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 151
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HALL COUNTY.
COL. ALLEN D. CANDLER, secretary of state. Few men have enjoyed in a higher degree the confidence of the people of this state than Col. Allen D. Candler. This confidence is inspired not only by his unsullied record in public life, but equally by the zeal, fidelity and wisdom which he has brought to the discharge of every duty imposed upon him by his fellow-citizens. Col. Candler is a native Georgian and was born in Lumpkin county, in this state, on Nov. 4,
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1834. This was four years prior to the removal of the Cherokee Indians from north Georgia. In 1838 the family moved from Lumpkin county and located in Franklin county. Here the subject of this sketch passed his boyhood in the vigorous life of the open fields, making the best of his time and opportunities, and laying the foundation of a strong and robust constitution. He remained here until his twenty-second year, having acquired the rudiments of a primary educa- tion from the common schools of the county. This, however, was not enough for a young man who thirsted for a higher knowledge than he could gain from elementary text books, and whose ambition had pictured to him broader and better fields than those which lay around him. Leaving his home in Franklin county he matriculated as a student in Mercer university, then located at Penfield, Ga. From this institution he was graduated in 1859 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Directly after the war he was honored by his alma mater with the degree of Master of Arts, one of the highest in the gift of the university. . Immediately after graduation the young applicant for life's substantial honors, flushed with the high expectations born of his college career, located in Jonesboro, Ga., and for two years engaged in the occupation of teaching school. In 1861, Georgia having seceded from the Union, the young preceptor exchanged his ferule for the musket and entered the Confederate army. He left Jonesboro in October, 1861, as a private in Company H, Thirty-fourth Georgia regiment. He served as a private, however, for only one month, becoming, at the expiration of this time, the first lieutenant of the company. In October, 1862, just one year from the time of his enlistment, he was promoted to the rank of captain. His courage as a soldier and his love for military life that were plainly evinced by his conduct on the field, clearly foreshadowed still higher honors for the young soldier. In May, 1864, he was commissioned lieutenant-colonel of the Fourth Georgia reserves, and in January, 1865, near the close of the war, he was made colonel of that regiment. In addition to a number of smaller engagements the subject of this sketch figured in the following battles: Bridgeport, Tenn., Richmond, Ky., Baker's Creek, Miss., siege of Vicksburg, Miss., Missionary Ridge, Resaca, Cassville, Kennesaw Mountain, siege and battles around Atlanta and Jonesboro. At several of these points occurred the severest engagements of the war. Col. Candler was slightly wounded at Kennesaw Mountain and lost his left eye at Jonesboro, Ga. After the war he returned to Jonesboro, having, as he expressed it, "one wife, one baby, one dollar, and one eye." He resumed his occupation as a school teacher and taught until 1870. Immediately after his return home he was honored by his fellow-citizens, in recognition of his gallant services in defense of Jonesboro, by receiving from them in 1866 the office of mayor for one year. In 1870 he moved to Gainesville, Ga., and entered the lumber business. This he carried on until 1882, being at the same time a general contractor. In 1879-80 he built the Gainesville, Jefferson & Southern railroad, sixty-five miles in length, running from Gainesville to Social Circle and passing through the town of Jefferson. Col. Candler is still the president of this road, having filled that office since the time of its completion. In addition to this road he also built as contractor in 1882 a portion of the Gaines- ville & Dahlonega railroad, twenty-six miles in length, and a street railroad for Gainesville in 1874. It thus appears that Col. Candler has been an important factor in the material development and upbuilding of northeast Georgia. In addition to this valuable service rendered the state as a builder of railroads, he held quite a number of political stations. In 1872 he was elected mayor of Gainesville, Ga., for one year, and was succeeded by his father, Daniel G. Candler, a veteran of three wars, several years deceased. In the fall of the same year he was elected as the representative of Hall county in the state legislature, and was
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twice re-elected. In 1877 he became a member of the state senate, and served for two years in that body. In 1882 he was nominated as the democratic candidate for congress in the Ninth district, and was triumphantly elected, defeating Hon. Emory Speer, in one of the most exciting political campaigns of the state. Mr. Speer had carried the district in two successive elections, in the last one receiving a majority of 4,000 votes as an independent candidate. The majority of Col. Candler over his brilliant opponent was 2,600. His career in congress was a fearless one and the district was faithfully represented. He was made chairman of the committee on education in the Fiftieth congress, and a member of the committees on banking and currency and mines and mining during his four terms. Col. Candler is a loyal member of the masonic fraternity, his name appearing on the roll of the Gainesville lodge, and also on that chapter. Before the close of the war, in January, 1864, Col. Candler married the daughter of the late Thomas J. Williams, a prominent planter of Jones county, Miss Eugenia T. Williams. Eleven children were the result of this union, ten of whoni are still living, six boys and four girls. The children are as follows: Eugenia, the wife of D. L. Wardroper of Lexington, Ky .; Florence, the wife of Wm. K. Ashford of Gainesville, Ga .; Marcus A .; Thomas C .; Hortense, the wife of F. K. Bunkley of Montgomery, Ala .; William D., John C., Victor Eugene, Annie and Benjamin Lee. In 1891, Col. Candler, after having served the district for several years in congress, retired to private life and entered again the lumber and contracting business at Gainesville, Ga. He continued successfully in this line of work until his appoint- ment as secretary of state by Gov. Northen, in May, 1894, to fill the unexpired term of Gen. Philip Cook. Last fall he was elected to the same office for the regular term of two years. Col. Candler during his connection with this office has shown a marked familiarity with public affairs, and is one of the best officials that has ever occupied that responsible position. He is a Georgian of whom the state is justly proud, having served faithfully in both the field and forum and always with an eye single to her glory.
