily prospered and increased until 1897, when it had reached those proportions justifying a more effective business arrangement and one that would permit the business to branch out along more extensive lines. For this purpose there was organized The H. S. Pendleton Company, a wholesale grocery company, of which Mr. Pendleton has been president from the time of its organization to the present. Ile is a man of business ability and has not only achieved a gratifying personal suecess but has built up one of the most prosperous business enterprises of his eity. Aside from his commercial interests he is interested in real estate and both agriculture and horticulture. At his city home he has a tract of five aeres that is devoted to the raising of vegetables and fruits and he also owns a farm of one hundred aeres located but a short distance from Valdosta.
In November, 1881, Mr. Pendleton was united in marriage to Susan Parramore, who was born in Thomasville. Georgia. a daughter of Noah Parramore and a granddaughter of John aud Naney ( Brinson) Parra- more. Noah Parramore was for some time an extensive farmer in Thomas eounty, Georgia, but after the war removed to a farm he pur- chased in Lowndes county, where he continued to reside until his death. His wife was Susan Dasher. a daughter of Christian and Elizabeth (Waldtheur) Dasher. Mr. and Mrs. Pendleton have six children living, namely: Philip Coleman : Elizabeth P .: Gertrude A .; Albert O .: Fred- eriek W. and Alexis R. Francis, the sixth child in order of birth. died at the age of twenty. Their oldest son. Philip C., married Susan Hickey Corner and has two children, Catherine and Elizabeth : and Gertrude. their second daughter. is now the wife of Charles I. Harrell. Mr. Pendle- ton is a member of the Swedenborgian ehureh and Mrs. Pendleton is affiliated with the Church of Christ.
THOMAS JEROME ILART. Conspicuous among the active and enter- prising men who settled in Dawson while it was vet a small village, and who became an important factor in developing and advancing its mann- facturing and mercantile prosperity, was the late Thomas Jerome Hart. whose death on January 25. 1904, removed from the city one of its most respected and esteemed business men. Mr. Hart was born in Tusenm- bia, Alabama, December 1, 1827, coming from honored New England stoek.
His father, Thomas Jerome Hart, Sr., was born in Counceticut. of
922
SAVANNAH AND SOUTH GEORGIA
early English ancestry. When a young man he migrated to Alabama, settling in Tuscumbia, where he was engaged in manufacturing until his death, a few years later. He married Susan Allen, who was of Virginian ancestry. She was quite young when left a widow, with three small children. Thomas Jerome, the subject of this sketch ; William ; and Robert. Robert died unmarried. William, who died in early life, left a family, and his descendants are now living in Alabama.
Brought up and educated in Alabama. Thomas Jerome Hart served an apprenticeship at the carriage-maker's trade, making excellent use of his native mechanical ability. Subsequently locating in Dawson, Geor- gia. he established a carriage factory in the village, and subsequently erected the first brick building in the place. Making a specialty of man- ufacturing buggies, the products of his factory found a ready sale, and he became known far and wide as the manufacturer of the "Hart Buggy," which was recognized as the very best-in the market. Suc- cessful from the start, Mr. Hart continued in active business in Dawson until called from the scene of his earthly labors to the life beyond.
Mr. Hart was twice married. He married first, soon after coming to Dawson, Sally Lassater, a native of Sumter county, Georgia. Her father. David Lassater, presumably a native of Jasper county. moved from there to Sumter eounty in pioneer days, and having purchased land near Plains carried on farming with slave help. Mr. Lassater married Elizabeth Asbury Speer, who died November 4. 1861, leaving eleven children. as follows: John H .: Martha G .: William F .; James A .; Amanda A., wife of Bynum H. Hood. of whom a brief personal record may be found on another page of this work: Simeon M .; Jeremiah C .; Henry F .; Margaret J. ; Mary E. ; and Sarah C., more familiarly known among her friends as "Sally." Mrs. Sally Hart died at an early age, leaving one son, Willie, who died in early manhood.
