USA > Georgia > Wilkinson County > History of Wilkinson County > Part 46
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HISTORY OF WILKINSON COUNTY
years, and up to his death in 1843, he served this church, New Providence, and others as pastor.
Although Elder David Smith was one of the Presbytery which ordained John Hughs, fate led these two men to become leaders of two opposing schools of thought in the Baptist churches of Wil- kinson County which four years later were destined to rend asunder the membership of these churches-Missionary and Anti-Mission- ary. Smith was violently Anti-Missionary. At Irwinton Church in 1831, he paused long enough in his sermon to engage his ob- jecting deacon, John Eady, in a fist fight in the pulpit. He fre- quently served all the other Baptist churches in the county except Bethel and New Providence, and he had a tremendous following in all these other churches. However, John Hughs advocated the Missionary belief. Though young in the ministry, not only did these two churches follow his guidance but his influence was felt in many other places. The supreme test came at the Association at Beersheba in 1836, when the feeling had become so intense, that the division in the Baptist Church became necessary. The only two churches in Wilkinson whose members were aligned almost solidly on the side of Missions, were Bethel and New Providence. Big Sandy, almost equally divided on the question finally cast in her lot with Missions. All the other Baptist churches formed the Ebenezer Primitive Baptist Association.
Rev. John Hughs, now the leading Missionary Baptist of the county, saw the need for more Missionary Baptist churches. In every Baptist church of the county there had been some who be- lieved in Missions, and these, now severing themselves from the mother church, needed some convenient place for their membership. Especially was this true of Mt. Nebo whose Missionary members were so numerous that Liberty church was organized to take care of them.
Rev. Green Berry Hughs, the oldest son of Rev. John Hughs was born May 13, 1814. He joined New Providence church early in life, transferred his membership to Bethel, was ordained deacon in 1842, and licensed to preach in 1849.
HERO OF THE CREEK WAR
In his young manhood Mr. Hughs was employed as manager of the mercantile establishment operated by Samuel Beall at Irwin-
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tion. The Creek Indian War of 1836 breaking out, Beall, who for years had been the leading military figure in the county, was assigned to duty on the staff of Major Jernigan whose command was operating near Columbus, Georgia, and in the counties ad- jacent. Upon his being ordered to report at the scene of hostilities, Beall gave complete charge of his store to Hughs until his return. Soon after Beall's departure, however, the nation was startled by the massacre at Roanoke, and Wilkinson County was called on to furnish her quota of a company of mounted men to march im- mediately. Green B. Burney's Company, the Wilkinson Greys, was chosen. Many of the members of this company, including the Captain were from Hugh's immediate neighborhood, and when volunteers were called to fill vacancies in the Company, forgetting Sam Beall's instructions he hastily left the store in other hands and departed with the Company for the front.
The story is still told throughout Wilkinson of how arriving in Stewart County the Wilkinson Greys were deployed in a swamp when overwelming numbers of Indians attacked them forcing them to fall back. Young Hugh's horse was shot from under him, and in falling from his horse his gun dropped to the ground. Before he could regain it the redskins were upon him. Though extremely small in stature and no match to combat unarmed even one Indian, Hughs at once endeavored to retrieve his gun. In the meantime, Sam Beall with a few troops had arrived to re-inforce the retreat- ing men. Beall saw in the distance the predicament the dimunitive figure of Hughs was in and putting spurs to his horse dashed to his rescue, and galloping up behind he seized Hughs, lifted him onto his horse and bore him away out of danger. Noticing that Hughs was struggling to get loose from him, he inquired the reason and Hughs informed him that he wanted to go back after his gun. Al- though a devout Methodist it is said that Sam Beall now for once swore like a pirate, consigning the blankety-blank gun to all sorts of perdition. When he finished he looked at the man whom he had saved and to his astonishment he found him none other than his store manager whom he thought to be in Irwinton. "You little devil, I thought you were seeing after my store!" was Beall's de- lighted exclamation upon recognizing Hughs.
As MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL
A few months after Green B. Hughs returned from the Indian
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War he was married to Miss Nancy Methvin, the daughter of Thomas Methvin of Wilkinson County. During the years that followed Mr. Hughs was able to amass quite a fortune operating his plantation and he soon owned a number of slaves. Upon his entering the ministry, however, he devoted his whole time and attention to the church, riding horseback to distant appointments, organizing churches in places where they were needed, serving them without charge wherever the membership was too poor to pay him. He served for a time at Antioch, Stone Creek, Clear Creek, New Providence, Jeffersonville, Salem, and other churches during the early years of his ministry. Too old for service in the War Between the States, he was appointed by the Inferior Court to investigate the condition of destitute widows and orphans in portions of the county and to see that they were provided with the necessities of life.
