A history of Savannah and South Georgia, Volume II, Part 79

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

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In his business eareer, Mr. Peacoek has prospered, but he has also had his reverses. In 1905 having bought a large lot of cotton. the price dropped suddenly from eleven cents to seven eents per pound, and he was confronted with financial ruin. To make the situation worse, he was so ill he could not attend to business, and at that time his creditors offered him a settlement on a basis of thirty eents on the dollar. Ile refused a compromise. declaring his intentions of paying all his obligations in full. He paid part cash at the time. giving his notes for the remainder, and has sinee liquidated the entire amount with interest. It is this business integrity which has given him a high posi- tion among his associates, and he is today one of the most influential business men and citizens of Thomas county.

He has been an active member of the Methodist church, serving his church as trustee, steward, and has been superintendent of the Sunday School or teacher of the Bible class for a quarter of a century. Ile has a cottage at the Indian Springs camp ground. near Indian Springs. Georgia, where his family usually spends a part of the summer. he always joining them during the month of Angust during the annual Holiness Camp Meeting, which convenes during that month. He is an ardent supporter and believer in the doctrine for which that camp stands, and as taught by John Wesley, the founder of Methodism. a definite experience of holiness of heart in the believer instantaneously received by faith.

Duncan D. Peacock was married in June, 1888. to Mary J. Red- dick, a native of Brooks county, and a member of an old Georgia fam- ily. Her grandfather. Nicholas Reddick, formerly a resident of

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Sereven county, became one of the early settlers of what is now Brooks county. He improved a large farm in what is now Brooks county, in the Tallokas distriet. employed a unmber of slaves to work the fields, and remained a resident of this vicinity until his death at a good old age. He was three times married, and his second wife. the grandmother of Mrs. Peacock, was a Miss Lewis. Mrs. Peacock's father was Rev. Moses Reddick, who was reared and educated in Brooks county. At the breaking out of the war he enlisted in Company C of the Seventh Georgia Battalion, was later transferred to the Sixty-first Georgia In- fantry, and gave long and faithful service as a soldier in the army of North Virginia .. He always carried his Bible in his breast pocket, and at one time it was penetrated by a bullet to the very last leaf, thus saving his life.

The Bible is now preserved by his descendants as a saered relic. He escaped capture and was with his regiment until the close of the war, when he came home and took up farming. As a farmer and busi- ness man he prospered, and he also devoted much of his time and energies to his duties as a local preacher of the Methodist church. His death occurred at the age of sixty-three. He married Sarah Allen, who was born in the Dry Lake district of Brooks county, and they were the parents of eight children, named as follows: Elizabeth. Mary J., Sarah, James, Lucy, Virginia, Henry, and John Wesley. Sarah Allen's 'parents were from Wilmington, North Carolina, and were of Scotch-Irish descent.

Mr. and Mrs. D. D. Peacock have reared three children: Clayton Wesley, Moselle, and Lois Elizabeth. Clayton was educated at Merid- ian Male College. Meridian, Mississippi. He is a successful teacher, and is at present the principal of the Union Point High School at Union Point, Georgia. Clayton is quite a young man yet, and intends to further complete his education at the University of Georgia, or at Harvard, Massachusetts. Mosie Mae is a member of the graduating class of May, 1913, of Andrew Female College, at Cuthbert. Georgia. Having studied harmony, history, interpretation, sight reading, and having two years in practical pedagogy at Andrew College, she is well qualified. Besides receiving the B. L. diploma, she was awarded a cer- tificate in piano music and received a diploma in Sunday School ped- agogy. She was an active member and officer in the college Y. W. C. A. and president of the Kappa Gamma Literary Society. During her college course Miss Peacock was a leader in all the college activities and has at the same time taken a high rank in class work. She has good natural gifts, well developed by faithful study at college, and is an active religions worker. Lois Elizabeth is in school at Pavo. She is only seven years old now. Mr. Peacock and wife are both active members in the Pavo Methodist church.

