Memoirs of Georgia; containing historical accounts of the state's civil, military, industrial and professional interests, and personal sketches of many of its people. Vol. I, Part 139

Author:
Publication date: 1859
Publisher: Atlanta, Ga., The Southern historicl association
Number of Pages: 1294

USA > Georgia > Memoirs of Georgia; containing historical accounts of the state's civil, military, industrial and professional interests, and personal sketches of many of its people. Vol. I > Part 139

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1855. His father, Mr. J. B. Tanner, was a native of this state, and was a inan of influential standing and of high respectability. He believed in giving his children the benefit of a good start in life and of setting before them, in his own personal conduct, a pattern of sobriety and independence. The subject of this sketch passed his boyhood days in Clayton county, receiving his primary education from the schools of that vicinity. Emulous of all that was noble in the characters of those who won his admiration, and desirous of making a name for himself in the world the young student devoted himself to his books with a zeal for learning that was rarely displayed by a boy of his age. He was soon far enough advanced to enter the university of Georgia at Athens, and, leaving home for the first time, he became a student at that institution. Graduating from the university in 1875 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, he came directly to Atlanta for the purpose of making a start in life. His first efforts at earning a livelihood were exerted as a member of the local staff of the "Atlanta Herald." He remained with the paper for several months, during which time he became familiar with all public questions and cultivated a wide personal acquaintance. Having made up his mind to enter the legal profession he retired from the journalistic field to enter the law office of Col. Luther J. Glenn, one of the oldest and most successful practitioners in Atlanta. After several months of studious application, directed by the advice of his friend and counsellor, the young student was forinally admitted to the bar, having passed an exceptionally fine examination. He enjoyed a lucrative practice from the start, and, by virtue of his legal attainments, unusual for one of his years and brief experience at the bar, he was appointed justice of the peace and notary public, serving in that capacity for more than ten years. During the period of his public service as a justice of the peace, Judge Tanner enjoyed the confidence and esteem of all classes in the community. Justice, without fear or favor, could always be obtained in his court, and no one hesitated to carry their legal business before him. A thorough knowledge of human nature, and a quick intuitive perception of the motives influencing witnesses on the stand, enabled him in nearly every case to arrive at the truth of the issue before him. The respect of the community, and especially the business public, for his rulings, was based not only upon his legal qualifications but upon his stainless personal integrity. A high sense of honor characterized him in all his dealings both private and official, and no one ever charged him with injustice or viewed his conduct with suspicion. In 1888 Judge Tanner, having retired from his magisterial office, became the clerk of the superior court of Fulton county, to which position he was elected by a vote that emphasized his popularity in a very gratifying manner. By the exercise of the same zeal and fidelity that characterized him in the discharge of his duties as a magistrate he proved himself an acceptable clerk of the superior court, and he con- tinues to hold that office in the security of one who is conscious of having faithfully discharged his duty. Each year adds to his increasing popularity, and he will no doubt continue in office as long as he possesses the inclination to serve the county. For one term Judge Tanner served as a member of the city council, representing the first ward in the deliberations of that body. Imbued with a deep love of brother- hood, the spirit of fraternity is strongly developed in Judge Tanner'snature. He is intensely social in his disposition, and is a member of the Knights of Pythias, the brotherhood of Red Men, the Odd Fellows and the Masons. In each of these organizations he occupies a high stand and enjoys the esteem and respect of all his brethren. Judge Tanner was united in marriage in 1882 to Miss Annie E. Murphy, daughter of Mr. Anthony Murphy, of Atlanta, and has two promising boys, William and Henry. Genial, open-hearted, generous and faithful, the career of Judge Tanner has been one of unblemished usefulness, and his influence in the

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community is that of a man whose example, in every respect, is worthy of emulation.

