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 149

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 149

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marriage with Miss Jane Dobbs, who has borne him two children-Newton T. and Mary L. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., and since boyhood has been a de- voted member of the Methodist church. Mrs. McElroy is a consistent member of the Baptist church.

TANDY K. MITCHELL, physician and surgeon, Lawrenceville, Gwinnett Co.,

Ga., son of Madison R. and Mary A. (Key) Mitchell, was born in Jackson county, Ga., Sept. 17, 1832. His grandfather, Thomas Mitchell, was a native of Virginia, who early in life and early in the present century, migrated to Georgia and settled in Clarke county. He became quite wealthy, and one of the most prominent and influential citizens, evidenced by the fact that for seventeen terms consecutively he was elected to represent the county of Clarke in the general assembly. He was a broad-minded man of liberal, progressive, statesmanlike views. He was an active and influential member of the committee which reported .favorably on the building of the Western & Atlantic (state) railway, and was its friend and advocate from its inception, and a stanch supporter of the railway pol- icy inaugurated by the state during his legislative service. Dr. Mitchell's father was born in Virginia in 1799, came to Georgia with the family when young, be- came a prosperous and wealthy planter, and died in 1858. He was a model citizen and was highly respected and esteemed. His mother was a daughter of Col. Tandy Key, a relative of Francis S. Key, the distinguished author of The Star-Spangled Banner. . Dr. Mitchell was reared on the plantation in Gwinnett county, in whose country schools he received his primary education, finishing at Athens, Ga., and Summerville, Ala. He then read medicine under Dr. Jesse Lowe, a leading physician in Lawrencevillle, and afterward attended lectures at the Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, from which he was graduated March 3, 1857. He immediately located in Lawrenceville, purchasing his old precep- tor's (Dr. Lowe's) office, fixtures and interest, and succeeded to his practice. He was succeeding admirably, but responding to the call for volunteers, he enlisted in 1861 in Company F, Twenty-fourth Georgia regiment-his company being the second one from Gwinnett county. Shortly after his enlistment he was appointed assistant surgeon, in which capacity he served until the close of the war. Of the 100 young men who formed his company and went into the service with him, he was the only one who was present at the surrender at Appomattox. He was present on twenty-one battlefields, including many of the most sanguinary of the unhappy conflict. It is safe to say that few, if any, of the medical staff of the army performed more arduous service or displayed more skill-certainly none were more faithful and attentive to the sick and wounded. After the war he returned to his home and resumed his practice, which at once assumed large proportions and severely taxed his time and strength. With a large and exacting local prac- tice, demanding care, he has urgent calls from adjoining counties, and oftentimes is away from home several days attending groups of patients remote from his office. Skillful, anxiously attentive and unusually sympathetic, he has been re- markably successful and gained great popularity. Although somewhat advanced in years he continues vigorous, and bids fair to live many years yet to dispense comfort and consolation and give relief to the sick and afflicted. Dr. Mitchell was married Nov. 15, 1866, to Miss A. W., daughter of Col. James P. Simmons, now deceased, then an eminent member of the Lawrenceville and western circuit bar. Seven children have blessed this union: James M., Lillian Mary, Thomas W., Annie E., Tandy K., Jr., Ida S., and Pearl. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. and a master Mason, and himself and wife are members of the Methodist church, his membership covering forty years.

