USA > Georgia > Chatham County > Savannah > A history of Savannah and South Georgia, Volume II > Part 61
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Gaining his early education in the district schools of Brooks county, Charles Seriven Jones worked on the home farm until becoming of age. Entering then the employ of the S., F. & W. Railroad Company, now the Atlantic Coast Line, he continued in its roadway department until 1892. Resigning his position in that year. Mr. Jones embarked in farm- ing and in mercantile pursuits, and in his undertakings has met with signal success. He now owns four hundred and fifty acres of land. which includes the old homestead on which he was born and brought up. He has made improvements of value on his property, including the erection of a substantial set of buildings, his estate now ranking as one of the most desirable in the vicinity.
Mr. Jones married, in 1889, Lula E. Ward, who was born in Brooks county, a daughter of William IL. and Lurana ( Albritton) Ward. Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. JJones, namely: Wesley Foy, Charles Hunter, Riva Annette, Enla Eunice. Bernice, Carl Leon. Nellie Ray, and Sam Seriven. Mr. and Mrs. Jones, true to the religious faith in which they were reared. are members of the Missionary Baptist church. Fraternally Mr. Jones belongs to Mount Horeb Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons.
JAMES FARIE, JR. One of the oldest and most prominent men in the naval stores industry at Savannah, Mr. Farie has for more than a quarter of a century been a resident of this city and engaged in the exportation of turpentine and rosin. During his early career he had experience in
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the same business in England. and on first coming to this country was representative of an English house dealing in naval stores. Both the business carcer and the family record of Mr. Farie have a proper place in the history of Savannah,
James Farie, Jr., was born on the twenty-seventh of July. 1857, at Bridge of Allan, county of Perth, Seotland, his birthplace being a well known resort in Scotland and quite famous for its curative waters. His parents, James and AAgnes ( Liddell) Farie, of Glasgow, Scotland. and later of London, England, are both deceased. James Farie, Sr., was originally engaged in the pottery business near Greenock. Scotland ; later, he was interested in the manufacture of shale oil near Edinburgh. After the discovery of petroleum in America, he gave up this business and removed to London. In his tastes and inclinations he was more of a scientist than a business man, and he devoted considerable time to original research, particularly in geology. He was a prominent member of and honorary secretary for some time of the Geological Society of Glasgow, Seotland, which city was his home for many years. He was a juror on awards in Class C in the Glasgow Exposition of 1865-66. After his removal to London, England, he became a member of the Geological Society of that city, and took an active interest in various seientifie subjects. The Farie family of Scotland is related to a number of well known families of that country, among them the Reids, Hamil- tons, Adamses and Liddells.
James Farie, Jr., received his education in the schools of Glasgow. Edinburgh and London, and entered commercial life in the last named city. In 1881 he eame to America and took up his residence at Wil- inington, North Carolina, where he was a representative of English in- terests which were large distributors of turpentine in the United King- dom and the continent of Europe. He remained at Wilmington two years, following which he was in Charleston, South Carolina, with the same business connections for nearly four years and in 1886 he came to Savannah. Sinee that date this eity has been his home, and during this time he has devoted his attention to the turpentine and rosin busi- ness, thus having gained the distinetion of being one of the oldest and most suecessful exporters of these products in Savannah.
On settling in Savannah he actively assisted in the reorganization of the Young Men's Christian Association in this eity and for many years was chairman of the finance committee and treasurer and one of the board of directors and also for several years vice president of the asso- eiation. He is also a member of the Savannah Baptist church, and served on the board of deacons of that church for many years and also for several years as honorary secretary of the board. Mr. Farie has been a member of the Savannah Board of Trade since 1886 and has given many continuous years of service as one of the board of directors of that corporation, having rendered valuable assistance throughout this period on several of its most important committees in connection with the naval stores trade interests. During the carhier years of the naval stores business in Savannah when the rosin and turpentine were exported in sail tonnage, he chartered a large number of sailing vessels each season to move these prodnets to the varions markets in the United Kingdom and the continent of Europe and in this way materially as- sisted in bnikling up Savannah as the leading port for the exportation of naval stores.