OSEPH MERIWETHER TERRELL, the present attorney-general of J Georgia, was born in Meriwether county, Ga., June 6, 1861, in Greenville, a little village of seven or eight hundred inhabitants, where he has resided all his life, with the exception of five years-from 1876 to 1881 -- when he lived on a farm in the same county. His father, Dr. Joel E. G. Terrell, was born in Wilkes county, Ga., in 1834, and moved to Meriwether county with his parents when a child. He studied medicine in Greenville with Dr. J. W. Anthony, and was the first gradu- ate of the Atlanta Medical college. He is also a graduate of the Jefferson Medical college of Philadelphia. He practiced medicine in Greenville to the day of his death, Nov. 30, 1886. He was one of the most prominent physicians in that section of the state, and was stricken with paralysis while at the bedside of a patient and died the same day. He suffered from physical- disability, which prevented his acceptance for service in the late war. Joseph Meriwether Terrell's grandfather was David Meriwether Terrell, a native of Wilkes county, Ga., where he lived until after his marriage, when he moved to Meriwether county, where he died Nov. 29, 1882, aged over seventy years. David M. Terrell married first Miss Chapman, and they had two children, Dr. Joel and Ann. His second mar- riage was to Mrs. Russell, nee Boozer; they had one daughter. He was a soldier in the Confederate service during the late war, serving with the state troops as long as they were in the field. His father was Joel Terrell, who was born in Virginia and emigrated to Wilkes county, Ga., where he died, having been a farmer all his life. His wife was Frances Butler. Joseph M. Terrell's maternal great- grandmother was a Hamilton, of Scotch descent, and his maternal grand- mother was a Render, who belonged to one of the oldest and most prom- inent families of Meriwether county. Joseph Meriwether Terrell attended school up to the age of fourteen in Greenville, Ga., at which age he took charge of his father's farm, managing it for five years. He then studied law with Maj. John W. Park for a year and in February, 1882, was admitted to the bar by Judge S. W. Harris of the superior court of Coweta circuit. Since that time he has practiced his profession in Greenville, meeting with success from his initial effort. In 1884 Mr. Terrell was elected to the state legislature from Meriwether county, being the youngest member of the house. He was re-elected in 1886, defeated by the alliance wave in 1888, but was elected in 1890 to the state senate, defeating the alliance candidate after one of the most hotly contested campaigns ever held in the state, Mr. Terrell having not only to defeat his opponent in the convention but also in the election following. In 1892 Mr. Terrell was nominated and elected to the office of attorney-general for two years, and was re-elected in 1894. He first received the nomination for attorney-general by a two-thirds vote of the convention against the opposition of two prominent lawyers and was unanimously indorsed in 1894 by the democratic convention for re-election.

In 1884 he, while in the legislature, was a member of several important com- mittees: Judiciary, local bills, and temperance. In 1886 he was chairman of the committee on county affairs, and a member of the committee on judiciary. In 1890 while in the state senate he was made chairman of the finance committee, member of the committee on rules, of the judiciary committee, of the committee on congressional districts and committee on public schools. He is a member of the masonic fraternity and of the Baptist church. He was married Oct. 19, 1886, to Jessie Lee, daughter of Thomas Spivey, a native Georgian, now living in Texas. Mr. Terrell's mother was Sarah R., daughter of Dr. Anthony, his father's medical

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MEMOIRS OF GEORGIA.

preceptor. He is one of eight children, of whom two died in infancy and six survive -- five sons and one daughter. The eldest son, Dr. E. B. Terrell, is now practicing in Greenville. Another son, W. A. Terrell, is a farmer in Meriwether county. J. R. Terrell, another son, is a partner with his brother in the latter's office in Greenville. Dr. Henry W. Terrell, another son, is also a practicing phy- sician in Greenville. The only daughter is Annie L., wife of Hines Holt, Colum- bus, Ga. The Terrell family is of English descent and the name was originally spelled "Tyrell."

