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 145

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 145

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to Gen. Montgomery, with whom he fell at the battle of Quebec, thus connecting the Berriens with that well-known family. Maj. John Berrien's second wife was Williamana Moore. Their children were Dr. Richard McAllister Berrien, who married Elizabeth B. Deloney, of St. Mary's, Ga., about 1819; Martha, the only child of that marriage who still survives, married Dr. Hugh O'Keefe Nesbitt, of Augusta, Ga., who died in October, 1855. Their children: Robert Taylor Nesbitt, present commissioner of agriculture, who married Rebecca L. Saffold, eldest child of Dr. Thos. Saffold and Mary Harris, of Madison, Ga .; Eliza B., who married Dr. Bayard L. McIntosh, of Trenton, N. J., and Mary Eleanor, who first married Col. Thos. B. Brown, of Montgomery, Ala., and afterward Col. John Screven, of Savannah; one daughter, Lila McIntosh Screven, who married Samuel C. Atkinson, attorney-at-law at Brunswick. Col. Thos. M. Berrien mar- ried Virginia Pepper (nee Mabry), of Camden county, Ga. Weems Berrien married Miss Noble, of Rome, Ga. Julia married John Whitehead, of Jefferson county. Sarah married James Whitehead, of Jefferson county. Ruth married Samuel Dowse, of Burke county. Eliza married a Mr. Casey, of Columbia county. John MacPherson Berrien, son of Maj. John Berrien, and grandfather of our subject, was born at the residence of his paternal grandfather at Rocky Hill, near Princeton, N. J., Aug. 23, 1781. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Nicholas Anciaux, quartermaster-treasurer of the French Royal Deux Ponts regiment, whose commission, signed by Louis XVI. is now in the possession of Dr. Burroughs. Nicholas Anciaux was born on Frankfort-on-the-Main in Ger- many. His father was Chevalier DeWiltteiseno. The children by this marriage who survive him are Valeria G., who married Joseph Hallett Burroughs; Eliza A., who married Chancellor J. P. Carroll, of South Carolina; Wiltielmina married Henry Williams, of Savanna, Ga .; Louisa G. married Gen. Francis S. Bartow. Judge Berrien married a second time-Miss Sarah Hunter, of Savannah, Ga. The children of this marriage are Harriet, who married Theodore Cone; Sarah, who married Dr. A. J. Semmes, of New Orleans, La .; Catharine, who married Maj. Geo. W. Anderson, of Savannah, and L. Cecile, who married Miss Rosa Falligant, and is now living in Jacksonville, Fla .- the only son to bear his name. Judge John MacPherson Berrien, LL. D., graduated at Princeton college, and from this institute received his degree of bachelor of arts at the early age of fifteen. After serving as recorder of the city of Savannah and solicitor-general, he was elected state judge at twenty-nine years of age, and served ten years. He was elected state senator, and was United States senator 1825-1829; United States attorney-general 1829-1831, and a third time elected United States senator 1847- 1852. He declined the mission to England, which was offered him by President Jackson. (Commodore John M. Berrien, born in Georgia, and appointed from this state in the United States navy commandery, navy yard at Norfolk, 1865, was a member of this family). William Berrien Burroughs was born in Savannah, Ga., April 7, 1842, and is the son of Joseph H. and Valeria G. (Berrien) Burroughs. He is the seventh son in a family of ten children, only four of whom survive, the other three being Richard B., prominent physician in Jacksonville, Fla., and surgeon of the F. C. & P. R. R .; John W., a lawyer in Savannah, Ga., and Charles J., a physician and four years health officer of Jacksonville, Fla. William B. re- ceived his primary education in Savannah and entered Oglethorpe university, near Milledgeville, Ga., in 1859. At the breaking out of the war between the states he left college and joined the Randolph rangers as a private. This company, with others, formed the Seventh Georgia cavalry, and became a part of Gen. P. M. B. Young's brigade, Hampton's division, army of northern Virginia. He was made first sergeant of Company G of this regiment-going with it through