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MOSES RICHARDSON. Of the citizens of Gwinnett county who have at- tained to honorable distinction through their own exertions, none are more deserving of mention than Dr. Moses Richardson, Norcross, Ga. He was born in Newton county in 1830, and was the son of Levi Richardson, a native of South Carolina. His father came to Georgia in 1817, bringing his "goods and chattels" in an ox-cart on wooden wheels, held together with wooden pins and hickory withes, the family walking most of the way, and settled in the woods in what is now Rockdale county. His father was a blacksmith and wood-worker, and fol- lowed it many years. He was a soldier in the last war with Great Britain, became quite prominent in his new home, and served as a justice of the peace twenty years. Dr. Richardson was raised on the farm, and his educational advantages were very limited, his schooling being such only as could be obtained at the primitive log school house of the locality and period. In 1852 he entered upon the study of medicine under the preceptorship of Dr. A. G. Hulsey, and overcoming the many disadvantages consequent upon his defective education, prepared himself for col- lege. In 1854-55 he attended lectures at Nashville, Tenn., and in 1856 graduated from the Philadelphia Jefferson Medical college. Locating at or near his present home he has remained there, growing in professional reputation all the time, and winning the love of the people. When he located the population was sparse, pub- lic roads few, poorly worked and hard to travel. He would sometimes have to respond to calls twenty-five miles distant, and be away from home several days at a time. In 1862 he organized Company H, Sixteenth Georgia regiment, of which he was made captain, and went to Richmond, Va. He was soon taken sick and had to resign and come home. Subsequently he received a medical appoint- ment, returned to the army and remained till the close of the war. Beginning with little education and without means, he has worked up until now, besides an ample fortune, he enjoys a professional reputation of rare excellence for ability and skill and the unlimited confidence of the people among whom he has spent his useful life. Dr. Richardson was married in 1856 to Miss Mary A. Carroll, by whom he has had two children: Clodissa, wife of P. F. Connley, and Virgil, who died at the age of seven years. He has been a member of the I. O. O. F., and is a master Mason, and served as master of his lodge for twelve or fifteen years. The doctor is an active and prominent member of the Baptist church and his wife is a devoted member of the Presbyterian church.

W.T. SMITH. The unfortunate war between the states developed thousands of cases of remarkable courage and endurance on both sides, in all arms, and in every grade of the army, but few if any surpass what is detailed in the follow- ing sketch. W. T. Smith, farmer, retired merchant, Buford, Gwinnett Co., Ga., son of G. I. and Martha L. (Palmer) Smith, was born in Butts county, Ga., in 1842. His father was a farmer, born in Georgia in 1821, and served a short time in the late civil war. His mother was born in Anderson district, S. C., and both of them have been members of the Methodist church fifty-four years. Mr. Smith was raised on the farin, and what little education he received was obtained at the old- time, oft-described, dirt-floor, log school house, at which so many others of Georgia's prominent men "graduated." In 1861 he enlisted in Company H-of which he was made first lieutenant-Sixteenth Georgia regiment, which was a part of Gen. Howell Cobb's command. He was soon afterward taken sick, relieved, and came home. On the recovery of his health, in 1862, he joined Capt. B. P. Weaver's company, Forty-second Georgia regiment, and for a time was orderly sergeant. He held this position until the battle of Tazewell, Tenn., after which he was promoted to a first lieutenancy. From this time forward he was in