MELVIN J. CHARLES, tax collector of Hall county, was born in Gilmore, Ga., in 1849, and is a son of William and Elizabeth Charles, both natives of Georgia. He was one of a family of seven children-four boys and three girls. John P., his eldest brother, died as a member of a Louisiana regiment at the siege of Vicks- burg. Harvey M. served in the army of Virginia, and was discharged for a disa- bility caused by a wound. The other brother, James, is deceased, and the sisters, Jane, Mary Ann and Adeline, are living. The mother of Mr. Charles died when he was six years old, and at an early age he was left to shift for himself. He helped the farmers for his board and clothes and managed to pick up a fair education from the common schools. At the age of twenty-three he was mar- ried to Sarah Pierce, a daughter of James and Permelia (Deal) Pierce. To this union have been born six children: Eva Lela, John, deceased, Emma, Lou Fletcher, Gertrude and Melrose. Mr. and Mrs. Charles and their oldest daugh- ter are members of the Baptist church. Mr. Charles is a member of the Flowery Branch lodge No. 212, F. and A. M., and of the I. O. O. F., Flowery Branch lodge No. 99. In 1892 he was elected to the office of tax collector and re-elected in 1894. He is a popular officer, and his administration has been eminently satisfactory to the people. He takes an active interest in politics, state and county, and is a stanch democrat.
FRANK TAYLOR DAVIE, merchant, Flowery Branch, was born Nov. 4, 1849, in Randolph county, Ala., and is the son of James Allen and Lucinda (Ham- ilton) Davie. The father was born in South Carolina in 1817, and after his mar-
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riage he went to Alabama and taught school in Randolph county. In 1872 he was a member of the state legislature of Arkansas and was either a county officer or in state positions the greater part of his life. He was the father of five children: Elizabeth, Frank, Jane, Juliet Eugenia and one infant, deceased. Mr. Davie died in 1881, and his wife died in February, 1893, aged seventy-eight years. Mr. Frank T. Davie spent his boyhood days in Gwinnett county, Ga., and is one of the self-made men of the state. At the age of eighteen years he had picked up a good education and then started in farming for himself. In 1874 he engaged in merchandising in Flowery Branch and has since conducted the business with such success that he is one of the leading business men of the county. In 1874 Mr. Davie married Augusta, daughter of Elisha Chamblee, a prominent citizen of Hall county. By this marriage three children have been born, one of whom, Adie, survives. The mother of these children died June 9, 1878, and Mr. Davis married for his second wife in October, 1883, Sarah E., daughter of John R. Medlock, of Norcross, Ga. To this marriage have been born three children: Frank, deceased, Carl Newman, and James Howard. Mr. and Mrs. Davie are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. Davie is district steward and one of the trustees. He is worthy master of Flowery Branch lodge No. 212, F. and A. M., and belongs to Flowery Branch lodge No. 99, I. O. O. F., of which he has filled all the chairs. He served as justice of the peace for twelve years and in 1888-89 was a member of the state legislature, serving on the committees on mines, banking and prisons. He is now a member of the board of county commissioners.