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the battle on Borden's plank road, Dinwiddie court house, Stony creek and other points, and received his parole at Appomattox. At the close of the war he studied medicine with Dr. R. D. Arnold, of Savannah, and graduated from Sa- vannah Medical college in March, 1867. He moved to Camden county, Ga., where he practiced his profession for fifteen years, doing a large and successful business, and accumulating quite a fortune. In 1881 he moved to Brunswick, Ga., and invested his money in real estate, bonds, shipping and other enterprises that were for the benefit and advancement of the city. He also opened a real estate and insurance office. He is to-day the oldest real estate and insurance agent in the city, and is recognized as an authority on all real estate matters. He has erected over 100 small cottages for home-seekers. As an evidence of the interest that he takes in the development of the section, as well as the confidence in which he is held by his fellow-citizens and business associates, we mention that he is a director in the National bank of Brunswick, and in the Brunswick Savings and Trust company; is a director in the board of trade and chairman of statistics; a director in the Kennon Cotton factory and a director in the Brunswick Foundry and Machine Manufacturing company. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias, and has been grand vice-chancellor of Georgia. He was appointed a delegate by Gov. W. J. Northen to the national Nicaragua convention which assembled at St. Louis in June, 1892, also to the national Nicaragua convention which assembled at New Orleans in 1893, and at each convention was elected executive committeeman for his state by the Georgia delegation. On Jan. 17, 1872, Dr. Burroughs married Miss Elizabeth P. W. Hazlehurst, eldest daughter of Maj. Leighton Wilson Hazlehurst, who married Miss Mary J. McNish, of Savannah, Ga. He was a large and successful rice planter on the Satillo river. Camden county, and had his summer seat at Waynesville, Ga. Dr. Burroughs has six children: Mary McNish, Lilla H., Josephine H., William B., Leighton H. and Mac H. Before closing this article we will mention some of the worthy members of this family who reside in the north, among whom was Stephen Bur- roughs, born in 1729, strictly a cold water man, and never sick a day in his life. About 1755 he planted the germ at Rocky Hill on the Pequonnock harbor, Conn., by starting his grist-mill and engaging in mercantile pursuits. It was he who planted the corner-stone of the now wealthy and growing city of Bridgeport, Conn. He was an active whig, and raised and equipped a military company called House- holders during the revolution, of which he was elected captain. He was for many years a justice of the peace and a representative in the general assembly, and owned the parish grist-mill called the Burroughs mill that stood where the Pequonnock woolen mills now stand. He invented the system of Federal money as now used in the United States, which was adopted by congress in 1790. Up to that time all business was done under the old English system of pounds, shil- lings, pence and farthings, two of which last-named made a copper, and four of which made a penny. After completing his system he carried it to the Hon. William Samuel Johnson, who, impressed with its simplicity and great con- venience, caused it to be brought before congress in 1784, when he was a member of that body, where it was considered, but nothing done at that time except an enactment under which Connecticut and Massachusetts began in 1785 to coin copper cents, for many years denominated copper pennies. In 1792 the dollar was made the unit in money, and its coinage established by law. He was quite proficient in astronomy and was blind for twenty years before his death. He was buried at Bridgeport, Conn. Upon his tombstone is inscribed this epitaph: "Stephen Burroughs, Esq. A man distinguished by his industry and his talents and acquirements. Self-taught and original, he explored the vast field of mathe-

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matical and astronomical science beyond all the efforts of a Cassini or a Newton, and made discoveries of the most useful and astonishing nature. But in conse- quence of his blindness his discoveries are lost to the world. He died Aug. 2, 1817, aged eighty-eight." From lecture of Rev. Samuel Orcutt, historian, deliv- ered before the Fairfield County Historical society, Capt. Stephen Burroughs and His Times.

M. M. BUSH, Brunswick, Glynn Co., Ga., is a large and prosperous manufac- turer of tools used in the turpentine industry. He is a son of John and Malcy (Russ) Bush, born respectively in Duplin and Bladen counties, N. C., and was born in Bladen county, N. C., Feb. II, 1842. His father followed farming and merchandising until he died, at seventy years of age, and his wife died when about sixty-five years old. Mr. Bush's grandfather was of Irish, and his grand- mother of German descent. The Bush family, as far back as they can be traced, were farmers and merchants. Mr. Bush enlisted June II, 1861, and was cap- tured at the fall of Roanoke island. He was sent home on parole. After remaining at home six months he re-enlisted, was made a non-commissioned officer, and in 1864 had the misfortune to be captured again at Cold Harbor, Va. This time he was sent first to Point Lookout, and afterward to Palmyra, N. Y., where he was kept in captivity until the close of the war. He was twenty- eight years of age when he started to see what the world had in store for him, and he has already found much that it had. He is now industriously and energetically working for the larger remainder he feels encouraged to hope and work for. And he has many willing friends lending him their aid. He now owns a one- third interest in an eighty-acre tract of Florida orange land, twenty-eight acres in grove, fifty unplanted; a one-fourth interest in a $40,000 wharf property, a steam tug (the "Amanda"), a small plantation in North Carolina, and a fine home residence in Brunswick. Mr. Bush was married in 1882 to Miss Georgia, daugh- ter of Malcolm McCrae, who bore him one child, when she died. In 1892 he married Miss Jackie, a daughter of John Brown, of Atlanta, by whom he has had two children, twins: Robert M. and Edna. Mr. Bush is a master Mason, and himself and Mrs. Bush are Methodists, he being one of the stewards of the church.