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almost continuous active service, and was in some of the most obstinately con- tested battles of the war. The captain of his company being sick he was in command of it at Richmond and Perryville, Ky., Chickasaw Bayou, Baker's Creek, Big Black, and forty-eight days' siege at Vicksburg, where he surrendcred July 4, 1863. After being exchanged, his command became a part of Stephens' division and went to east Tennessee, and was in the movement on the extreme left of the division which held Gen. Hooker's forces in check all day at Missionary Ridge, finally inflicting on that famous Federal general his first defeat. Gen. Joseph E. Johnston assumed command of the army about this time, and went into quarters at a place known as Buzzard's Roost Gap. Right herc Lieut. Smith claims one of the greatest and grandest fights of the war occurred, for here his regiment whipped out a whole brigade and captured many prisoners. Flanked by Gen. Sherman, the Confederates were forced back to Resaca, during which movement his regiment lost 188 men. On one occasion at this time a friend of his, Dr. Hollingsworth, on entering a charge, told him he would be killed in that charge, and, sure enough, he was. Later, at the battle of New Hope Church, a Capt. McTear, of an artillery company, was wounded in the side, but lic after that took charge of a cannon and heroically fought the remainder of the day without giving an inch. The next noted engagements were Pumpkin Vine Creek and Kennesaw Mountain. Lieut. Smith was with Gen. Johnston from Chattanooga nearly to the Chattahoo- chee, and lost not a wagon or the wheel of onc, nor anything else. The next battle, he thinks, was one of the grandest of any he was in. It was the battle of Atlanta, July 22, 1864, and during the fight the command he was with captured a large number of Federals. When they discovered how few they had surrendered to they opened fire on their captors, but without effect, as they were overcome and whipped again. His next engagement was on the Sandtown road, afterward at Jonesboro, where two corps of the Confederates charged six corps of Union troops. He was named as commander of detail to convey women and children within Confederate lines when Gen. Sherman issued his order for all citizens of Atlanta to go north. This was the saddest scene of his life. He then went with the army to Tennessee, and was in the hard-fought, bloody battle at Franklin, after which he was commissioned a captain, and served as such during the war -- being the youngest captain in the service. In this desperate battle only two men in his company besides himself were unhurt. Going to Nashville Capt. Smith for the first time met "colored" troops. There were five charges made before 12 o'clock, on his command, with the result that the colored color-bearer was killed, and the colors presented to the regiment by the colored women of Murfreesboro were captured. This was one of the hardest fought battles his company had had. Near sundown on the second day one-third of it had surrendered. Gen. Stephen D. Lee, the corps commander, took a position on the pike about one mile in the rear of the last line, and displayed a heroism that covered him with glory. Eloquently and passionately he appealcd to his men to rally to him when the thrillingly suggestive scene was presented of twenty-five regimental colors, supported by about 200 battle-scarred veterans rallying around their brave commander. Capt. Smith reported with two men, saying they were ready to die with hini. It is not claiming too much to say that Stovall's brigade, with Clayton's division, saved the Confederate army at this time from irretrievable ruin. The morning after the battle of Nashville, Stovall's brigade formed at Devil's Gap, where they began to prepare for breakfast. While thus engaged a Federal cavalry force of 5,000 dashed down the pikc, and passing on either side of the cut gained the Confederate rear. The excitement occasioned by this movement had hardly subsided when a large column of cavalry, six abreast, came down the pike at a slow gait. It was

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thought to be Forrest's command, for, as they wore rubber coats they could not be identified. When they were near enough the commander was asked what troops they were, and they proved to be Federals. They were at once fired upon. Those not wounded quickly dropped from their horses and climbed up the moun- tain sides, leaving about 500 fine horses, which the Confederates "confis- cated." They then went to Franklin, where they were soon surrounded by 15,000 or 20,000 Federal troops. Clayton's division formed a square and received their onset. The Federals charged through the lines, but the Confederates refused to surrender. The fight continued through two days and three nights-half the Confederates being barefooted and snow on the ground. Before they extricated themselves a division of Federal cavalry charged down the pike upon them at Io o'clock at night, but they were repulsed with the loss of two stands of colors. Ascertaining that they were preparing for another assault, Gen. Lee ordered fires to be made at various distant points to deceive the enemy. As no attack was made it is presumed it had the intended effect. There were a spring and well near the pike where, when the fighting had ceased, the troops on both sides got water, and exchanged friendly greetings. Marching barcfooted through snow the Con- federates went to Kingston, and thence to Bentonville, where they fought their last battle in North Carolina. The last battle himself and command were in was at Bentonville, N. C., and there they surrendered during the negotiations at Greenes- boro, N. C. They then called on Gov. Vance and Gen. Beauregard, who made stirring speeches. After this they proceeded to High Point, where arms were stacked, and mules and horses were distributed among the Confederates; also money-one Mexican dollar to each soldier, and two to each commissioned officer. Capt. Smith was wounded at Atlanta in the leg just above the knee, and was captured at Franklin, but in a short time made his escape. He surrendered eleven men, and donated his $2 and his interest in the mules and wagons to them, and then all started on their way to Georgia. He taught school four months, and although in a good neighborhood, no one had money to pay for the schooling. The ladies proposed to pay him in jeans they had woven; but he being a single man accepted only enough to make a suit of clothes, and gave the remainder to his pupils. He then borrowed some money, and bidding farewell to all, left for Mexico. After a short stop there he went to Texas and tried for a clerkship. There were then but few railways and no large towns or cities. After spending all his money in a vain search for some honorable employment he came back to Georgia and told his wife he could find nothing to do. Responding to her question as to what he intended to do, he said he was going to be a "rail-splitter," as that was an industry not likely to be overcrowded. He settled in Titus county, Tex., and during the first three years split 50,000 rails, and fenced a large farm. In 1870 he was elected a justice of the peace and served four years, and in 1875 was elected tax recciver. serving two years. In 1876 he was elected to represent Titus county in the Texas legislature; and at the end of five years resigned and returned to Georgia on account of the bad health of his wife, and settled in Buford. He at once took an active part in every movement calculated to advance the prosperity and growth of the town. He has been either mayor or a member of the council nearly all the time. He has also been a member of the democratic executive committee ten years; and in 1888 was elected to represent Gwinnett county in the general assembly and served two terms-four years. He was one of the building committee who planned and built the Confederate Veterans' home, in which he has taken great interest. Capt. Smith is a man of extensive and varied information, generous and public-spirited, and possesses great independence and force of character; as a consequence he exercises a wide and strong influence, and I-64