Rebecca Peacock, the eldest dangliter of Delamar Peacock. married Anthony Wayne Ivey, who was a son of Robert Ivey. one of the pio- neer settlers of Thomas county. He was reared ou a farm six miles east of Thomasville, Georgia. Wayne was a teacher in the public schools of Georgia for a number of years and was a member of the legislature for two years. He was also secretary and treasurer of the Farmers' State Alliance of Georgia, during which time he moved to Atlanta, where his wife died. After the death of his wife. he moved to Thomasville, where he died. His wife, Rebecca, was an invalid for several years and a patient sufferer, uncomplaining, and bore her sick- ness with Christian fortitude and grace. At the approach of death, she drew her loved ones around her. entreated them to meet her in heaven, and departed this life with shouts of victory, having called

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for a favorite hymn to be sung while she passed over. Their children were: Robert, Felton Bartow, Mamie, Elizabeth, Enla, Lee, and J. Dimean. Felton Bartow, after holding the responsible position as business manager for a large wholesale house in Savannah for a num- ber of years, resigned this place in favor of his brother Duncan (who holds that position now) to go on the road as traveling salesman for the same company, viz., F. J. Cooledge & Bro., of Atlanta and Savan- nah. Mamie married Mr. Robert Varnedoe, of Thomasville; Lizzie married Henry Reddick, a merchant of Morven, Georgia. Miss Lee and Robert are living in Thomasville. where Felton B. makes his head- quarters, his territory being south Georgia and Florida.

Josephene Peacock, the second daughter of Delamar Peacock. married Abraham Foreman, son of Glover and Malinda Foreman, of South Carolina. Her children are: Cora. James J., Delamar G., Mary (deceased), Blanch, Floy, Marion, and Dudly F.

Abraham Foreman was a farmer in Thomas county and moved to this place in the early days when it was called MeDonald. with only two stores, and purchased the place which was known as the old Me- Donald dowery farm. In later years after the name was changed to Pavo and the place became an incorporated town, he opened up the most of the farm into resident lots and placed them on the market in one sale, thus offering the first big sale of land to those who were seek- ing homes in Pavo. He served the town in capacity of mayor and was always active at work in the development of Pavo. He is still one of the substantial residents of the town.

Cora, the oldest daughter of Josephene and Abraham Foreman. married P. A. Adams, a successful merchant of Pavo, who was one among the first of the town. James J., the oldest son, was educated in the public schools and graduated at the Stanley Business College of Thomasville, Georgia. He held important positions with business firms in Atlanta, Georgia, and was appointed a clerk in the pay department of the United States army. He did service in different departments of, the United States and in the Philippine Islands and resigned in 1907 and came to Pavo, where he entered the cotton warehouse busi- ness. He has been an active citizen, having served as councilman. clerk, treasurer, as well as mayor of the town. He married Miss Ethell Mosely of Jakin, Georgia, in 1912. Blanch. the second daughter, mar- ried W. F. Harrison, of Sloenm, Alabama. Floy, the third daughter of Abraham and Josephene Foreman, graduated at the Pavo high school. was a student of the state normal of Athens, Georgia, and is assistant teacher of the high school of Clayton, Georgia. Marion, the fourth daughter. also graduated at the Pavo high school and also at the state normal of Athens. She is now a teacher in the primary department in the Pavo high school.

Moselle Peacock, the third danghter of Delamar and Mary Peacock. married Hezekiah Roberts, a large landholder at Pavo. He is one of the chief factors in the growth and development of the town of Pavo and furnished many of the town resident lots on which are now erected the residences of many of her citizens. Mr. Roberts has served the town as mayor and councilman, and in many ways has been instrumental in building up the town and community. a more complete account of which is given in this volume in the history of Pavo.

To Moselle and Hezekiah Roberts were born: Mamie. Wessie. Frank, and JJaek. Miss Wessie married Ingh C. Ford. the cashier of the Bank of Pavo. Mr. Ford is a graduate of Oxford and is of a prom- inent family of Cartersville, Georgia. Mrs. Ford attended Wesleyan

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Female College and received a certificate in music. Jack is assistant cashier in the Bank of Pavo.

Mrs. Moselle Roberts died in August, 1895, and was buried in Leb- anon cemetery at Pavo.

WILLIAM S. MANN, practicing attorney of McRae and senator from the Fifteenth Senatorial District, is readily conceded to be one of the most rapidly rising young professional men in Telfair county. Not yet four years in the professional world, he has in that brief time accom- plished what it has taken other men many years of effort to attain, and those accomplishments give rich promise of the possibilities of his future career.