Mr. Farie in 1892 was married to Miss Mary Harris Turner, daughter of Dr. John D. and Elmira C. ( Weaver-Adams) Turuer, of Atlanta. Georgia. Dr. Turner was one of the pioneers in the upbuilding of At- lanta, and at the time of his death he was president of the Exposition
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Cotton Mills of that city. An interesting fact is that Mrs. Farie, through her father, is descended in direct line from Rev. William Turner, who was born in Scotland. not far from the home of Mr. Farie's ancestors, in Aberdeenshire in the year 1645. fle married Mary MeLemore, who was born in the same shire in 1650. On account of the persecution of the covenanters. he fled from Scotland with his young bride and settled in the north of Ireland. Persecution followed him, and he with his co- believers, who composed quite a colony, came to America in 1680, and settled in Worcester county, Maryland, not far from Snow IIill. His descendant, Zadoe Turner, who was the aneestor of Dr. Turner of At- lanta. immigrated with his family in 1793 to the state of Georgia. They left Chesapeake Bay on a sailing vessel, and after a rough and stormy voyage were driven by strong winds to the West Indian Islands, and finally landed in Savannah. One of Zadoe Turner's daughters died on the voyage, and would have been buried at sea but for the strong objec- tions made by her brothers. Instead, her body was placed in a cedar chest and preserved until the vessel reached Savannah, where she was buried in the colonial cemetery. From Savannah the Turner family took boats on the Savannah river for Augusta, whence they crossed the country and settled in Haneock county east of the Oconee river soon after the Indians had been removed to the west. They settled at Mount Zion and took up land and eleared it and began planting. They were pioneers of that section of the state.
Zadoc Turner was a strong character. He was a soldier in the Continental army of the Revolutionary war, belonging to the Second Maryland Regiment. and took part in the battles of Brandywine and Trenton, and in the compaigns around New York and Philadelphia. He was also at Valley Forge, and with the Continental army until the surrender of the British at Yorktown. Zadoc Turner died in 1820.
Mr. and Mrs. Farie are the parents of two children: Cynthia Farie, born in 1895, and James Gilbert Farie, born in 1898.
HON. PATRICK HENRY HERRING. A former representative of Decatur county in the state legislature and a well-known eitizen and business man of Cairo, Mr. Herring has had a long and honored career in this section of Georgia, and belongs to a family which did pioneer work in the development of this section of the state.
Patrick Henry Herring was born on a farm near Calvary, in Decatur county, June 5, 1845. Ilis father was Hanson William Herring, born in Sampson county, North Carolina, in 1808. and the grandfather was Jackson Herring. also a native of North Carolina, and so far as known a life long resident of that state. Hanson William Herring was reared and married in his native state, and then in 1836, soon after his mar- riage, migrated to Georgia, making the journey across the country with teams and wagons and bringing his household goods, slaves and other possessions. Ile settled in the south part of Decatur connty and bought a tract of land in the woods. He hewed ont the timbers and constructed a double pen log house. a structure in which Patrick Henry Herring was born. The father directed his own labors and those of his slaves and dependents in clearing up the woods and brush from a large estate, and was engaged as a prosperous planter and farmer until his death in 1880. at the age of seventy-two years. The maiden name of his wife . was Amy Caroline Anders, who was born in Bladen county. North Carolina, and who lived until 1891, being also seventy-two years of age at her death. The eleven children in the family were named . Thomas W., Mary C., Julia. Anne E .. Patrick Henry, Miles C., JJohn 1 .. Margaret. Counsel, Joe and Amelia.
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Patrick Henry Herring grew up in Decatur county, attended the rural schools and the Calvary high school, and as a youth assisted in all the labors of the plantation. In 1863 when he was eighteen years of age he enlisted in the Confederate service and was stationed at St. Marks. He remained in the army until the close of the war and then returned home and assisted his parents until he was twenty-three years of age. At that time his father gave him a plantation situated two miles from the old homestead. and he turned his attention to its cultivation, and occupied his time until 1906. In that year he moved into Cairo, where he has since lived largely retired from strenuous activities, and enjoying the well earned competence of his early career.
Mr. Herring was married September 24, 1868, to Margaret Ann Maxwell. Mrs. Herring was born on a plantation in the southeastern part of Decatur county, a daughter of James G. Maxwell, who was born in Sampson county, North Carolina. He was reared and married in his native state and with his young bride came overland to Georgia. His location was in the southeastern part of Decatur county and in the wilderness which existed at that time he built a log house in which his daughter Mrs. Herring was born. He operated his large estate with slave labor, and enjoyed a generous prosperity and the esteem and respeet of the community until his death in his ninety-fourth year. James G. Maxwell married Moley Butter of Sampson county, North Carolina. IIer death occurred at the age of seventy. The eight chil- dren in the Maxwell family were John R., Elizabeth, Thomas, William, James, Daniel. Margaret Ann and Mary. The sons were all soldiers in the Confederate army, and Thomas died while in service.