HON. A. J. CROVATT, Brunswick, Glynn Co., Ga., judge of the county court of Glynn county, is a son of William and Theodora (Williams) Crovatt, and was born in Charleston, S. C., June 23, 1857. His father was a son of Gibbs Crovatt, of Charleston, whose wife was Miss Rebecca Frazier. Judge Crovatt was educated at the high school, Charleston, at Charleston college, and also at the Carolina Military institute, from which last-named institution he graduated in 1877. At college he was a member of the S. A. E. fraternity, and took a very active and prominent part in the exercises of the literary society to which he belonged, and of which for some time he was president. While at college he began the study of law, which after graduating he continued under A. J. Smith. After being admitted to the bar he formed a partnership with G. B. Mabry, the then solicitor- general, and who, later, was judge of the Brunswick circuit court. Dissolving this partnership he practiced alone a few years; then in 1883 he entered into partnership with Judge Bolling Whitfield, which is still in existence. Judge Crovatt was mayor of Brunswick in 1883 and 1884; and the last year, though opposed by the most popular man in the city, was re-elected by a handsome majority. On the expiration of his second term he was importuned to accept the mayoralty again, but preferring the county judgeship, he declined. As mayor he was progressive and aggressive, ever alive and on the alert to push to con-

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summation every movement and improvement he believed would advance the interests of the city. His services as mayor were invaluable. Among the many things accomplished were: The sinking of two artesian wells, whose value to the city cannot be over-estimated; the reorganization and increased efficiency of the police force; the building of brick guard and engine room; and the improve- ment of the park. As mayor Judge Crovatt originated and perfected the gas and water contracts and was largely instrumental in securing the location of the Brunswick & Western railway shops at Brunswick. Judge Crovatt as county solicitor, and the firm of Crovatt & Whitfield as city attorneys, have made brilliant records for themselves in their management of cases; and as practitioners in the city, county, state and United States courts their clientage has been large and is increasing-they having been eminently successful. Judge Crovatt has been chairman of the county democratic executive committee, and has represented the county in senatorial, congressional and gubernatorial conventions. As an attorney Judge Crovatt already ranks very high, and he is rapidly rising in reputation. As a man of affairs he has few equals-no superiors-and no citizen has a stronger hold on the confidence of the people in regard to general soundness of judgment, unswerving integrity, firmness of purpose and character, and high sense of honor in the matter of personal and public obligations. He is a born politician. Added to extreme boldness, undaunted courage, and an almost reck- less aggressiveness, are an intuition and seemingly unerring judgment, that make him irresistible and invincible as a leader in a political contest. With such a splendid record as his career so far presents, and with abilities and characteristics such as he is acknowledged to possess, almost any position, private or public, he may desire or aspire to would seem to be assured him. Judge Crovatt was married in 1880 to Miss Mary Lee, a daughter of Charles L. and Frances Schlatter, a union which has been blessed with three children: William Cecil, Alfred Hayne, and Mary Lee. Judge and Mrs. Crovatt are members of St. Mark's Protestant Episcopal church, of which he has been vestryman. The judge is a Knight of Pythias, a member of the I. O. O. F., and of the Legion of Honor.