Born in Berrien county. in 1884, Mr. Mann is the son of Frank R. and Henrietta (Sykes) Man. The father, a prominent turpentine op- . erator and lumberman, who also condneted a naval store's supply house and did some farming, still lives in Berrien county, although his wife is deceased. She was a native of Montgomery county, and her husband of Tattnall county. When William S. Mann was an infant the family removed to Telfair county, and there he was reared and educated. He attended the common schools and later entered the University of Georgia at Athens, pursuing a literary course. He concluded his studies there with a course in law and in 1908 was graduated, receiving his degree. He immediately began the practice of his profession in McRae, and such progress did he make in his labors and so well did he impress the public with his ability and progressiveness that in 1910 he was nominated for the office of senator from the Fifteenth Senatorial Distriet, comprising the counties of Telfair, Montgomery, Dodge, Ben Hill and Irwin. and his election duly followed. He is now discharging the duties of that po- sition, and his labors thus far in behalf of his constituents have been all that could be desired.

On August 15, 1909, Mr. Mann was united in marriage with Miss Floris J. Perkins, daughter of J. W. Perkins, one time operator in tur- pentine in Georgia. Both parents are now deceased. They were for- mer residents of St. Louis, Missouri, and there Mrs. Mann was born. One son. William S., Jr., was born to them on July 14, 1910.

The family affiliates with the Episcopalian church, of which Mrs. Mann is a member. Mr. Mann is a member of the Knights of Pythias. A sister of Mr. Mann, Aleph, is married to Osear B. Burch and resides in Jackson, Georgia, while a brother, Frank R., Jr., is a physician and surgeon of Lumber City, Georgia

JOHN BURCH ROBERTS. A well-known and prosperous agriculturist of Terrell county. John Burch Roberts, living near Dawson, is distin- guished both for his own life and works. and for the honored ancestry from which he is descended. the name of Roberts having been prominent in Georgia for upwards of a century.

His grandfather, Reverend Burch M. Roberts, was a Baptist preacher. holding pastorates in various places in Georgia, and meeting with a due meed of success in his ministerial labors. He married Harriet Hardwick. who also belonged to a well-known family of this state.

Honorable Joseph W. Roberts, father of John B. Roberts, was born, it is thought. in Hancock county, Georgia, where his father was then settled as a minister. Taking advantage of every offered opportunity for increasing his knowledge, he acquired a substantial edneation white vonng. but instead of entering upon a professional career chose the in- dependent ocenpation of a farmer. He purchased land in Calhom county when all of that seetion of Georgia was in its pristine wildness,

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being but sparsely populated. and far from any railroad. With the assistance of slaves he cleared and improved a good farin, upon which he lived until 1866. Loeating then in Terrell county, he purchased a farm situated one and one-fourth miles west of the Court House, and was there engaged in agricultural pursuits a number of years. When ready to relinquish the management of his estate, he moved to Dawson, where he continued his residence until his death, at the good old age of seventy-eight years. He was long prominent and influential in public affairs, from 1861 to 1865, during the entire time that Georgia was one of the Confederate States, representing Calhoun county in the state leg- islature. He also served as judge of the inferior court, and at the time . of his death was judge of the court of ordinary of Terrell county. a po- sition which he had hekl for eighteen years. He married Mary J. Col- ley. daughter of John Colley, a Calhoun county farmer. She died at the age of sixty-four years, leaving six children; namely : John Burch, James W .. Louisa, George M .. Mary Ella and Charles.

Educated in the rural schools, and brought up on the home farm, John Burch Roberts aequired while young a valuable knowledge and expe- rience in the art of agriculture. and naturally selected farming as his life occupation. At the time of his marriage he bought land lying ten miles east of Dawson, and managed it successfully for two years. The ensu- ing three yeares he was employed in mercantile pursuits, after which he returned to the soil, taking up farming near the old parental homestead, which has since come into his possession, and which he now occupies. It is a well improved estate, with substantial buildings, and under his wise management yields a good annual income.