The eleven children including the large and happy family of Mr. and Mrs. Herring are named Thomas W., Ida Alice, Mary Ellen, Lillie May, Marvin. Ola. Pierce, Lochie, Maggie, Henry H., and Kedar. Thomas W. married Lucy Snider and has one son, George Ward. Ida Alice married A. E. Bell, and there are six children in this family. named Marion, Leta. Emery, Catherine, Elmer and Margaret. Mary Ellen is now deccased. and was the wife of Dr. George B. Carter. leav- ing one daughter named Margaret. Lillie May married Joseph Higdon and has five children named Grace, Lois, Sarah, Robert Henry and Thomas. Marvin married for his first wife Mattie Higdon, and for his second wife married Ida Waller, having one son named Ernest. Ola married Thomas Wight, and her five children are George, Henry. Carrie, Elizabeth and Mabel. Lochie married George L. Snider, and their three children are Leota, Lloyd and George J. Maggie married Ira Iligdon, and they have three sons, John Buryl, Samuel Parrott and Patrick Henry. Henry H. married Annie May Maxwell.
Mr. Herring's official career began a number of years ago, when he was made overseer of roads in his district. He was at that time a boy in his teens, and has ever since taken an active part in loeal goverment and lias been an influential man in his community. He served in the office of tax collector of Decatur county two years, and was subsequently elected county commissioner, an office in which he was continued by reelection for twenty years. He was in that office until Grady county was organized in Jannary, 1906, and is prominent in the first government organization of this county in connection with the office of judge of ordinary, and he is still judge, having been reelected to the present term. In 1897 Mr. Herring was further honored by his district in elee- tion to the state legislature; and he served during the session of 1898-99. Mr. and Mrs. Herring are active members of the Methodist church at Cairo, and he is affiliated with Cairo Lodge No. 299. A. F. & A. M., with Cairo Lodge, I. O. O. F., and with Cairo Lodge, Knights of Pythias.
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WILLIAM PHILIP SCHIRM. Savannah has known few citizens more worthy of the unqualified esteem and regard of the people as a whole than was the late William Philip Schirm, and it is a matter of great pleasure to record here that he never failed to receive his just meed of appreciation and esteem at the hands of the citizenship of the city and of the surround- ing community. Foreign born, he came to these parts in early manhood. and at no time in his remaining years did he fail in his duty toward the country of his adoption. His life was from first to last one of the utmost usefulness and when he died on May 31, 1896, Savannah lost one of her most honored and loved eitizens.
William Philip Schirm was born in the year 1836 in Schernern bei Nassau a/d Lahn (now known as Hessen-Nassau) Germany, where was also born his father. He came to Ameriea in 1857, and settled in Georgia in that year. He was a young man of excellent education and had served in the German army. After coming to Savannah his oecu- pation was that of a teacher, and he was identified with a private institution in north Georgia of some repute, where he was known as an educator of exceptional ability. Some well known citizens of Sa- vannah and other Georgian cities were his pupils in those early days. With the ontbreak of the Civil war Mr. Schirm enlisted in the Con- federate army and he served with distinction and valor throughout that conflict. Concerning his military eareer, it may be further said that he entered the service in February, 1862, with the rank of first lieutenant, Troop A, Georgia Cavalry, Clinch Light Battery, and was later detailed ordnanee officer for the City of Savannah under Gen- eral Anderson. Maj. G. W. Anderson, commander of Fort McAllister. says of him in his official report: "Lient. William P. Schirm fonght until the enemy entered the fort; and, notwithstanding a wonnd in the head, gallantly remained at his post, discharging his duties with a eoolness and efficiency worthy of all commendation." He was taken prisoner on December 13, 1864, and was in prison at Hilton Head and Washington, and was released on June 6, 1865, at the close of the hostilities. IIe later became a member of Camp No. 756 Confederate Veterans, of which he was elected secretary, on March 6, 1894, and was re-elected on April 26, 1895.
Mr. Schirm was a director in the Chatham Real Estate & Improve- ment Company, and at the time of his death was a member of the Savannah Benevolent Association, a society the members of which are loved and respected by every trne Savannahian. The following resolu- tions were adopted at the time of his passing by this well known so- eiety :
"The life he had led and the services he performed are all the legacies he could bequeath to ns who remain, and when we examine these legacies and find that the life has been active, correct. exemplary and consistent, and the services well timed, practical and useful, we hold them in kindly remembrance and pay willing tribute to their worth.
