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 155

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 155

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

JAMES F. GARNER, contractor, Draketown, Haralson Co., Ga., son of William and Betsy Garner, was born in Paulding county, Aug. 30, 1845. His parents came in an ox-cart from South Carolina to Georgia, and settled in Gwinnett county. In. 1843 his parents moved to Paulding county, where they lived until they died. Mr. Garner was reared mainly in Paulding county, and received no education but

1045

HARALSON COUNTY SKETCHES.

what could be obtained at the common country schools, and started in life very poor. His service during the war was confined to making fusion caps at Atlanta for the Confederate government. While farming has been his principal pursuit-his life reliance-he has been engaged in contracting, and is now the leading and most extensive contractor in that part of the state. He has made money and is now financially strong. Faithful work, honest compliance with the terms of his con- tracts, and uprightness of character have had their reward. Mr. Garner was mar- ried July 13, 1865, to Miss Caroline Waldrop, born in November, 1845, daughter of T. G. and Sallie Waldrop, of Haralson county. To them have been born ten children: William Joseph, James Mansel, Sarah Elizabeth, George Washington, John Franklin, Mollie, deceased, Amanda, Adelia Mary, Alice, and Azilphia Caro- line.

WILLIAM GAULDING, physician, Waco, Haralson Co., Ga., son of John and Jane Gaulding, was born in Oglethorpe county, Ga., April 15, 1833. His parents subsequently removed to Troup county, where he was reared and received the very indifferent education he started in life with. Having more fully educated himself and studied medicine, he attended Georgia Medical college, Augusta, from which he graduated in 1856, and immediately afterward located at Haralsonville, Troup county. After remaining there twenty years, and establish- ing a very large and remunerative practice, he removed, in 1876, to Carroll county, where he remained until December, 1893, adding to his reputation as one of the most skillful and successful physicians in that part of the state. At the last-named date he moved to Waco, where he is still actively practicing his profession, enjoying the unreserved confidence of a large and still increasing constituency. He was postmaster a number of years at Haralsonville, conducted a drug store at Carroll- ton and Waco, and engaged extensively in farming during his professional life, and has accumulated a quite large estate. Dr. Gaulding was married May 6, 1856, to Miss Amanda R., daughter of R. W. and Elizabeth Brown, a union which has been blessed with eleven children: Aldora, Lizzie Love, Henry Valentine, Benjamin Holmes, deceased, Lizzie Thomas, J. W., Odessa, Seaborn May, Exar, deceased, Clyde Speer, and Luella, deceased. Dr. Gaulding was originally an "old-line" whig, and voted against secession, but is now affiliated with the populists. He is a master Mason, and himself and wife are prominent and influential members of the Methodist church.

W.F. GOLDIN, physician and surgeon, Draketown, Haralson Co., Ga., son of Seaborn and Sarah Goldin, was born in what is now Haralson county, near where he now lives, Feb. 6, 1851. His father was born in what is now Walton county, Ga., in 1817, and his mother was born in the same locality. His parents moved from Walton to Paulding county in 1844, and settled on a tract of land, which he subsequently converted into a fruit and nursery farm. Dr. Goldin's educational advantages during his boyhood and youth were of the most limited and indifferent sort; but after he attained manhood he attended the Tallapoosa, Ga., high school, where he acquired a very good education. He then read medi- cine, and under a temporary license practiced awhile. In 1875 he entered Atlanta Medical college, from which he was graduated in 1877, and located in Draketown. In 1888 Dr. Goldin went to London, England, and took a special course in surgery in the London medical colleges, and has since built up a large and very remunera- tive practice. He stands at the head of his profession in that part of the state, is very popular, and is steadily growing in reputation. In addition to his practice Dr. Goldin conducts a general merchandise store and is engaged in saw-milling. He not only excels in his profession, but is regarded as possessing superior

1046

MEMOIRS OF GEORGIA.

business and financiering ability. In 1890 he was elected to represent the Thirty- eighth senatorial district in the general assembly, and established a reputation as a wise and able legislator.' Dr. Goldin was married in 1878 to Miss Sarah Louisiana, daughter of Dr. R. B. and Sarah Hutcheson, and to them six children have been born: Grover Cleveland, Sarah Effie, Robert Battey, John Maddox and Arlina and Cora Glenn, the two last deceased. Dr. Goldin is a master Mason, and himself and family are very prominent menibers of the Missionary Baptist church.