Mr. Hart married second. September 4, 1890, Mrs. Mattie ( Harris) Keith, who was born in Terrell county, Georgia, a daughter of Edmond Jackson Harris and granddaughter of Edmond Harris, a pioneer settler of La Grange, Troup county. Edmond Jackson Harris was born in La Grange, and having received excellent educational advan- tages was admitted while young to the bar. Instead of entering upon a professional career, he chose the more peaceful pursuit of agri- culture. Locating in Terrell county soon after its organization, he bought a tract of land lying twelve miles east of Dawson, and began its improvement. During the war between the states he served in the Con- federate army, through exposure and privations while a soldier losing his health. and never fully recovering his former physical vigor. At the close of the war he sold his plantation and purchased land a mile and a half west of Dawson. For a while thereafter he was engaged in the warehouse business in Dawson, but he maintained his residence on the farm until his death, at the age of seventy-two years. The maiden name of the wife of Edmond Jackson Harris was Martha Ann Bryan. who was born in Thomas county, Georgia. of pioneer ancestry, her parents. Loverd and Edith (Wytch) Bryan. having been the first couple married in Thomas county, while her grandfather, Clement Bryan. was one of the first settlers of that county. She died at the age of seventy-five years, having ontlived her husband. She reared eight children. as follows: Edmond S .: Mary Elizabeth, who became the first wife of John W. Peddy, and the mother of Mrs. Lee Clark Hoyl: Susan R. : Goodwin Hall : Mattie, now Mrs. Hart ; Clare E. : Theo. Jackson ; and Clementine Bryan.
Mattie Harris, now Mrs. Hart, married first Robert Anson Keith. who was born in Dalton, Georgia, a son of John W. Keith, who
923
SAVANNAH AND SOUTH GEORGIA
eame to Terrell county many years ago, and having purchased land lying a mile west of Dawson resided there until his death. Robert Anson Keith was reared and educated in north Georgia. Coming to Georgia with his father, he became associated with him in the ownership of the land they bought, and in its management, living on the home farm until his death, which occurred three weeks after his marriage with Miss Harris. Mrs. Keith subsequently married, as previously stated, Mr. Hart. Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Hart two children were born, namely : Thomas Jerome Hart and Edmund Harris Hart. Mr. Hart was reared an Episcopalian, but while a resident of Dawson attended the Methodist Episcopal church, of which Mrs. Hart is a member.
JEREMIAH CALVIN CARTER. A substantial and prosperous planter of Americus, and a successful manufacturer, Jeremiah Calvin Carter is numbered among the esteemed and useful citizens of Sumter county, where a large part of his life has been spent. A son of the late L. B. Walker Carter, he was born April 4, 1855, in that part of Warren county, Georgia, now included within the limits of Glascock county. His grand- father, Wiley Carter, was a son of James Carter, of whose history very little is known excepting the fact that he was a pioneer settler of Warren county, Georgia, and that he died at the home of one of his sons, in Quebec, Schley county, at a ripe old age.
Wiley Carter removed from Warren county to Sehley eounty, where he purchased a large tract of land, which he operated with the help of slaves, and on the plantation which he improved spent the remainder of his life of three score and ten years.
L. B. Walker Carter was born on the home farm in Warren county, obtaining his edueation in the district schools. Coming to Sumter eounty in 1859, he located on land belonging to his father, situated near the present site of Bagley Station, and on which a few improvements had been previously made, a few aeres of the traet having been cleared, and a log house having been erected. With the assistance of slaves, he continued the improvements already inaugurated and had placed a large part of the land under cultivation when his labors were inter- rupted by the breaking out of the Civil war. Enlisting then in Cutt's Battalion, he went with his eominand to Virginia, and subsequently was an active participant in many of the more important battles waged dur- ing the conflict, including those at Fredericksburg and Gettysburg, and the numerous engagements in and around Richmond and Petersburg, being at Appomattox at the final surrender. Returning home from there, he resumed farming, and continued in his free and independent oecn- pation until his death, in 1873. The maiden name of his wife was Mary Ann Seals. She was born in Warren county, where her father, William Archibald Seals, was an early settler. Mr. Seals improved a water power on Roek Comfort ereek, and in addition to managing a large plantation with slave labor owned and operated a large merchant flour mill, continuing a resident of that county umtil his death, in 1863. IIe married Eliza Ann Harris, who survived him several years. Mrs. Mary Ann (Seals) Carter outlived her husband but four days. Four chil- dren were born of their union. as follows: Jeremiah Calvin, of whom we write; Annie, now deceased, married N. A. Ray ; William A., de- ceased ; and N. I., wife of D. A. JJenkins.
As a small boy, Jeremiah Calvin Carter attended first the rural schools. afterwards being a pupil in the publie schools of Americus. He received a practical training in agriculture while young. and at the age of eigh- teen years, being industrious and self-reliant, he began farming on his own account. He succeeded to the ownership of one-half of the par-
924
SAVANNAH AND SOUTH GEORGIA
ental homestead, the other half being in the possession of his brother-in- law, to whom he subsequently sold his share. As an agriculturist Mr. Carter has met with exceptional good sneeess. owning upwards of six- teen hundred acres in Sumter county, Georgia. and having valuable tracts of lands in both Orange and Gadsden counties. Florida. Mr. Car- ter's sons manage his Sumter county farms, which are devoted to general farming, while his Florida lands are especially devoted to the culture of tobacco. In 1900 AIr. Carter established a cigar factory in Americus, and has since built up a good business in that line of industry.