Mr. Hughs was preaching at Bethel Church in 1865, when Bob Toombs was making his memorable escape from the Yankees. In company with Joel Dees who was conducting him through the county to Wesley King's they took the wrong road and came out at Bethel. Hughs was in the midst of a sermon, Dees, not knowing which road to take and knowing Rev. Hughs well, called him from the pulpit and recited to him the trouble they were in. Tra- dition says that this was one service where there was no benedic- tion, and that this was the only time in Green B. Hughs life he felt that the Lord's work could wait. Without a moment's hesi- tation he laid aside all ministerial duties and mounting his horse conducted Toombs to Wesley King's.
In 1871 he sold his plantation and induced several other fami- lies to move with him to Texas. The climate not agreeing with them, however, and the finances of the others being exhausted, he used all his remaining funds in paying their expenses back to Georgia.
For a while after his return he served Bluewater Church in Laurens County and other churches, a short time later moving to Florida where he worked half time with his son as a Missionary serving two churches. In 1875 he returned to Wilkinson County, living for a while at Gordon. In 1877 Bethel again called him and he returned to his small home near there which he still owned. Though with failing health he continued his service here until 1883. The Ebenezer Association appointed him colporteur, and
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he went about distributing Bibles among those who were unable to buy, and preaching at the churches in whose service he had given the best years of his life. His last official work was helping organize Mt. Pleasant Church in Baldwin County in 1886. While preparing for a Union Meeting at Bethel he was stricken, living only a few hours.
The children of Green B. Hughs were: Martha Ann Elizabeth (1840-1929 m. James Morris Beall), John Thomas ( 1842-1875, m. Florence Virginia Stanley), Sarah Jane (1844, living, m. Ira Chambers), Margaret White (1846-1880, m. James Spears), Wil- liam Jackson ( 1849-1990, m. Mamie Ellis, first, and Edith Arm- strong, second), Theodosia Clifford (1856-1928, m. first, Robert Matthews, second Joseph Richardson, third Lorenzo Dow), Green Davis (1861-1907, m. Julia Binacher) .
HAYWOOD DONALDSON HUGHES
Haywood Donaldson Hughes, a member of the prominent Hughes family of Twiggs County, was born in Jeffersonville, July 18, 1851, the youngest son of Haywood and Elizabeth (Coley) Hughes, and received his education at the Jeffersonville School. In 1870 he moved to Wilkinson, where on July 15, 1874, he was married to Emma Hughs, the daughter of Nathaniel C. and Geor- gia (Hatcher) Hughs.
After moving here he soon became a successful farmer. In the hectic political years of 1892 and 1894 when the Democratic and Populist Parties were engaged in a death grapple, he was nomi- nated by the Democratic Convention to make the race for Clerk of the Superior Court. Both times he was successful. From 1892 to 1907 he made Irwinton his home and then moved to Tooms- boro where he engaged in the livestock sales business. His wide acquaintance over the county and his known responsibility and in- tegrity were now assets, and from the beginning his business was a success.
He was active in the organization of the Wilkinson County Bank and served as a Director from its organization to his death Feb. 23, 1921. He, likewise, served several years as Councilman and also as Mayor of Toomsboro, and acted as Clerk of Toomsboro Bap-
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tist Church from 1908 to 1912. He was also a member of the Knights of Pythias.
Mr. Hughes possessed a host of friends to whom he was un- questionably most loyal. His friendliness to every one, his hos- pitality, his ready aid for those in need, endeared him to all.
Mrs. Hughes is, indeed, a most lovable woman, friendly, un- selfish, kind and considerate of others. She is a faithful member of Toomsboro Baptist Church, and no one loves this church more devotedly than she. And now in the evening of her life, she radiates a spirit of goodness and of cheer which makes one love her the more.
Their children were: Albert Haden (Dec. 10, 1875-July 7, 1879), Paul Blackman (July 12, 1878) : Alberta (Mrs. Lance B. Simmons) Mar. 4, 1881: Julian Herbert (July 9, 1883-Nov. 4, 1884) : Georgia Elizabeth (Mrs. W. C. Troutman) July 2, 1886: and Mayme (Mrs. Herbert Stephens) Dec. 25, 1888.