GEORGE R. HAMILTON, merchant-farmer, Breman, Haralson Co., Ga., son of John L. and Marguerite (Reid) Hamilton, was born in Carroll county, Ga., Sept. 6, 1830. His father was a son of Archibald Hamilton, and was born in Abbeville district, S. C., March 10, 1800, was a poor man, and came to Georgia on a wagon in 1812, and settled in what is now Gwinnett county, and in 1829 imoved to Carroll county. He was a volunteer in the company of Capt. Waguons, which accompanied the Indians as a guard on their removal from Georgia. Mr. Hamilton's maternal grandfather was George Reid. Mr. Hamilton received only the very limited and indifferent education obtainable at that time and locality, and began life for himself as a farmer on rented land. In 1856 he was elected ordinary of the county, serving efficiently and acceptably, and just before the war was appointed postmaster at Buchanan. His only experience during the war was in capturing deserters near Bowdon in Carroll county. He is still conducting his farm, and in addition is keeping a general merchandise store at Breman. He is one of the oldest settlers in Haralson county, popular, and has been very success- ful. He has never married.

ROBERT B. HITCHCOCK, farmer and saw-mill man, Buchanan, Haralson Co., Ga., son of J. C. and Martha (Jenkins) Hitchcock, was born in Polk county, Ga., in 1862. His father was the son of J. C. Hitchcock, a farmer, and was born near Rockmart, Polk Co., Ga., and raised and educated there. He enlisted as a soldier in the late "unpleasantness," but as he belonged to the home guards, was in no battle. His mother was also born in Polk county. Mr. Hitchcock's boyhood was passed during the most trying period of our history, and he was deprived almost entirely of educational advantages-teachers scarce and not the best, and school houses inconvenient and uncomfortable. He came to Haralson county when seventeen years old, in 1879, and began the battle of life moneyless, among strangers. He farmed successfully for some years, saved money, and then engaged in saw-milling with the best of success. He is prosperous and has become financially strong; and is justly regarded as one of the rising young men of the county. Mr. Hitchcock was married July 6, 1888, to Miss Mellie, daughter of William and Mary Summerville, Polk county, to whom three children have been born: Israel Columbia, Robert Simpson and Selina Christine. Mr. Hitchcock is a master Mason.

JAMES R. HEAD, farmer, Tallapoosa, Haralson Co., Ga., son of D. B. and Harriet Head, was born in Baldwin county, Ga., Sept. 12, 1823. His grand- father and grandmother on his father's side were born in Virginia, his grand- father, James Head, coming to Georgia just before the revolutionary war. Mr. Head's father was reared a farmer, but in 1837 he engaged in merchandising, which he continued until 1842, when he returned to the farm. In the meantime he studied medicine and in 1845 entered upon the practice, which he successfully followed until his death, which occurred in 1887, and was occasioned by a fall from a wagon near Gadsden, Ala. Mr. Head was reared in Fayette county, Ga.,

1047

HARALSON COUNTY SKETCHES.

until he was thirteen years of age (1836), when his parents moved to Carroll county. His education was limited to what was obtainable at the common country schools within the brief time then allowed farmers' boys. Mr. Head enlisted in a company commanded by Capt. William Potts of Newnan, Ga., which became a part of the Second regiment, Georgia state troops. With his command he participated in the battle at New Hope church, went thence to Marietta, then to Atlanta and Jonesboro. From there the command went with Gen. Hood when he made his flank movement to Nashville, Tenn. Beginning life with nothing, he has by industry, upright dealing and good management, acquired a quite large property and is accounted one of the most substantial and responsible citizens of the county. Farming has been his life-pursuit; but he was a justice of the peace five years, and is now a member of the board of education. Mr. Head was married Feb. 24, 1842, to Miss Amanda A., daughter of Solomon and Mary Stisher of Carroll county, who has borne him three children: Mary Ann Harriet, Marguerite Roberts and Elizabeth Missouri. Mr. Head is a master Mason and an exemplary member of the Missionary Baptist church.