Mr. Roberts married, November 17. 1870, Catherine Simpson, who was born in that part of Lee county now inelnded within the boundaries of Terrell county. Her father, John James Simpson, was born in North Carolina, and when a small child was left fatherless. His widowed mother subsequently married Daniel Kennedy, and they came with their family to Georgia, loeating in that section of Lee county that now forms a part of Terrell county. John James Simpson was a young man when he settled in Georgia, and he subsequently married Mary Elizabeth Blanchard, who was born in North Carolina, and came with her mother and her step-father. a Mr. Bradley, to Georgia. The Kennedy and Brad- ley families left North Carolina about the same time, the Bradleys being bound for Mississippi. While jorneving overland the two families met, and the Kennedys persuaded the Bradleys to locate in Lee county. Geor- gia, their point of destination. Four years later the two families became more closely united, John James Simpson, stepson of Daniel Kennedy, marrying Miss Blanchard, stepdaughter of Mr. Bradley. She died thir- teen months after their marriage, leaving an infant daughter, Catherine, now the wife of Mr. Roberts. Mr. Simpson afterwards married for his second wife Florence Smith, daughter of Griffin Smith. a pioneer of South Georgia, and she is now living in Sonth Georgia, and is the mother of four children, as follows: William. George. Edward and John. Mr. Simpson took an active interest in public affairs, and during the trying times of the Civil war served for four years as sheriff of Terrell county.

Ten children have blessed the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Roberts. namely : Benlah. Blanchard, William, John James, Burch. Mary, George, Oscar, Alice and Cortez. All are still living, several being married. and having families of their own. Benlah, wife of Charles Wilkinson, has five children. Blanchard, wife of Sidney JJ. Cook, has three children, Ruth. Blanchard and Sidney. William married Sarah Brown, and has three children. Enzella, Catherine and Marion. John JJ .. married Roxie Beck- ham, and they have three children, Panline, Catherine and JJohn. Burch

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married Willie Joiner, and they have one son, Burch. George married Bertha Haiston. Oscar married Nellie Kitchen. And Alice is the wife of Foy Haines. Mr. and Mrs. Roberts are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Fraternally Mr. Roberts belongs to the Royal Area- num.

JAMES D. WADE, JR. A prominent and prosperous member of the legal fraternity. James D. Wade. Jr., has been actively engaged in the practice of his profession in Quitman, Brooks county, for upwards of a quarter of a century, and during the time has gained for himself a fine reputation, not only as an able and skilful attorney, but as a man and a citizen. A son of Colonel JJames D. Wade, Sr., he was born, July 5, 1856, in Sereven county, Georgia, of pioneer ancestry.

His paternal grandfather, Jesse Wade, who was of English lineage, was born in Green county, Georgia, where his parents, well-to-do farm- ers, were pioneer settlers. Brought up and educated in his native county, he began life for himself in Newton county. Georgia, but after living there ten years removed to Murray county, buying land in that part now included within the boundaries of Whitfield county, and on the farm which he cleared carrying on farming with the assistance of his slaves until they were freed. In 1863, being then well advaneed in age, he refugeed to the home of his son Archibald, in Pieree county, and there resided until his death, in 1872, at the age of eighty-two years, his death having been the result of injuries received in an accident at a eotton gin. He married Bethany Middlebrooks, a daughter of Isaae Middlebrooks, a pioneer settler of Morgan county, Georgia. She died in 1882, aged eighty-eight years. To her and her husband nine children were born. as follows: Elizabeth, who married a Mr. White, and re- moved to Texas; Peyton L. ; Isaac M. : James D. ; Archibald P .; Edward C .; Seaborn HI. ; William P .; and Milton C.

James D. Wade, Sr., was born in Newton eounty. Georgia, February 13, 1826, and was brought up and educated in Whitfield county. Upon the breaking out of the Civil war he organized a company for the Con- federate service, and was commissioned as its captain. He remained with his command until the close of the conflict, taking part in many engagements of note, and for bravery on the field of battle was promoted from rank to rank until receiving his commission as eolonel of his regi- ment. Returning home at the close of the war, Col. James D. Wade remained in Sereven county, where he had located prior to entering the army, until 1870. Selling his plantation in that year, the Colonel eame to Brooks county, purchased land lying eight miles north of Quitman, and there continued his agricultural labors. Several years later he sold out. and subsequently lived retired in Quitman until his death, March 9, 1910, at the venerable age of four score and four years. Colonel Wade married Sarah Bowie, who was born in Sereven county, Georgia, in 1830, and died in March. 1909. Her parents came from South Carolina, their native state. to Georgia, locating in Sereven county at an early day. and there clearing and improving a farm, which they managed with slave labor. remaining on their homestead the rest of their days. To Colonel Wade and his wife five children were born. as follows: James D., Jr., the special subject of this biographical review; Jesse P .; Josephine F. : Seaborn II. ; and William C.