On January 4, 1883. Mr. Carter was united in the holy bonds of matrimony with Mittie C. Wallace, who was born in Sumter county, a daughter of John B. and Eleanor W. Wallace. Mr. and Mrs. Carter are the parents of ten children, namely: John W .: Eleanor Brownie : William Edgar; Mamie; Walter G .; Calvin; Sallie Estelle; Otis; Os- car; and Nathaniel. Both Mr. and Mrs. Carter are members of the Meth- odist Episcopal church.
JAMES A. DAVENPORT. A man of pronounced ability. intelligence and much enterprise. James A. Davenport is numbered among the success- ful business men of Americus. and is a worthy representative of its native-born citizens. his birth having occurred in this city. He is a son of the late Col. Walter and Mary ( Frederick) Davenport. and a brother of Daniel F. Davenport, in whose sketch, which appears elsewhere in this volume, further parental and ancestral history may be found.
Obtaining his preliminary education in the public schools of Ameri- cus, James A. Davenport was subsequently graduated from Bryant & Stratton's Business College, in Baltimore, 1874. Returning home he was afterwards for a time engaged in the drug trade with his father and brother, but for several years has carried on an extensive and highly remunerative business as an insurance agent, representing many large and well-known companies.
Mr. Davenport married October 23. 1895, Miss Chloe Belle White, who was born in Albany, Dougherty county, Georgia. Her father. John J. White. a Virginian by birth and breeding, entered the Confederate service while a boy in his teens, and served as a convier on the staff of Gen. Robert E. Lee. Subsequently coming to Sumter county, Georgia, he located at Albany, and purchasing a nearby plantation resided there a number of years. Going then to Chicago 'and St. Louis, he was there engaged in the brokerage business until his death. His wife, whose maiden name was Dora Hutchinson. was a native of Kentucky. Mr. and Mrs. Davenport are the parents of five children, namely: Cather- ine; James: Gertrude: Chloe Belle : and Virginia.
Public-spirited and actively interested in local affairs. Mr. Daven- port has rendered excellent service as an alderman. and as a director of the Carnegie public library. Fraternally he is a member of Council Lodge, No. 95, Free and Accepted Masons: of Wells Chapter. Royal Arch Masons; and of DeMolay Commandery. Knights Templar.
LAURENCE JEFFERSON BLALOCK. Possessing a large measure of ver- itable talent, a distinctive intellectuality. and keen mental powers. Lau- rence JJefferson Blalock. of Ameriens. is a distinguished member of the Sumter county bar. and one of the leading criminal lawyers of Georgia. his success being dne to a systematic application of his abilities to the profession of his choice. A son of Rev. David Blalock. he was born in Louisville. Jefferson county, Georgia, of pioneer stock. his paternal grand- parents. natives of South Carolina, having been among the early set- tlers of Wilkes county, Georgia.
925
SAVANNAH AND SOUTII GEORGIA
Rev. David Blalock was born, it is thought, in Wilkes county, and as a young man embarked in mercantile pursuits in Augusta, Georgia. Uniting with the Methodist Episcopal church in early manhood, he be- came a preacher in that denomination, and having, in 1850, joined the Georgia Methodist Episcopal conference held pastorates in different localities. In 1867 the state was divided, and he became a member of the South Georgia Conference, and remained active in the ministry until his death, which occurred in Americus, in 1881, at the age of seventy- two years. The maiden name of his wife was Mary Lalledsteded. She was born in Augusta, of French Huguenot ancestry, and died at the age of fifty years. leaving four children, namely : Emma; Laura ; Lau- rence J .; and Mary.
.
Acquiring his education in the different places in which his father was settled as a minister. Laurence J. Blalock began earning his living at the age of eighteen years. and for four years was in the employ of the Houston & Texas Central Railroad Company, being located in Texas. Returning then to Georgia. he was engaged in business at Americus as a general merchant for two years. His tastes and ambitions leading him to choose a professional career. Mr. Blalock then began the study of law, for which he was well adapted. and in October, 1875, was admitted to the bar. Locating in Americus, he met with encouraging success from the start, and now holds high rank among the foremost lawyers.of the state, luis specialty of criminal law having brought him into promi- nence in legal circles, and won for him an enviable reputation for profes- sional skill and ability.