JOHN K. HOLCOMBE, JR., farmer, Buchanan, Haralson Co., Ga., son of John K. and Rachel Holcombe, was born in Carroll county, Ga., July 4, 1848. His father was born in Laurens district, S. C., in 1810, and came to Georgia with the family in a one-horse wagon, and settled in what is now De Kalb county, in 1820. His education was very limited, and he followed farming all his life. Mr. Holcombe's mother was born in what is now De Kalb county in 1815, and was married to her husband in 1830. Mr. Holcombe received a very limited education, as he was merely a boy and lad while the war was being waged, and the schools suspended; but being ambitious he studied at home and acquired a fairly good education. He was reared a farmer, but ran machinery at one period of his life, and has also done a general merchandise business. The estimation in which he is held by the people of Haralson county is evidenced by the fact that for ten years he held the office of sheriff. He has been successful in all his under- takings, has accumulated a competency, and while one of the most popular, he is accounted one of the solidest men in the county. Mr. Holcombe married Miss Mary, daughter of Levi and Lucretia (Reeves) Stidman of Bartow county. Her grandfather, Martin Stidman, was one of the first settlers of Bartow (then Cass) county. Six children have blessed this union: William F., Reuben Cornelius, Estelle, Sarah Elizabeth, Emma and John Kellette. As Mr. Holcombe is yet young, so popular and so well capacitated for public position, it is quite certain he will again be called into the public service.

A. J. HUNT, ex-postmaster, farmer, Buchanan, Haralson Co., Ga., son of S. M. and Luvina (Wilson) Hunt, was born in Cherokee county, Ga., Feb. 24, 1843. His father was born in Pickens district, S. C., in 1812, and his mother was born in Viriginia in 1815. Mr. Hunt was raised on the farm, and had but a few months' education, and that under indifferent teachers and under uncomfortable conditions. But when he grew up, and during his leisure time, and the friendly aid of a pine-knot light, he added largely to his stock of knowledge, and has now a pretty good education. He enlisted Feb. 26, 1861, in Company E, First Georgia regiment, under Capt. J. D. Walker of Augusta, and was chosen sergeant. The company was assigned to "Tige" Anderson's brigade and among other important battles in which his command participated were Yorktown, seven days' fight around Richmond, Fredericksburg and Centerville, Va. He remained in the service until the surrender. At the close of the war his only capital was two suits

1048

MEMOIRS OF GEORGIA.

of clothes; but he went to farming, and has been successful in that and other undertakings beyond his most sanguine expectations, and honored with office by his appreciative fellow-citizens. In 1875 he was elected a justice of the peace and in 1888 elected sheriff of the county; in each case doing faithful and efficient service. All that he has, he has made himself, and under great disadvantages; but his success illustrates what industry and persistent effort can accomplish. Mr. Hunt was married, February, 1865, to Miss, Laura, daughter of Champion and Elvira (Stewart) Westbrook of Lumpkin county, Ga. Her father was a native of Tennessee, and her mother of North Carolina. The following children have been born to them: Eva Lee, Emma Loretta, Cora Analey, Robert Champion, Joseph Blanse, Samuel Mason, Vila Gertrude. Mr. Hunt is a master Mason, and his family are consistent members of the Baptist church.