NATHANIEL CAIN HUGHS
Nathaniel Cain Hughs (November 29, 1815-1881) was the son of William (August 29, 1792-January 25, 1848) and Re- becca (Childs) Hughs (June 22, 1794-March 19, 1846), and the grandson of William 'Thomas Hughs (See sketch of Rev. G. B. Hughs). Probably no stronger character ever lived in Wilkinson than he. Those who knew him best yet speak of him as being of that splendid type of manhood who could never be swayed by pop- ular clamor, by selfish desires or hope of gain, but whose whole be- ing reminded one of the powerful oak, well-rooted in the soil, a type badly needed but only too sadly lacking in the Wilkinson County of today. Uncompromising with wrong, stern in his de- mands upon those clothed with authority to perform their duty, Mr. Hughs would not be termed a politician, yet for many years he figured prominently in the public life of the county. He was a faithful member of Bethel Baptist Church.
At the age of twenty, when Green B. Burney's company was starting for the scene of hostilities in the Indian War of 1836, he could not resist the temptation to go with the company, in the nature of a free lance, his age as well as the full complement of the company not permitting his becoming a member. Thus, a veteran of Indian War, when the call for volunteers was made in the War
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Between the States he served again for a time until sent back for service in the county.
At an early age, like most of the young men of the county he began his life work as a planter and during the ante-bellum period amassed some property, being considered a success in his vocation. After the war with the freeing of the slaves when the methods of operating the plantations had to be revolutionized, he again made a success of farming. In 1873 when W. C. Adams while a member of the Legislature created the Board of Commissioners of Roads and Revenues, the act appointed N. C. Hughs as one of the first members. He served several terms in this capacity. In 1877, at the urgent insistence of his friends he consented to enter the race for Representative but with the distinct understanding that he would not "electioneer." He was elected but refused to accept a second term. Throughout his life he was an ardent Democrat.
He was married December 26, 1842, to Georgia Hatcher (Feb. 9, 1826-January 12, 1918) daughter of James Hatcher (b. 1798) and Jane (Whitehead) Hatcher (b. 1798), and granddaughter of William Hatcher, a veteran of the Revolution and his wife Pris- cilla Jane Whitehead was the daughter of Reason and Martha Whitehead.
The children of Mr. and Mrs. Hughs were :
Martha Jane, m. Capt. A. A. Beall; Rebecca, m. William S. Stevens; Emma, m. H. D. Hughs; Nathaniel, m. Annie Baum; James William, m. Viola Bush ; Hatcher, m. George S. Riley ; Ida, unmarried, is the only one of the family living in Irwinton.
SOL ISENBERG
I was born in Suwalki, Poland, October 15, 1879. My grand- father on my father's side was Joseph Isenberg and my father's name was Myer Isenberg. They were prominently recognized as one of the best families in the state. My father was one of the most highly educated men in the state of Suwalki. He was a government contractor and owned a vast estate. My mother's name was Rosa Ann, the daughter of Enoch Wilenski, also of a very prominent and well known family.
I received my education in the schools of Suwalki. During my school career I learned several languages which included Russian,
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Polish, Lituanian, German, and Hebrew. After I completed my education, I was connected with my father in his business. At the age of twenty-one, I enlisted in the army and served for a period of six months.
Just about this time, which happened to be April 15, 1900, I de- cided to emigrate to America the "Land of Freedom and More Op- portunities." My mother accompanied me to New York where she resided with an older brother, Jacob Isenberg, for six months.
The first difficulty I had to overcome was the English language. I worked during the day and attended night school until I had mas- tered the English language enough to understand the daily conver- sation of life.
During my three years stay in New York I met and fell in love with Sadie Smith, the daughter of Max Smith, also a prominent family of Poland. After a courtship of three years we were married July 4, 1905, in Atlanta, Georgia, coming to Atlanta several months preceding our marriage. Three children, Hannah, (Mrs. A. J. Fogle), Joe and Rose, were born in Atlanta.
In 1912 we moved to Tennille and stayed for two years. In 1914 we arrived in Toomsboro, Georgia, where Walter (better known as Buster ) was born. In 1916 we came to Gordon, Jacob and Ger- aldine were born here.
We appreciate the kind hospitality of the people in Gordon, and vicinity. Their kindness and popular favor won me the distinction of serving twice as Alderman of the City of Gordon ; President and Vice-President of the Farmers and Merchants Bank of Gordon ; Worshipful Master of the Gordon Lodge No. 240 F. & A. M. also recently elected Council-Commander of the W. O. W.