HORACE DART, ordinary of Glynn county, Ga., son of. Urbanus and Eliza R. (Moore) Dart, was born in Brunswick, Ga., April 17, 1837. His grandfather, Cyrus Dart, of English descent, a native of Connecticut, came south when a young man, and was connected with the army as a physician during the Creek Indian war. He was stationed for awhile at Colerain on St. Mary's river. He lived a short time on St. Simon's island, and afterward settled in Brunswick. He was drowned by the capsizing of a boat, on which occasion his son, Urbanus, then an eight-year-old boy, saved himself by swimming to St. Simon's island beach. Urbanus Dart, son of the above and father of Horace, was born in a block house at Colerain, on St. Mary's river, and came with his parents when quite young to Brunswick, which was afterward his home. He served the county as sheriff, represented it in the general assembly several terms, and was a member of the first constitutional convention held after the war. Horace Dart began life as a poor man, but subsequently inherited property from his father (Urbanus') estate, which with his own handsome accumulations insures him a competency at least. In 1861 he enlisted for a short time in the Brunswick rifles, of which he had previously been a member for a short time; but later he enlisted for the war. Being disabled by a wound received at Fredericksburg, he was assigned to hospital duty. In 1865 he was elected tax receiver and served two years. He was afterward elected sheriff to serve an unexpired term and also served a term as deputy-sheriff. After this he was elected ordinary to fill an unexpired term;

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and at the ensuing regular election he was elected for the full term, not yet expired. In addition to a large landed estate Mr. Dart is largely interested in the following named water craft: Two stanch tug boats, the "Urbanus Dart" and the "Daunt- less"-the last-named a very superior boat which cost $30,000, and can easily make from twelve to fifteen miles an hour; and two passenger boats, the "Pope Catlin" and the "Egmont." Mr. Dart was married Aug. 17, 1863, to Miss Harriet E. W. Ashcraft, born in Newnan, Ga., by whom he had seven children, three of whom are living. Mrs. Dart is a member of the Presbyterian church.

F M. DART, merchant, Brunswick, Glynn Co., Ga., son of Edgar C. P. and Ellen M. (Moore) Dart, natives of Brunswick, was born March 8, 1857. E. C. P. Dart was a son of Cyrus Dart, one of the early settlers, and was a lawyer by profession. He at one time held the office of justice of the peace, and was clerk of the superior court for more than ten years, which covered the period of the "war between the states." His services in this capacity were invaluable, as he kept strict and vigilant guard over the record books and court documents, trans- porting them from place to place for safe keeping, performed all clerical work required, and at the close of the war delivered the same intact without a cent of charge to the county. Since the war he has filled the office of ordinary and was succeeded by his nephew, Horace Dart, the present incumbent. E. M. Dart started in life a poor man but has managed so well as to have established a fine mercantile business and attained to an influential position in the commercial world, having in the meantime rendered timely and valuable assistance to his father during the panic of 1873. Combining prudence with enterprise, he is sure of splendid success. He is a member of the First Methodist church at Brunswick, and succeeded his father on the board of trustees.

J. E. DU BIGNON, capitalist and banker, Brunswick, Glynn Co., Ga., is a son of Joseph and Felicite (Riffault) du Bignon, natives respectively of Jekyl island and Bordeaux, France, and was born in Brunswick, Jan. 2, 1849. The family is one of the oldest and one among the wealthiest in southeastern Georgia. Mr. DuBignon's great-grandfather, of the royal navy of France, became the owner of Jekyl island in 1791. His grandson, Joseph, Mr. DuBignon's father, was an extensive cotton planter and a man of wealth and influence. This island of Jekyl, so called by Gen. Oglethorpe, after his friend Sir- Joseph Jekyl, an eminent English statesman, is a beautiful spot about eleven miles long, and contains about twenty-two square miles. In 1885 Mr. DuBignon had acquired the interests of the family and had become the sole owner of the island, where he organized the famous "Jekyl Island Club," which includes in its membership many of the wealthi- iest and most prominent business and professional men and capitalists in the - north and west, and is the largest out-of-home club in the world. Mr. DuBignon was elected alderman of the city of Brunswick in 1876 and re-elected continually until 1880; was on the finance committee and took an active part in the adjustment of the bond question and in everything relating to the city's interests. In Decem- ber, 1893, he was again elected a member of the board of aldermen and was placed on the finance and other committees. The estimation in which Mr. DuBignon is held financially and socially is best evidenced by the many prominent and honorable as well as responsible positions he has been called upon to fill. He is president of the Cumberland route, Brunswick & South Atlantic company; president of the Brunswick club; vice-president of the Brunswick Title Guarantee and Loan company; a director and member of the finance committee of the Brunswick Saving and Trust company; in the Brunswick Foundry and Manu-