JOHN L. GAINES. One of Hall county's best farmers and a leading citizen is John Lilburn Gaines, of Flowery Branch. He was born Sept. 16, 1842, in Hall county, and here he has spent all his life. His father was Ira Gaines and his mother Nancy Hawkins, and they were the parents of eight children, four boys and four girls. Francis H., the oldest boy, was in Company D, Twenty- seventh Georgia infantry, and was killed at the second battle of Cold Harbor. William D. was in Company D, Twenty-seventh Georgia regiment, and was wounded at Sharpsburg and died at home from its effects. Henry W. T. was the third soldier of the family and is now a farmer in Hall county and runs a big set of mills. The father of these children died April 4, 1891, at the age of sev- enty-eight. His wife was born in 1815, and is still living, and is remarkably strong in health, as she is in mind. She is a member of the Baptist church, as was her husband during his lifetime. The subject of this memoir after the war and on reaching manhood began farming. He was elected justice of the peace for a number of years and in 1877 was elected sheriff of Hall county, and continuously elected for five terms. He then declined to be a candidate again, telling his friends that he had had more than his share. He was elected to the legislature for the terms 1892-93 and 1894-95, and served on the committees of prisons, agriculture, temperance and blind asylum of Macon. On Oct. 18, 1866, Mr. Gaines was married to Mary C., daughter of Pinckney D. Major, of Hall county. She was born in Georgia. Their marriage has been blessed with thir- teen children, viz: Nancy E., Marietta, Eugenia, Ira P., Robert L., Maggie M., John L., Joseph W., Grover C., Homer W., Ernest N. and Hubert H. Mr. and Mrs. Gaines are members of the Baptist church and Mr. Gaines is a member of the F. and A. M. Mr. Gaines owns a magnificent farm of 400 acres in a high state of cultivation, and is a man enjoying the esteem of all who are for- tunate enough to have his acquaintance. Mr. Gaines had the same blood in his veins that led his three brothers to volunteer for the country's cause, and he
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too served through the war with distinguished bravery. He was in all the battles with ex-Senator Colquitt, his superior officer. He was wounded four times at Seven Pines and was in the battles of Fort Fisher, when he was again wounded, and around Richmond and the siege of Petersburg. He was in the first engage- ment of the war, outside of Fort Sumter, and was in the last battle, fought after Lee had surrendered.
ROBERT E. GREEN, M. D. At the head of one of Georgia's prosperous manufacturing establishments is Dr. Robert E. Green, of Gainesville. He was born in Campbell (now Douglas) county, Ga., Sept. 29, 1846, and is the son of William E. and Mary (Stiles) Green. The parents of Dr. Green were natives of New Jersey, emigrating to Georgia in 1831, and settled on the line of Walton and Clarke counties. William E. Green and a Mr. Hopping built the High Shoals cotton mills, still running, and was engaged in the cotton manufacturing business all his life. He died in 1867 at the age of seventy-one. He was a man most highly respected for his integrity and high moral character. Dr. Rob- ert E. Green was educated in the common schools of Campbell county and schools of Atlanta. In 1864 he enlisted in a battery of artillery and entered the Confed- erate service, served to the end of the war and was paroled at the surrender. He then attended the university of Georgia at Athens. Upon his father's demise he took charge of his father's business, at the same time studying medicine. He then attended the Southern Medical college at Atlanta, from which he was grad- uated in 1869. He practiced his profession in Atlanta until 1870, when he moved to Gainesville. He continued to practice there for two years, when his health failing, he entered the lumber business with Col. A. D. Candler. After a part- nership of four years he withdrew and bought and operated the street railroad in Gainesville for eight years. He is now general manager, secretary and treas- urer of the Georgia Manufacturing company of Gainesville. He was mayor of Gainesville in 1879-80 and judge of the criminal court. He belongs to the Pres- byterian church, is a Mason and was at one time worshipful master of Lodge 219, at Gainesville. He was married in 1869 to Eveline E. Wilson, daughter of James H. Wilson, of Campbell county, by whom he has seven children living: R. E., Carrie A., M. Louise, Elizabeth, Emmett H., Evelyn and Albert Lamar.