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always for good. For thirteen years he has been one of the leading business men of Buford. In 1865 Capt. Smith was married to Miss Mary -- born in Decatur, De Kalb Co., Ga .- daughter of Robert and Mary (McGinness) Jones. Of the children born to them five are living: Lula, wife of J. D. Wallace; George E .; Anna, wife of W. C. Sweeney; James T., and Mary. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., and himself and wife are active and influential members of the Mis- sionary Baptist church.

JAMES W. WILSON, merchant-farmer, Ducula, Gwinnett Co., Ga., son of Thomas and Mary (Teague) Wilson, was born in South Carolina, Oct. 8, 1833. His paternal grandfather, Benjamin Wilson, was a native of Ireland, emigrated to this country when young, served as a soldier in the patriot army during the revolutionary war, and was a surveyor in South Carolina many years afterward. His father was born in that state in 1796, was reared a farmer, and followed farming all his life. In 1849 he came to Georgia and settled in Franklin county. His mother was a daughter of Robin and Elizabeth (Level) Teague. whose families were of the early settlers of Newberry district, S. C., of Scotch-Irish descent, and strict members of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Wilson was reared on the farm, and was educated at the historic dirt-floor log school house, with puncheon seats, stick-and-mud chimney, and holes in the side for windows, he going barefooted and his only garment a long cotton shirt. Having the misfortune to lose an eye, he had to leave school. He came to Georgia with the family in 1849, and soon afterward went to Alabama, where he remained four years. Returning from Alabama he came to Lawrenceville in 1854, and worked three years at the carriage- making business, afterward engaging in it on his own account. In 1861 he bought an interest in a mill which he operated during the war, under Gov. Brown's commis- sion detailing him to the service for the benefit of the soldiers' families. After the war he resumed his carriage building business, which he continued with success and profit until 1874, when he bought the farm on which he now lives. Having advanced ideas, and being practically progressive, he has been as successful in farming as in his other ventures, and has engaged in merchandising also. Begin- ning life without a dollar, and under serious disadvantages, Mr. Wilson has made a success of every undertaking, has accumulated a fine property, and attained to prominence and influence in the county. Socially, financially and as a citizen he ranks with the best and soundest. He takes great interest in education and in religious work, and has been a member of the board of trustees of Auburn college since its establishment. Mr. Wilson was married Dec. 8, 1859, to Miss Mattie, born in Gwinnett county, daughter of Levi and Temperance (Jones) Loveless, both natives of South Carolina, Mr. Loveless being a son of George and Liney (Timmons) Loveless. Seven children have blessed this union: Gippie, wife of George Craig; James, married Miss Calia B. Freeman; Adden, partner in business; Mattie T., wife of John G. Hood; Benjamin Julius, student at Auburn; Estelle, and Ada, deceased. Mr. Wilson is a master Mason, and himself and wife are active and influential members of the Presbyterian church.

WINN. There is not a name among those of the pioneer settlers of Gwinnett county more closely and creditably connected with its early history than that of Winn, one of whose worthiest scions and representatives is Samuel J. Winn, lawyer, Lawrenceville, Ga. He was the son of Richard Dickinson and Charlotte (Mitchell) Winn, and was born near Athens in 1837. His paternal grandfather, Elisha Winn, was born in Lunenburg county, Va., in June, 1777; came to Georgia and settled in what is now Gwinnett county in 1800. Land was then of little value, and he secured a large tract on which he cleared a farm and made a home.