JE du Rignon 1

Thomasu, Lawy

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facturing company; and in the St. Simon's Transit company; and is principal owner of the magnificent Oglethorpe hotel property. He also owns a fifth interest in the Brunswick Street railroad, and is principal owner of the Brunswick & Altamaha canal property. He was a member of the committee having in charge the extensive sewerage system adopted by the city, and as such took a lively interest in the work, and a prominent and very active part in furthering it, and was largely instrumental in the successful accomplishment of this great, important movement. He is largely interested in many enterprises, public and private, which shows his absolute faith in the future of Brunswick, as well as the confidence of the people in his ability as a general business man and financier. Mr. DuBignon was married in 1876 to Frances, eldest daughter of Col. Charles L. Schlatter, an accomplished and eminent civil engineer, who in early life was chief engineer of the state of Pennsylvania and of the Ogdensburg railroad of New York, etc. Col. Schlatter came to Georgia on account of failing health, requiring a mild climate, and became deeply interested in Brunswick; and to him belongs the credit of originating and organizing the Brunswick & Albany (now Brunswick & Western) railroad. Mr. and Mrs. DuBignon have one daughter. They are members of the Protestant Episcopal church.

JOHN P. HARVEY, deceased, son of John P. and Charlotte (Gardner) Harvey, both of English descent, and natives of Baker county, Ga., was born in Lumpkin, Stewart Co., Ga., Dec. 25, 1844. His father went to Macon soon after his birth, where he was engaged in mercantile business until he died. His mother died in 1874, aged sixty-one years. Mr. Harvey was educated in the city schools, Macon, Ga., and later in life learned the trade of cabinet maker. In 1861 he enlisted in Jackson artillery of Macon, with which he remained six months, and was mustered out. He immediately re-enlisted in Capt. T. J. Holt's cavalry company, and a year later was transferred to Anderson's artillery company of Pulaski county, which he remained with until near the close of the war; owing to poor health he was sent to the hospital at Macon. After the war he worked awhile at his trade, and then went into a railroad shop as foreman, holding the position eighteen years. Resigning, he became a contractor and builder in Brunswick, but about 1889 re-entered the railway service in the same capacity as before. In 1891 he was elected to the office of sanitary superintendent of Brunswick, and held it until his death. A notable tribute to his worth and general efficiency as a public officer is the fact of his holding the office of alderman of the city for twelve successive years, his service ending in 1888. Mr. Harvey was married to Miss Jane Kendrick, Sept. 16, 1863, who has borne him nine children, six of whom are living: Henry H., Nina (Mrs. Bryant), Estelle, Annetta, Annabelle and Ada. Mr. Harvey was a Knight of Pythias and master of ex- chequer of his lodge until he declined re-election. Mr. Harvey died Nov. 12, 1894, lamented by a large circle of friends. Mrs. Harvey and her daughters are members of the Methodist church.

THOMAS W. LAMB, collector of customs, Brunswick, Ga., of Scotch-Irish descent on the father's side, and son of Burrill and Matilda (Bunkley) Lamb, was born on Cumberland island, Camden Co., Ga., Sept. 7. 1847. Both parents were natives of Glynn county and belonged to a family among the oldest in the state. His father died in 1881 aged sixty-eight years. His mother, a daughter of Thomas P. Bunkley, died in Brunswick, Jan. 11, 1895, aged seventy-six years. Mr. Lamb was educated at Glynn county academy, and this limited education constituted his capital, as he began life a poor man. What he has, both of property and official reputation, has been acquired since the war, by honest toil, industry

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and business ability. In the spring of 1862, a mere youth, he enlisted in Capt. McMiller's company, Fourth Georgia cavalry, was promoted to second sergeant, served through the entire war, and surrendered with his command at its close. Since the war he has been called to fill many and varied offices, state and Federal, than which no better evidence could be given of his integrity, faithfulness and efficiency. He has served Glynn county as sheriff six years, represented the county two terms in the house, and the senatorial district one term in the general assembly of the state, was mayor of Brunswick in 1892 and 1893, the last year during the yellow fever epidemic when he bravely remained at his post of duty, and in January, 1894, was appointed collector of customs for the port of Bruns- wick, Ga., by President Cleveland. Mayor Lamb passed through two yellow fever epidemics, one in 1876, when he had the fever himself, and the other in 1893, exhibiting a moral courage and self-sacrificing spirit rarely equaled. Mr. Lamb has a fine plantation, 1,000 acres, and a number of fine city lots. He was married in 1866 to Miss Laura B. Kendrick, by whom he had eight children, all of whom are living. Mrs. Lamb died in 1889, and Mr. Lamb was married again, Feb. 7, 1893, to Miss Sarah C. Pyles. Mrs. Lamb is a member of the Methodist church.

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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 145

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