GEN. JAMES LONGSTREET, of Gainesville, Ga., was born in Edgefield dis- trict, S. C., Jan. 8, 1821. His family removed to Alabama in 1831, and he was appointed from that state to the West Point Military academy, where he was graduated in 1842, and was assigned to the Fourth infantry. He was at Jefferson barracks, Mo., in 1842-44; on frontier duty at Natchitoches, La., in 1844- 45; in Texas, 1845-46, and in Mexico at the battles of Palo Alto, Resaca de la Palma, Monterey, Vera Cruz, Cerro Gordo, San Antonio, Churubusco and Moline del Rey. For gallant conduct in the two latter engagements he was brevetted captain and major, and had already been made first lieutenant Feb. 23, 1847; at the storming of Chapultepec, Sept. 8, 1847, he was severly wounded. He was chief commissary of the department of Texas, 1849-51, was commissioned cap- tain in December, 1852, and major and paymaster in July, 1858. In 1861 he resigned to join the Confederate army, of which he was immediately appointed brigadier-general, and won distinction in the first battle of Bull Run, where he prevented a large force of Federal troops from supporting McDowell's flank attack. On May 5, 1862, he made a brave stand at Williamsburg, where he was attacked by Heintzelman, Hooker and Karney, and held his ground sturdily until Hancock arrived to reinforce his opponents, when he was driven back. At
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the second battle of Bull Run he commanded the first corps of the army of north- ern Virginia, which came so promptly to the relief of Jackson when he was hard pressed by Pope's army, and by a determined flank charge decided the fortunes of the day. He led the right wing of the army of Northern Virginia at Gettys- burg, and tried to dissuade Lee from ordering the disastrous charge on the third day. When Lee retreated to Virginia Gen. Longstreet, with five brigades, was transferred to Tennessee under Bragg, and at Chickamauga held the left wing of the Confederate forces. He rejoined Lee early in 1864, and was so prominent in the battle of the Wilderness that he was wounded by the fire of his own troops. He was in the surrender at Appomattox, April 9, 1865. Throughout the army he was familiarly known as "Old Pete," and was considered the hardest fighter in the Confederate service. He also had the unbounded confidence of his troops, who were devoted to him, and the whole army felt thrilled with renewed vigor in the presence of the foe when it became known down the line that "Old Pete" was up. Gen. Longstreet took up his residence in New Orleans after the war and established the commercial house of Longstreet, Owens & Co. He was appointed surveyor of the port of New Orleans by President Grant, and was afterward supervisor of internal revenue in Louisiana, and postmaster at New Orleans. In 1880 he was sent as United States minister to Turkey by President Hayes and under Garfield he was United States marshal for the district of Georgia.
JOHN E. REDWINE, a prominent citizen of Gainesville, was born in Ran- dolph' county, N. C., June 3, 1823. When an infant his parents moved to Wilson county, Tenn. He is a son of William and Lucy (Cocker) Redwine. William Redwine was of German extraction and settled in Hall county in 1827. He was a devoted member of the Methodist church and a prosperous farmer and manufacturer of tobacco. He died in 1857 at the age of sixty-five. The early educational training of J. E. Redwine was obtained in the common schools of Hall county and a select school in the neighborhood, after which he attended the high school at Gainesville, graduating in 1842. He was then engaged in teaching school for two years, and in 1854 was elected clerk of the superior court of Hall county. This office he held for twelve years. During his time in the clerk's office he read law under Judge Hutchins, Sr. He practiced his profession for a few years, then, in October, 1866, began the publication of the Gainesville "Eagle," and continued in this work until May, 1884. He was elected to the first legislature under the present constitution of Georgia in 1878-79 and was again elected in 1882 and 1883. In both general assemblies he was a member of the committee on finance, and in the session of 1882-83 he was chairman of the committee on enrollment. In 1884 Mr. Redwine sold his paper, and during all this interven- ing time he has been interested in farming. In 1890 he was elected commissioner of roads and revenue and was elected chairman of the board and is still serving in that capacity. He is a member of the Methodist church, is a Mason, belonging to Gainesville lodge No. 219, F. and A. M., and was worshipful master of this lodge for twenty-five years. He is also P. D. G. M. and at present is district deputy of the state of Georgia. He was married in December, 1845, to Emeline Kerbow, daughter of Solomon Kerbow, of Jackson county, by whom he has seven children: Liman A., Elgivia E., Flavius W., Servilia R., William M., Sarah A. and John E., Jr.