"As a member of this association, Mr. Schirm was active and faith- ful, and as one of its directors he aided by his sound judgment and conservative business methods in advancing and establishing the pros- perity and present financial strength of our Association. Quiet, modest and unobtrusive in all his ways, he never sought to attain higher po- sitions than those allotted to him, and in every position acquitted him- self honorably and well, always exhibiting those strong and command- ing traits of character, which, through his long and eventful life, se- cured for him from time to time marked and substantial evidence of confidenee.
"We mourn his loss and cherish his memory."
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On January 20, 1876, Mr. Schirm married Ellen M. Lovell. Her parents were Edward and Mary (Bates) Lovell, both of whom passed away these many years gone. Mrs. Schirm is still living in Savannah.
After the close of the war. William P. Schirm returned to the quiet of eivilian life and at the time of his death was connected with The Willeox and Gibbes Guano Company. He was a prominent member of the First Presbyterian church of this city, and a deacon of that body.
Among the sons of William P. Schirm may be mentioned in further detail, Edward L., the eldest son of his parents. He was born in Savannah in 1877; he was here reared and here he has passed all his life thus far. In 1900 Mr. Schirm entered The Citizens Bank of Sa- vannah, beginning his labors there as junior clerk. In 1904 The Citi- zens Bank of Savannah established a branch office at Liberty and Montgomery streets and chose Mr. E. L. Schirm to be assistant cashier thereof, from which position he was in 1910 advaneed to be cashier of the Liberty street branch of The Citizens and Southern Bank, which responsible offiee he now holds to the entire satisfaction of that insti- tution.
On December 19, 1899, Mr. Sehirm was married to Miss Elizabeth Brady. They have two children, Ellen L. and William Philip Schirm.
MOSES B. LINTON. Few families have been longer represented by residenee in south Georgia, and none have contributed more industrious effort and worthier manhood and womanhood than the Lintons. One of the bearers of this name, Moses B. Linton, has for many years been suc- eessfully identified with the farming interests of the Everett district in Thomas county.
Mr. Linton was born in the southwest corner of Thomas county, October 18, 1850. His great-grandfather, a native of the north of Ire- land and of Scotch aneestry, brought his young wife to America and settled in the Abbeville distriet of South Carolina, where they reared their family and spent the rest of their days in quiet industry and honor. Their four sons and two daughters were Moses W., Thomas, Sidney, Ben, Rebecca and Margaret.
Moses W., the grandfather, was born in Abbeville district. For some probably interesting reason that has escaped the knowledge of his deseendants, when he was sixteen he became dissatisfied with home and ran away, finally reaching southwest Georgia. It was this boyhood ad- venture which brought the name of Linton so early into Georgia and accounts for the establishment of the family in this part of the state. Soon after his arrival the grandfather married Lucy Lanier. a native of Deeatur county, her parents being pioneers there. She had some money. and with this capital the young people bought a traet of land in the southwest part of Thomas county. A small patch had been cleared by Indians, but all the rest was primeval forest. After getting this land into productive condition the grandfather had to haul his surplus crops to Tallahassee or Newport in Florida for market. the trip requiring several days, and many years passed before railroads were built to this region. By industry and good management he and his wife became very prosperous, and had a large amount of land and many slaves. At the close of the war he freed over a hundred of the blacks. Late in life he moved to Thomasville and lived retired until his death. which occurred at the age of seventy-eight, followed three days later by that of his wife. They reared four children, whose names were Benjamin F .. James A., John L. and Margaret.
Benjamin F. Linton, the father, was born on the homestead in Thomas county, and at the time of his marriage bought land two miles
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from his birthplace. That was still a number of years before the war and before railroads brought modern conditions, so that he had the same difficulties of marketing as his father before him had encountered. In the household all the cooking was done by the fireplace, and the mother taught her slaves to eard. spin and weave the wool and cotton, all mem- bers of the household being dressed in homespun. In 1865 the father sold his farm and for a time worked some of the lands of his father. Finally in 1880 he moved to Jefferson county, Florida, where he died at the age of fifty-two years. Benjamin F. Linton married Rebecca Rountree, who was born in Lowndes county of a pioneer family there. and she survived her husband by thirteen years. Their three sons and one daughter were Moses B., Frank J., Oscar R. and Lona E.