SOL ISENBERG.
REV. B. H. IVEY, D. D.
Benjamin Henry Ivey was born in Warren County, Georgia, April 4, 1848. He was of English descent, his ancestors coming to Virginia before the Revolutionary War and several of them taking an active part in the struggle. Soon after this war the family moved to Warren County, Georgia, where his father, Oliver Ivey was married to Miss Amanda Ellis. During the War Between the States the family moved to South Georgia.
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In 1869 Dr. Ivey was converted and joined Mt. Carmel Bap- tist Church in Marion County. He became impressed that it was his duty to preach the Gospel, and in 1871 entered Howard Col- lege at Marion, Ala. In 1872 he entered Mercer University, Macon, Ga., graduating in 1876, having been out of college one year during this time.
Dr. Ivey's first pastorate was Gordon, Wilkinson County, Ga. Soon after beginning this pastorate, he erected the First Baptist Church to be built at this place. Under his leadership the member- ship of the church was greatly increased. He was pastor at Irwinton and several country churches in this county. He also served as Moderator of the Ebenezer Association for several years.
He served churches in Macon, Sandersville, Sparta, Warrenton, Camak, Harlem, and other places.
While pastor at Warrenton he served as County School Super- intendent. He died in Warrenton August 16th, 1911.
Dr. Ivey was a cultured, consecrated man, spending his life for the glory of his master, and the uplift of his fellow men. He was regarded as an able preacher. In 1907 he was given the degree of D. D., by Mercer University. He was twice married. First to Miss Mattie Thompson of Wilkinson County. To this union was born four daughters and one son. His second marriage was to Miss Etta Daniel of Washington County, and to them was born one daughter Mrs. C. S. Duggan.
(By Mrs. C. S. Duggan)
EMILE JOHNSON
Honored and respected by every person who knows him for his solid worth, honesty, integrity, outspoken opinions upon public questions and condemnation of those who shirk their duties, Wil- kinson County is proud to claim as one of her very best citizens, a man, who, though born in Sweden, yet is now intensely American, intensely Georgian, intensely Wilkinson Countian-Emile John- son (Emil Sven Johanson). Whatever Mr. Johnson does, from selling goods to fighting fire, he does with his whole heart and soul-and succeeds.
The son of Andrew and Mary (Maya) Johanson, Emile was born Dec. 3, 1871, and at the age of three years, his father having
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come ahead of the family to America, his mother came across to join her husband. Once in America, his name became Johnson. For a number of years the family resided in Illinois, our subject attending school for a limited time at Pierce City, Mo., and Geneseo, Ill.
Approaching manhood, the timber business appealed to him. He served as floating pilot on the Mississippi and tributary rivers for twelve or fourteen years. Barges would be built on the headwaters, loaded with produce and then piloted down the river to markets. His skill won for him the reputation of being one of the best of this vocation. The virgin forests of Missouri, Mississippi, Arkan- sas and Louisiana, attracted him and he spent some years there. Later going to Florida he met and married, in 1905, at Chipley, Fla., Mrs. Ada Lillian (Wilson) Culpepper, the daughter of Samuel W. and Sarah V. (Walker) Wilson. Learning of the heav- ily forested Oconee River Swamps of Wilkinson, he came here in 1904 and started in the hardwood business, soon afterward moving his family to Irwinton, his father and brother, Frank, also coming.
In 1906, he entered the mercantile business in what is known as the Old Baum building, which he has occupied ever since. He was Director and later President of the ill-fated Irwinton Railroad Company.
Mr. Johnson has served as Alderman and Mayor of Irwinton ; is at present a Trustee of the Irwinton School ; member and Trus- tee of the Irwinton Methodist Church, a Mason, and a Democrat.
Mrs. Johnson was the granddaughter of John T. J. Wilson and of John McPhail and Penelope (Daugherty) Walker. Her first marriage was to Howard P. Culpepper, the son of Henry and Nancy (King, d. of Hiram King. See John King sketch) Cul- pepper. By this marriage she has three children : Ralph, (m. Nina Ragan, their two children are Fay and Ralph, Jr.); Ruby, (m. J. Marvin Hall, their child being Helen) ; Russell, (m. Bessic Skelton, and they have one child, Sybil). With no children of his own, Mr. Johnson lavished upon his step-children all a father's love, giving them such education as fitted them for life. Mrs. John- son is also a member of the Methodist Church and very active in the Woman's Missionary Society. Her spirit of generosity, her ready aid and sympathy for those in need or in trouble, is well worthy of emulation.