Obtaining his early education in the common schools of Sereven county. James D. Wade, Jr .. subsequently attended the University of Georgia. His natural talents leading him to choose a profession. he then read law with Judge J. G. MeCall. and being admitted to the bar in 1882 immediately began the practice of law in Quitman. In 1588 Mr.

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Wade was elected clerk of court, and was continued in that office by continuous re-election for a period of twelve years. On retiring from the clerkship. Mr. Wade resumed his practice in Quitman, where he gained an extensive patronage.

Mr. Wade married, in 1888. Mary Jones, who was born in Thomas county, Georgia, a daughter of James Y. Jones. Mrs. Wade's grand- father. Thomas JJones, a native of Bulloch county. Georgia, was a pio- neer settler of Thomas county, Georgia, and, it is said. was one of the three men whose Christian name was "Thomas," and for whom Thomas eounty and the city of Thomasville were named. Buying a tract of timber land, he erected a log cabin in the wilderness, and with slave labor eleared many acres of land, and carried on general farming with most satisfactory peeuniary results. He made improvements of great value, building a commodious brick house to replace the log structure in which he and his family first lived, and putting up substantial farm buildings. On the homestead which he wrested from the forest he spent the remainder of his long life. He married Lavina Young, who was born in Bulloch county, and died in Thomas county. at the venerable age of ninety years. James Y. Jones, Mrs. Wade's father, came to Brooks eounty many years ago, and in addition to buying a plantation bought a home in Quitman. Ile never lived upon his plantation, but made his home in Quitman until his death, at the comparatively early age of fifty- nine years. IIe married Margaret Holzendorf, who was born in Camden county, Georgia, of Holland ancestry. She died at the age of sixty-one years, leaving four children, as follows : Lavina ; Mary, Now Mrs. Wade; Margaret ; and James Y. Jones, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Wade are the parents of nine, children, all daughters, namely: Mary, wife of Wallace W. Hop- 'per; Lillie; Maggie; Freddie; Sarah H .; Willie; Annie; Minnie; and Edna.

GEORGE ROBERT CHRISTIAN. Occupying a noteworthy position among the active and prosperous business men of Georgia and Florida, George R. Christian is distinguished not only for his own sterling traits of char- acter but for the honored ancestry from whom he deseended. He was born November 18, 1867, in Lowndes county, Georgia, nine miles south of Valdosta. The Christians were natives of the Isle of Man, where they had been prominent from time immemorial as the history of the Isle of Man shows ( Peveril of the Peak). He is a son of Thomas Johnson Christian, whose father, Gabriel Christian, was the son of John Chris- tian of Virginia, who eame when a child with his father, Gilbert Christian. from the Isle of Man. They landed first at Philadelphia, and from there they eame on down to the valley of Virginia, and were the second immi- grants to settle there, John Lewis already being there, and having set- tled near where Staunton, Virginia, now stands.

John Christian, who married Elizabeth Crawford, a woman of vig- orous intellect, was captain of horse in the Colonial army and fought the Indians along with Daniel Boone and Col. Wm. Christian, in whose honor Christian county, Kentneky, was named. (Life and Times of Caleb Wallace). John Christian was the only surviving member of a party of twelve attacked by the Indians while attempting to survey. lands drawn by Col. Wm. Christian in western Kentucky as a bounty for services rendered in fighting the Indians.

Gabriel Christian, born in Virginia. received excellent educational advantages and was reared in the Presbyterian faith-he subsequently embraced the Protestant Methodist religion and became a preacher in that denomination. Coming to Georgia, he purchased a traet of wild land in Monroe county, and with his slaves began the improvement of the

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plantation. Continuing his work in the Master's vineyard as a circuit rider. he preached in numerous places in Georgia, remaining a resident of Monroe county until his death. The marriage of Gabriel Christian to Harrison Blair Giler also of Virginia was solemnized in Albermarle county in that state in the year of 1800. Her father, John Gihner, mar- ried Mildred Merriwether, who was descended in the sixth generation from Nicholas Merriwether. Mildred Merriwether, who was the daugh- ter of Thomas and Elizabeth (Thornton) Merriweather and who became the wife of Jomm Gilmer was therefore a great-grandmother of George Robert Christian. Gabriel Christian and his wife reared seven children as follows: John Gilmer. Martha Taliaferro, Abner Hobbs, Julia Ami, Nicholas Thornton. Hope Inll and Thomas Johnson.

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A history of Savannah and South Georgia, Volume II, Part 79

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