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When the county was organized he gave a large tract, more than two hundred acres, on which to build the county seat-Lawrenceville-and ten acres for church and school purposes. To secure facilities for educating his increasing family he built a school house. He was elected one of the first justices of the inferior court, and held the office many years, and he represented the county in the general assem- bly continuously for seventeen years. The first session of the superior court for Gwinnett county was held in a barn of his-the largest and best in the county-the boards of which were fastened on with wooden pins made by hand. So far as one man can be said to have done so, he made the county. Col. Winn's father was born in what is now Gwinnett county in 1816. He grew to manhood on the farm, with educational advantages very limited-with none until his father built a house in which he was schooled, and in which, years afterward, the subject of this sketch finished his primary education. Later-while a young man-he acquired a literary taste, became a gifted writer, and wrote biographical sketches of many of the old settlers which are now in possession of the family. He was a remarkably handsome man, of impressive presence and superior intellectuality; an "old-line whig," very magnetic and popular, and exercised a strong influence in the county. In 1850-51 he represented the county in the general assembly, and for many years was a justice of the inferior court. In 1860 he was elected as an anti-secessionist of the convention which passed the ordinance of secession, which he reluctantly signed after persistent persuasion. In 1877 he was elected a mem- ber of the constitutional convention held that year. He was enterprising and progressive, and was actively instrumental in the establishment of the Cotton Manufacturing company, whose plant was burned down during the war. He was an enthusiastic Mason, and for very many years was worshipful master of the local lodge, and for the greater part of his life an influential member of the Methodist church. His estimable wife was a daughter of Thomas Mitchell, one of the most prominent citizens of Clarke county, Ga., and was an exemplary member of the Methodist church. (See sketch of Dr. Tandy K. Mitchell.) Col. Winn was reared on the farm, and educated at the schools in Lawrenceville. Later he attended Centenary institute in Summerfield, Ala. Subsequently he attended Emory college eighteen months, then the university of Georgia, after which he entered the office of Col. James P. Simmons-the same he now occupies-and began the study of law. He was admitted to the bar at the September term of Gwinnett superior court, 1858, and at once entered upon the practice of his profession, in which he was making excellent progress when the civil war began. He joined a body of troops organized as partisan rangers, with A. H. Hunt as colonel and F. M. Nix as lieuten- ant-colonel, and himself as major, which was assigned to the command of the famous raider, Gen. John H. Morgan, and participated in the great raid into Ken- tucky. In 1862 Col. Hunt was killed, and the rangers were reorganized as the Sixteenth battalion Georgia cavalry, under Lieut .- Col. Nix, with the subject of this sketch as major. The battalion was subsequently engaged in nearly all the cele- brated raids of that period of the war. Maj. Winn having been transferred to Gen. Kirby Smith's department, was authorized to organize another command, which he did, and it became the Thirteenth regiment Georgia cavalry, of which he was made colonel. After this he was a participant in many hard-fought battles. He was taken sick at Sharpsburg while engaged in the valley campaign under Gen. Early, and was returned to Staunton. After remaining there sick some time he was granted sixty days' furlough, and came home. On the expiration of his time he was ordered to Atlanta, where he organized a new force composed of cavalry soldiers cut off from their commands, and went to West Point and Columbus, Ga. With this force he was in command when the battle was fought there after Gen. Lee's surrender. On reaching Macon he heard of that event, but he refused to

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surrender and brought his men to Atlanta, thereby saving the men their horses and arms. He thus perfected a war record of activity, zeal, valor and faithful service which, to say the least of it, could hardly be surpassed for gallantry. On his return home he resumed the practice of his profession, in which he has continued, and secured a clientage of large value and volume, which is constantly increasing. In 1872 he was elected to represent the thirty-fourth senatorial district (the term then being four years) in the general assembly, discharging his duties with charac- teristic fidelity and great ability. He has since devoted himself exclusively to his profession. Col. Winn was married in 1859 to Miss Sallie, daughter of Col. James P. Simmons, and to them three children have been born: Estelle, deceased wife of C. H. Brand, lawyer, Lawrenceville; Eula, wife of E. H. Jordan, and Courtland S., lawyer, Atlanta. Col. Winn is an enthusiastic and active master Mason, and a prominent 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 149

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