C.C. SANDERS, merchant and banker. Gainesville, was born in Jackson county, Ga., in 1840, and is a son of Harris and Elizabeth (Smith) Sanders. Harris Sanders was a life-long member of the Baptist church, a prosperous farmer,
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and died in 1867 at the age of seventy-five. Mr. C. C. Sanders was educated in the schools of Jackson county and received military training at the Georgia military institute, from which place he was graduated in June, 1861. At the first call for volunteers, young Sanders, in August, 1861, enlisted as a private, and on reaching Atlanta he was elected lieutenant-colonel of the Twenty-fourth Georgia regiment. He was sent to the army of Virginia. under Gen. Lee, and was in the battle of Williamsburg and in the seven days' fight around Richmond, ending with the battle of Malvern Hill. In the battle of Fredericksburg Col. Sander's lost nearly one-third of his regiment and at Chancellorsville one-half of it. At the battle of South Mountain, Col. Sanders was placed in command of the brigade of 3,750 men. At the close of this hard-fought battle he had lost all but 1,725 of his brigade. At Sharpsburg the losses of his brigade were 58 per cent. according to the official reports. He was in the battles of Chickamauga and Knoxville, the Wilderness and Spottsylvania court house. Col. Sanders was captured three days before the surrender of Lee at Sailor's creek, and with Gen. Custin Lee and Gen. Ewell was sent to prison at Washington city. He was there during the exciting period of President Lincoln's assassination, when the lives of all prisoners were in deadly peril. He was transferred to Johnson's island in May, and reached home in September. Since the war Col. Sanders has been engaged in the mercantile and banking business. He was one of the Georgia commissioners to the world's fair at Chicago. He is a member of the Baptist church, and was married in 1871 to Miss Fannie Scarborough, daughter of Americus Scarborough, a leading citizen of Lee county. They have two children: Robert J. and Montine.
A. R. SMITH, clerk of the superior court, Gainesville, was born in Hall county, July 13, 1855. He is a son of Robert and Elinira (Roberts) Smith, of Scotch- Irish descent and natives of Georgia. Robert Smith was a brave soldier in the civil war, enlisting in the Confederate army, Company K, Sixty-fourth Georgia regiment volunteers, and serving two years, dying in 1864. A. R. Smith was educated in the common schools of Hall county, then entered Emory college at Oxford in 1883. After completing his education he was elected clerk of the superior court of Hall county in 1885. He has been re-elected for six successive terms and had the honor of obtaining the wonderful majority of 800 when he was elected in 1895. Mr. Smith has been chairman of the democratic congres- sional committee of Hall county. also that of the senatorial committee, and is now chairman of the county democracy. He is a member of the Methodist church and a master Mason. He was married in 1885 to Miss Sarah Palmour, daughter of Judge John D. Palmour of Dawson county. There have been three children: Mabel, Robert E. and Winifred.
PROF. A. W. VAN HOOSE, associate president of the Georgia Female sem- inary and conservatory of music, located at Gainesville, Ga., was born in Griffin, Spalding Co., Ga., Oct. 31, 1860. At an early age he removed with his parents to middle Tennessee, and his earlier education was acquired at the high school of Winchester, that state. Returning to Georgia in 1878, he taught a small country school near the city of Gainesville. Beginning with a total enroll- ment of five pupils, Prof. Van Hoose, during the three years of his principalship, so devoted himself to the work in hand that the large number of 150 pupils were in regular attendance when the school closed at the end of the last term of his administration. Subsequently he became a student at the university of Georgia at Athens, from which institution he was graduated with honor in 1882. After graduation he taught in the South Georgia Agricultural college, Thomasville, Ga.,
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the Howard college, Marion, Ala., and at the university of Georgia, Athens. In 1885 he was chosen president of the Gainesville college, Gainesville, Ga., retained that position one year and graduated one of the most promising classes which has ever gone out from that institution. During the summer of 1886 the prop- erty of the old Georgia Baptist Female seminary was about to be sold to satisfy various claims against it. Prof. Van Hoose saw, almost intuitively, the oppor- tunity of a lifetime to build a really great female college. He bought the property at private sale and at once set about to make it a magnificent school. His first opening was not auspicious, as only about twenty pupils were present; but noth- ing daunted, he continued the work, employing only the best teachers and the most modern methods, until to-day the institution he founded ranks among the most successful of the female colleges of the south. Much of the success of the school, he insists, is due to his parents, Rev. A. and Mrs. M. F. Van Hoose, and his estimable wife ( nee Miss Lucy E. Rucker, to whom he was united in marriage in August, 1887), who at all times and under all circumstances have given him their heartiest support. Feeling the need of assistance and capital, in 1893 Prof. Van Hoose sold a half interest in the school to Prof. Haywood J. Pearce.
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