Mr. Blalock married in 1875, Mary A. Cobb, who was born in Americus, a daughter of Joseph A. Cobb, of whom further account is given elsewhere in this volume. Fraternally Mr. Blalock is a member of Americus Lodge, No. 13, Ancient Free and Accepted Order of Masons. of which he is past master; a member and past high priest of Wells Chapter, No. 42, Royal Arch Masons: and a member. and past noble grand of Sumter Lodge. Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
PRESTON B. WILLIFORD. A man of excellent business taet and judg- ment, Preston B. Williford. of Americus, is widely known throughout Sumter county as a dealer in city and farm property. A son of John Williford, he was born on a farm in Stewart county. Georgia. where his boyhood days were passed. His grandfather. William Williford, was. as far as known. a life-long resident of north Georgia. To him and his wife five children were born and reared, as follows: John; Henry; Samuel ; Rachael : and another daughter.
A native of Madison county. Georgia. John Williford was there brought up on a farm, and while young was well drilled in the vari- ous branches of agriculture. Removing to Stewart county in early manhood, he purchased a traet of land. the greater part of which was covered with a heavy growth of pine. ash. and hickory timber. Putting up a small log cabin for himself and wife, he began the pioneer task of hewing a farm from the wilderness. Laboring with indomitable en- ergy and perseverance, he met with very satisfactory snecess in his opera- tions, being enabled in the course of a few years to ereet a substantial set of frame buildings in place of the log structures that for a time answered the purpose of sheltering the family and the stock. He had cleared a goodly part of the land when his earthly labors were brought to an end, his death occuring in 1860. when he was but forty-four years of age.
The maiden name of the wife of John Williford was Elizabeth Allen Burke. She was born in Elbert county. Georgia, a daughter of William
926
SAVANNAH AND SOUTH GEORGIA
P. Burke, and died at the age of seventy-six years. the latter part of her life having been spent with her children. Left a widow, in 1860. with twelve small children, the youngest but two years old. she assumed management of the home farm, carrying it on with great success, and keeping her family together until all were self-supporting. She reared five daughters and seven sons, as follows: Ann; Sarah : William ; Mary; Henry; Louisa; John; Luther; Joseph; James; Preston B .; and Elizabeth.
The youngest son. and eleventh child, of the parental household, Preston B. Williford lived with his widowed mother until he was six- teen years old, when he went to Green Hill, in Stewart county, where he was for three years clerk in a general store. Returning then to the homestead, he assisted in its management for four years, after which he bought a farm five miles from his old home, and was there engaged in farming for a year. Going from there to Columbus, Muscogee county, Mr. Williford was clerk in a cotton warehouse for six years. On giving up that position, he was engaged in the retail shoe business in Americus until 1896, when he began selling real estate on commission, an industry in which he has since continued, being now an extensive dealer in city and farm property.
March 26, 1878, Mr. Williford was united in marriage with Sarah Matthews, who was born in Marion county, Georgia, a daughter of John L. and Frances J. ( Herndon) Matthews. Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Williford, four children have been born. namely: Amzie; Fannie Mae; Preston B., Jr .; and Lousie Mildred. Angie married Ralph Newton, and they have one child, Elizabeth Newton. Mr. and Mrs. Williford are members of the First Baptist church.
REV. WILLIAM WASHINGTON WEBB. The prosperity and advancement of a community depend upon the social character and public spirit of its members, and in every prosperous town or country center will be found citizens who take the leadership and give their energies not alone to their own well-being but to the things that mean better and fuller life for all. Such a citizen at Hahira in Lowndes county has Mr. W. W. Webb been recognized for a number of years.
William Washington Webb, who represents an old and prominent south Georgia family, was born on a plantation in Dooly county. the 6th of August, 1853. His father was John Webb, born in that portion of Washington county now Johnson county. The grandfather was Giles Webb, who it is thought was a native of North Carolina. Accord- ing to a well authenticated family tradition. the father of Giles, known as General Webb, was an associate and traveling companion of John Wesley during his American tour. Grandfather Giles Webb came to Georgia and became a pioneer of Washington county, which at that time comprised a great scope of country in central Georgia. He bought a lot of land in what is now Johnson county, and with the aid of his slaves cleared and improved it into a fine plantation, where he was engaged in general farming until his death. He married a Miss Askue, and she survived him until 1861. The names of their five children were William, Thomas, Giles. John and Eli. Of these. Thomas and Giles died before the war, William died while a prisoner of war at Point Lookont, and Eli went through four years of service without wounds or capture.
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.