COL. L. M. TERRELL is a native of Indiana. He served as an officer of the Union army in the late war, and in 1869 entered the railway mail service as postal clerk between Louisville, Ky., and Nashville, Tenn. He was promoted to head clerk in 1870. In 1871 he was appointed a special agent of the postoffice department, and assigned to the duty of organizing the railway mail service of Texas. The following year he was transferred to Nashville in connection with the same service. In 1874 he was appointed superintendent of the fourth divi- sion, comprising the states of Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and the Carolinas, with headquarters at Chattanooga. His headquarters were inoved to Atlanta in 1876. He held that position until 1883, when he was trans- ferred and assigned to the superintendency of the third division, at Washington, D. C., where he remained for one year, when, at his own request, he was returned to the fourth division, with headquarters at Atlanta. He resigned this position April 1, 1887, and was reappointed April 1, 1889. In all he has served a period of over twenty-five years in the railway mail service. On Dec. 18, 1894, a banquet was tendered Mr. Terrell by his co-workers and the tributes that were paid this true and tried official, now gray in the service of his government, were eloquent, fervid and spontaneous, and the manner of their utterance clearly evinced the sincerity of their expression. The Atlanta "Constitution" of the following morn- ing, after narrating the honors paid Mr. Terrell, closes with this deserved compli- ment to the gentleman: "Col. Terrell is perhaps the best-informed man in the United States mail service to-day. He has lived his entire life practically in the service, has held offices from the humblest to the highest, and has enjoyed such experience as enables him to be a perfect master of the situation under any and all emergencies and conditions. He is a splendid disciplinarian, and with more than five hundred mail clerks under him as superintendent of the division, he has brought about one of the most perfect systems of railway mail service to be found in the United States. All of the men like Col. Terrell, and admire him for his strict business methods and for his personal magnetism as well. He has been gradually improving the mail service of the south for years past and receives, as he deserves, the unstinted praise of the public generally throughout the entire region of the country. Everybody feels like congratulating him upon the anni- versary of his twenty-fifth year in the service of Uncle Sam, for everybody in Atlanta and this section of the country feels gratitude for his untiring work looking to the perfection of the system which he has so signally accomplished." Col. Terrell is a gentleman of the highest order of intellect, is civil, uniformly accommodating, and is methodically industrious and accurate. He is beloved by all his subordinates and commands the respect of all with whom he is thrown in contact. Col. Terrell was married to Miss Mattie Bell Hammond, in Louisville, Ky., Sept. 15, 1874, she being a daughter of William Harvey and Virginia B. Hammond, of that city. Four children have blessed this happy union: French Jay, Lina Severson, W. H. H., and Norwood Lynch.

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FULTON COUNTY SKETCHES.

COL. LOVICK P. THOMAS, a prominent dealer in real estate and a citizen who has identified himself with Atlanta's prosperity and development, is a native Georgian, having been born in Clarke county, March 24, 1835. Here he passed his boyhood days, learning from the simplicity of his rural surround- ings the great truths taught by nature, which lend strength and fortitude to character. . At the age of fourteen years he began the study of text books and advanced rapidly, displaying a superior talent and ability. In 1851, Mr. Thomas, becoming imbued with the "gold fever" so prevalent among the young men of the south, and fascinated by the love of travel and adventure, left his native home and state, and in company with a number of friends embarked for California. The ship was an old-fashioned sailing-vessel and consumed much time in traversing the distance from Georgia's coast to the isthmus of Panama. Landing at this point the adventurers continued their march until they arrived at the city of Panama, and came in sight of the placid waters of the Pacific. Among the gold fields, along the rivers, in the mines, up and down the canon's he labored con- tinuously for four years with moderate success. Large "finds" were occasionally made, but the time elapsing between them served to depress the buoyancy of his hopes and discourage further efforts. Great privations and sufferings were en- dured and the exposure which the work necessarily entailed, tended to cause the undermining of health and strength. Consequently in 1855 he returned to Georgia, locating in Gwinnett county, and with the intention of making his western gains the nucleus of a fortune, opened a general store in Lawrenceville, and conducted it with profit until 1862. When the tocsin of war was sounded and the south rallied to the support of her honor and the assertion of her rights, Mr. Thomas, in the spirit of loyalty and justice raised a company of soldiers from the neighboring country, and drilled their awkward ignorance into order and discipline. Gov. Brown, in recognition of his martial ability, and the control possessed over his comrades, appointed him captain. The company, when ready for marching, was assigned to the Forty-second Georgia regiment and known as Company A. In the engagement at Resaca our subject commanded the entire regiment and in the deference of fortitude here displayed was promoted to major. As the war progressed his superiority became more thoroughly manifest, and a short time before the battle of Bentonville, N. C., he was made lieutenant-colonel