When Moses B. Linton was twenty-one his father gave him a pair of mules and a pair of oxen, a horse and buggy, a year's supply of material and the use of land for a erop. For an industrious worker this was a fair amount of capital, and he used his talent wisely, making a good crop the first year. Then after renting land for two years. he bought at the place where he still resides, in lot 153 in the locality known as Aucilla, in Everett district of Thomas county. For some years he was proprietor of a grist and saw mill and cotton gin, and for twelve years was engaged in merchandising. so that he has been identified with a varied enterprise and has won a commendable prosperity. Ilis farm now consists of five hundred and eighty aeres, devoted to general agriculture and stock raising.
Mr. Linton was married at the age of twenty to Miss Florence Vir- ginia Kemp. She was born in Grooverville district of Brooks county, a daughter of Asa and Emily ( Bryan) Kemp. Her mother was a native of Spring Hill. Florida. Her father was born in what is now Brooks county, where his father, Peter Kemp, was a pioneer settler. Mr. and Mrs. Linton reared two children. Lawrence E. and Maude. The son for a time conducted a store in Thomas county and later a saw mill in Brooks county. He came to his death by an accident in the mill when he was twenty-four years old, just when his promising career was fairly started. He married Marcia Austin, daughter of Robert Austin, and she with her two sons Russell and Lawrence survives her husband, The daughter Maude is the wife of Heeton L. Cook. and they have two sons. Emmett and Irvin. Mrs. Linton is a member of the Methodist church.
MATHEW JAMES HARRELL. Noteworthy among the native-born cit- izens of Brooks county who have spent their lives within its precinets, aiding in every possible way its growth and development. whether relat- ing to its agricultural. manufacturing or financial interests, is Mathew James Harrell, an extensive land-owner, living on the Grooverville road. about four miles from Quitman. He was born in Brooks county, March 13, 1859, a son of Samuel J. Harrell.
His paternal grandfather, John Harrell, was born, reared. and mar- ried in North Carolina. Accompanied by his family, he subsequently migrated to Georgia, the private conveyance in which he made the journey, which was accomplished before the days of railways, was a cart made entirely of wood. their being no tires on the wheels. Bringing his provisions with him, he camped and cooked along the way, and on arriving in what is now Brooks county purchased land three miles west of the present site of Quitman. After settling on the land. he followed to some extent his trade of shoemaker, visiting the different plantations in this locality, and making shoes for the slaves. He spent a part of his time in farming, living in different places, but finally locating about three miles from Barwick, where he spent his remaining days, outliving
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the allotted three score and ten years of man's life. His wife, whose maiden name was Nancy Ausley, was born in North Carolina, and died before he did, leaving eight sons and one daughter.
Born in Brooks county, Georgia, Samuel J. Harrell at the age of nineteen years took upon himself the responsibilities of a married man, and began his independent career without other means than willing hands. a brave heart, and unlimited stock of energy and courage. At the breaking out of the war between the states, he enlisted and went through the war in the Confederate service. At the close of the conflict Mr. Harrell resumed his agricultural labors. Purchasing a small farm in Brooks county, he operated it for a time, but subsequently, desirous of enlarging his activities in that line, he rented a large plantation in the southern part of the county, and embarked in general farming on an extensive seale, in his undertaking being reasonably successful. A lifelong resident of Brooks county, he died at his home on the Groover- ville road, at the age of sixty-four years. The maiden name of the wife of Samuel J. Harrell was Laura Jane Albritton. She was born in Brooks county, a daughter of Rev. George W. and Jane ( Allen) Albritton. Mr. Albritton, who was a native of Georgia and a preacher in the Primitive Baptist church, enlisted during the Civil war for service in the Confederate army, and with his command took part in various cam- paigns and battles during the earlier part of the conflict, but in its last year was captured by the enemy and died from exposure while a prisoner of war. He carried with him as a soldier his bible and hymn book, saying he wanted to loan these to his comrades one and all. Capt. George W. Albritton was also a first lieutenant of the Florida Volunteers in the Indian wars of 1835, being commissioned by the governor before Florida was admitted as a state. His widow, who reared several chil- dren, survived him. Other members of the Albritton family were Mathew James and Isaac Abraham Albritton, both prominent lawyers of Brooks and Thomas counties and both reared near Quitman. Mrs. Samuel J. Harrell is still living on the homestead on the Grooverville road, and is the mother of eight children.
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