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WILLIAM ALLEN JONES
Living in the house today, in which he was born on August 26, 1864, the son of Josiah H. and Serena (Pace) Jones, whose ances- tors date back to pioneer days in the development of North Georgia and North Carolina, William Allen Jones was raised in Gordon, Georgia. He received his early training in reconstruction days, af- ter the War Between the States, graduating from the Gordon High School in 1881, he entered the Sophomore Class at Emory Uni- versity in the Fall of the same year, after which, at the age of twenty years, he entered the employ of the Central of Georgia Railroad in the transportation department, where he was quickly promoted to Conductor, serving in this capacity for two years. He resigned and entered the Mercantile business in Gordon, where he has remained until the present.
William Allen Jones is widely known as one of the most enter- prising and public spirited citizens of his state, county and city, where he has stood high in public esteem. Having joined the Metho- dist Church in his early boyhood days, he still remains a devout be- liever in its doctrine, serving as Chairman of the Board of Stewards for many years and Bible teacher of a class in Sunday School for more than twenty years. He is still in the general mercantile busi- ness and one of the largest land owners in the county.
On February the 15th, 1885, he was married to Winnie B. San- ders, daughter of King and Bethany Sanders (see sketch of King Sanders), the largest planter and merchant in Gordon. at that time. There has been no children born to William Allen and Winnie B. Jones. Mrs. Jones is a lady of culture and has a clear insight of business and has been a most deserving help mate to her husband, always active in all of Mr. Jones enterprises. She is member of the John Ball Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution and an enthusiastic member of the Woman's Club of her district.
Mr. Jones is a Methodist, a Mason, a Knight of Pythias and a Democrat, whose faith in them all has never wavered, having served his city as Mayor several terms and his county in the Georgia Leg- islature for two terms with distinction. No man could be of the prominence he is without making enemies but often those enemies made by his uncompromising nature have come back as friends.
(Prepared by a Member of the Family)
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THE JOHN KING FAMILY
No family in Wilkinson has had more outstanding men and wo- men in every generation of the history of the county than has this one.
John King was born in Edgefield District, S. C., a son by the first wife of his father, who was a man of considerable estate. While we have no direct proof yet we have reason to believe this is the same John King who served in the Georgia House of Representa- tives from Wilkes County, Georgia, during the years 1785-86-87- 88-89-90 and also as Commissioner to make a treaty with the In- dians at Shoulderbone in 1786.
We next find him a prominent planter in Wilkinson County in 1809 and being appointed by the Legislature as a Commissioner to build the famous Hartford Road.
John was married to Kizza Morgan and their children were: David, Nancy, Hiram, who moved to Decatur County, Georgia, and Wesley, who remained here. John's old home is near the home of his great-granddaughter, Mrs. W. T. Wall, this being once known as the "Halfway House" on the Hartford and Milledge- ville Road.
After the death of John, his widow lived near the present site of Allentown, with her son Wesley, but she too died when he was only eighteen years of age. Before her death she asked a Mr. Rogers, a Primitive Baptist preacher, to help Wesley manage her estate.
Wesley was soon proving himself a good business man, and at the age of twenty-two we find him buying negroes and rapidly branch- ing out into a prosperous slave and plantation owner. At the age of twenty-four, he married Elizabeth, the daughter of Anson Ball, who was one of the wealthiest men of the county. Their children were : Erasmus, who moved to Quitman; Hiram, Ira and Wesley, who remained in Wilkinson and two girls.
In politics Wesley was an ardent Whig and was held in such high esteem by the people of Wilkinson County that when he offered for the Senate in 1845, having served in the House of Representatives 1838-39, although he was opposed by a son of Governor Troupe, party lines were forgotten and he was swept into office by a tre- mendous majority.
During the War Between the States, no man was more patriotic
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than he. Too old himself to enlist, his sons took their places in the ranks. Wesley at home did all in his power to further the cause of the South. When Sherman's forces invaded Wilkinson he collected every wounded soldier south of Big Sandy who happened to be at home, and was able to ride a horse, also every boy and old man who could serve, and formed a company for the purpose of patrolling all the crossings of Big Sandy Creek, cutting off all foraging parties and marauding bands which would attempt to cross the creek and prey upon the plantations south of this creek. Joel A. Smith, sick and home on a furlough at the time, became a member of the Company and related these facts to the compiler.
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