of the regiment. Col. Thomas remained in the war until its close and fought bravely in the following battles: Cumberland Gap, Tazewell, Tenn., the campaign around Vicksburg, lasting forty-seven days, including Baker's creek, Big Black and others; Missionary Ridge, Dalton, Ga .; Resaca, New Hope church, Kenne -- saw Mountain, the defense of Atlanta and fights in the adjoining vicinity; Jones- boro, Franklin and Nashville, Tenn .; Kingston, Goldsboro and Bentonville, N. C. Through them all he passed unscathed, except at Kennesaw Mountain, where he was slightly wounded by the explosion of a shell. During the siege of

Vicksburg the subject of this sketch was captured and held a prisoner within the

Federal lines for about one week. When the surrender of Gen. Lee's sword pronounced the cessation of hostilities, the forces of the south were disbanded and her cavaliers, with heavy hearts, returned to their desolate homes. Col. Thomas came to Atlanta with only a tattered uniform, his horse and twenty dollars

in gold. With these limited possessions, but a determination and indomitable

will that assured the triumph of ambition over the gloom of environment, he began anew the struggle of life. For twelve years succeeding: the close of the war our subject acted in the capacity of traveling salesman for a number of firms throughout the state with marked success, and in 1879 was honored by election to the office of chief of the Atlanta police force, which position he held for one

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term and then resigned to accept the office of deputy sheriff. In 1884 he was elected sheriff of the county of Fulton and as such served three consecutive terms. Since vacating this office he has been engaged in the real estate business in At- lanta. Col. Thomas' private life, as his public career, has been one of perfect felicity and happiness, yet seasons of sadness and grief have crept in to add melancholy to pleasure. He was first married in 1857 to Jennie J., daughter of W. J. Peeples, of Gwinnett county, Ga. She died in 1844, leaving seven children, of whom the following survive her: Lovick P., Jr .; Fannie J., wife of C. S. Winn; Walton L., and Eugene P. Afterward he was married again to Jeannette R. Payne (nee Wagnon), and by the last wife he has three children: Annie O., Alice L. and Edward L. Col. Thomas is now president of the Peachtree Park association, president of the Cotton States Building and Loan association and director of the United Confederate Veterans' association of Fulton county. He is considered one of Atlanta's founders-a pillar of this municipality, who has ever had the welfare of the city at heart, guided her faltering footsteps through the darkness of re- construction, and now that she has become the foremost metropolis in the south, he feels a pardonable pride in recalling his efforts toward the growth and unfolding of her greatness. Col. Thomas, as his record will attest, is a bona fide colonel. The title is no fancied or flattering appellation, for it was won on san- guine fields, and amid the silence of the bivouac. As an officer of the Confederate Veterans' association he is esteemed and loved. He has been prominent in every undertaking, for in the fulfillment of both public and private duties he has demonstrated remarkable versatility and force of character. As a solid, sub- stantial business man, a promoter of enterprise and thrift, a strong thinker, a cultured, chivalric gentleman and a valuable personal friend, Col. Thomas has impressed the community and the state.

I EWIS WIMBERLY THOMAS, solicitor of the criminal court of Atlanta, Ga., was born in Centerville, Talbot Co., Ga., April 22, 1851. His father moved to Whitfield county, Ga., about 1855. In 1866 he matriculated in Emory college, Oxford, Ga., of which his uncle, James R. Thomas, was at that time presi- dent. He continued a student here until 1867, and in December of that year ac- companied his father to Vacaville, Cal., where he attended the Pacific Methodist college. In this institution his uncle had been made president and his father professor of languages. He graduated from this institution, taking the degree of A. B. Later he entered the law office of Thomas & Pressley at Santa Rosa, Cal., remained for a few months and returned during December, 1873, to Sparta, Ga. His father's family removed back to Georgia in that year. Mr. Thomas went directly to the university of Georgia, graduated from the law depart- ment in June, 1874, taking both courses in one, with the degree of Bachelor of Laws, and afterward located in Athens, Ga. On Feb. 23, 1876, he was appointed solicitor of the county court of Clarke county by Gov. James M. Smith, for four years, when the court was dissolved and merged into the city court of Athens; he was appointed by Gov. A. H. Colquitt on Sept. 15, 1879, solicitor of that court for the same term, but resigned before its expiration and came to Atlanta in 1882 to continue the practice of law. In May, 1891, he was appointed solicitor of the city court of Atlanta by Gov. Northen, and when by an act of the legislature, changing this court to the criminal court of Atlanta, the act creating the court likewise made him solicitor of it. This occurred on Feb. 5, 1892. His term expires Feb. 23, 1896. He has been also admitted to the state supreme court, and the United States circuit and district courts. Mr. Thomas was married in March, 1882, in Savannah, Ga., to Georgia E., daughter of the late Andrew J. Miller, a

L. W. THOMAS.

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FULTON COUNTY SKETCHES.

native of Pennsylvania, and after coming south, a merchant in Savannah and Atlanta. Mr. Thomas is a member of the I. O. O. F., having been noble grand and steward in the First Methodist church of Atlanta. His father was a native of Hancock county, Ga. He was instructed by Dr. Beman, a distinguished scholar who taught at Mt. Zion, Hancock county, and afterward took a full course at Randolph-Macon college, Virginia. Here he graduated with high honors, and later took a course in medicine in Augusta, Ga., and Charleston, S. C. His fame as a physician extended throughout the southern states. He was a member of the secession convention, being elected as a co-operationist, but finally espoused the state's cause and changed his vote in the convention in favor of secession, believing his allegiance was first due to his state. He now resides in Sparta, Ga. Mr. Thomas' mother was Almira Narcissa Wimberly, daughter of Col. Lewis Wimberly, of Talbot county, who died some years ago. Before the war he was one of the wealthiest and most influential citizens in his county. Mr. Thomas is making a remarkable record as solicitor, one of the best who ever held the office. He is a strong advocate, an untiring worker, and a brainy lawyer, as well as a courteous, lovable gentleman. No member of the Atlanta bar is more worthily esteemed.

WILLIAM SYDNOR THOMSON, lawyer, Atlanta, Fulton Co., Ga., son of Warner A. and Frances (Sydnor) Thomson, was born at Summit Point, Jefferson Co., in what is now West Virginia, April 12, 1843. His father was a teacher, in connection with which he conducted a farm. His mother was a daughter of William Sydnor of Virginia. They raised five children, Mr. Thomson being the third. Besides himself, one only is living-John, in De Soto county, Fla. Mr. Thomson was raised on the farm and received a good common school education. When seventeen years of age he commenced teaching near his home; and in August, 1860, he went to east Tennessee and was engaged in teaching near Calhoun. In April, 1861, he returned to Virginia and enlisted in Company G, Second Virginia regiment, and served fifteen months. He then re-enlisted in Company B, Twelfth Virginia cavalry, and served with it as a private until the fall of 1863, when he was transferred to the Stewart Horse artillery, and served with it until the surrender, winning promotion to the rank of lieutenant and adjutant of the command. With his command he participated in many battles, among others the following: First Manassas, Kernstown, Port Republic and Cedar Mountain. After joining the cavalry he participated with his com- mand in a number of battles and skirmishes, among others was the battle at Brandy Station, June 9; that at Upperville, June 21, 1863, where he was wounded in the right leg, and at Warrenton Spring. For his gallant conduct at this battle he was promoted to the rank of sergeant of artillery, and assigned to Stewart's Horse artillery. Following this he was in the Wilderness and Valley campaigns, in the battle of Trevillian Station, and surrendered at Greensboro, N. C. After his surrender he returned to his Virginia home, where he remained until August, 1865, when he came to Marietta, Ga., where he taught as a private tutor, and studied law under George N. Lester, now dead, and was admitted to the bar in the fall of 1866. For a year afterward he engaged as law clerk with Col. Lester, and then was admitted to partnership with him. The firm practiced in Marietta until 1871, when its headquarters were removed to Atlanta, continuing the partnership until 1874. That year he entered into partnership with ex-Congressman Milton A. Candler, which still exists. In 1889 Mr. Thomson was elected attorney for the board of county commissioners, Fulton county, and was re-elected annually after- ward until 1895. He has been a member of the board of education seven years, I-60

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of which he is now the vice-president. Mr. Thomson was married Nov. 2, 1871, to Miss Nena, daughter of the late David Danner, of Knoxville, Tenn., formerly of Virginia. They have eight children living: Fannie, William D., Albert D., John D., Edith, Logan D., Adelaide and Mildred. He is a master Mason, and a member of the Methodist church, and is chairman of the board of stewards of Grace church, North Atlanta.

JUDGE HENRY B. TOMPKINS, of Atlanta, Ga., is a native of Barbour county, Ala., where he was born in 1845, the son of Henry M. and Henrietta (Bethune) Tompkins. After leaving the primary schools and entering the higher institu- tions of learning with the intention of completing his education, the outbreak of the civil war prevented further application to study and in consequence he enlisted in the Thirty-ninth Alabama regiment of Confederate infantry, commanded by Col. Henry D. Clayton, who is now president of the university of Alabama. Mr. Tompkins was appointed adjutant soon after joining this regiment, which served in the western division of the army under Gens. Bragg, Hood and Johnston, and by a signal display of bravery, and with a career that challenged his comrades, he was made captain of one of the companies and adjutant of the regiment. During the four years' conflict Mr. Tompkins was painfully wounded on three occasions: At Chickamauga, when Gen. Johnston was making a rapid retreat below Dallas, and in the battles around Atlanta. The last being a wound through the body, was inost serious in its nature, and rendered its victim too weak physically to resume command for many months. He, however, rejoined the company when able to walk and remained until the surrender in 1865. Mr. Tompkins at once took up the study of law, received the able instruction of D. M. Seals, of Clayton, Ala., was admitted to the bar and began practice in Alabama. From there he removed to Memphis, Tenn., and thence to Savannah, where for four years he sat on the superior court bench of Chatham county, retired at the expiration of the term and was re-elected in 1881, again resigning after a service of twelve months. He came to Augusta in 1883, and has since resided here. He is counsel, vice-president and general manager of the Sheffield and Birmingham Coal, Iron & Railway company. He is counsel for numerous additional corporations. Mr. Tompkins formed a partnership with Mr. Morris Brandon some years ago. It remains to-day Tompkins & Brandon. Judge Tompkins is an able practitioner, and a zealous laborer for his clients. He is a gentleman of social distinction and admirable qualities. He was married in February, 1882, to Miss Bessie Washington of Tennessee, who died in August, 1887. He was united in marriage again during 1893 to Miss Nora Palmer of Washington, Ga., a lady possessing beauty and mental attractions. Judge Tompkins' paternal ancestors were from old England stock, the guardians of the Lion Empire, who emigrated to America, locating in Virginia, but removed to South Carolina just previous to the revolutionary war.

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Memoirs of Georgia; containing historical accounts of the state's civil, military, industrial and professional interests, and personal sketches of many of its people. Vol. I, Part 139

Author: Publication date: 1859 Publisher: Atlanta, Ga., The Southern historicl association Number of Pages: 1294

Author:
Publication date: 1859
Publisher: Atlanta, Ga., The Southern historicl association
Number of Pages: 1294