R. B. HUTCHESON, physician, Draketown, Haralson Co., Ga., son of John and Susannah Hutcheson, was born in McDonough, Henry Co., Ga., in 1825. His parents were born and raised in South Carolina. His father was a carpenter, and the family came to Georgia in 1822. Dr. Hutcheson was reared and educated in Henry county, the education being such as could be obtained at the "old-field" schools common to the rural districts in his boyhood days. In 1852 he moved to that part of Paulding which is now included in Haralson county, and bought land and settled where he now lives. He grew up with the country, is widely and favorably known, and is one of the wealthiest citizens in the county. In 1853-54 he engaged in the manufacture of buggies at Cedartown, Ga., and in 1854 secured a license to practice medicine, and practiced many years with great success. He was and is now extensively engaged in farming. He was elected a delegate to represent the Thirty-eighth senatorial district in the constitutional convention of 1867-68 and was elected to represent Haralson county in 1873-74 in the general assembly. He was again elected in 1886 to the general assembly. The doctor is a man of strong convictions, firm in his faith and outspoken in advocacy. Dr. Hutcheson has been married twice. His first wife was Miss Mary J., daughter of John Stateham, whom he married Oct. 29, 1848, and by whom he had three children: John R., James F. and William D., deceased. His second wife was Miss Ellen, daughter of Jacob Hogue, who has borne him eight children: Frances M., Edward B., Mary S., Sallie S., Mattie E., Amanda, Robert H. and Jacob, deceased. Dr. Hutcheson is a master Mason and a member of the Mis- sionary Baptist church.

G. R. HUTCHINS, lawyer, Tallapoosa, Haralson Co., Ga., son of Nathan L. and Matilda Hutchins, was born in Randolph county, Ala., Jan. 22, 1867. His father was born in Coweta county, Ga., in 1831. In 1850 he went to Alabama, and from there to Mississippi. Subsequently he returned to Alabama, and being there when the war began, enlisted in the Thirteenth Alabama regiment, which was assigned to A. P. Hills' corps. He remained in the service until the sur- render, receiving two wounds (one in the hip and one in the hand), from which he is disabled. After the war he married and returned to Troup county, Ga., and became a contractor. Not long afterward he removed to Heard county, Ga., where he remained until 1893, when he came to Haralson county. While in the army he was the first soldier in his company who was given a furlough on account of good service. Mr. Hutchins' mother was a daughter of James B. Greer, and was born in 1834. Mr. Hutchins received but little schooling during his boyhood, only ten days after he was thirteen years of age. Later, however, he acquired a very excellent education, and for several years was engaged in farm-

1049

HARALSON COUNTY SKETCHES.

ing and saw-milling. In 1885 he taught school in Haralson county, and read law, and Jan. 22, 1886, was admitted to the bar and located in Tallapoosa, where he still lives. In 1888 he was elected mayor of Tallapoosa, and in 1891 was a member of the city council. In 1892 he was elected mayor again to fill an unexpired term, and in 1893 was re-elected for a full term. Mr. Hutchins had nothing-not even a good education-to start life with, excepting pluck, energy, a resolute purpose, and integrity of character. Yet, at the age of nineteen he was admitted to the bar, and has bounded to the front as the most promising young lawyer in his circuit, rapidly gaining a large and influential clientage, and already, young as he is, has been called by his fellow-citizens to honorable and responsible

official positions. It is safe to predict for him a professional reputation surpassed by few, and distinction in the political and other fields. Mr. Hutchins has been married twice. His first wife was Miss Maggie, daughter of Calvin and Mary Fults, of Cobb county, Ga., to whom he was married in February, 1887, and who died without issue. In November, 1891, he was married to Miss Marie, daughter of W. H. and Leora Kimball, formerly of Michigan, by whom he has had two children, Harold Charles and Marie Louise. Mr. Hutchins is a promi- nent member of the Christian church.

WILEY JAMES, farmer, Tallapoosa, Haralson Co., Ga., son of John P. and Nancy James, was born in Henry county, Ga., Aug. 10, 1834. His father was born in Rockingham county, N. C., in 1809, and when a young man came to Georgia in a wagon and settled on a farm in Henry county. His mother was born in Washington county, Ga., in 1815. Mr. James' parents were poor, and he was raised comparatively uneducated. When only thirteen years of age his father died, leaving his widow without property and a family of children to raise and educate. But she was a woman of great strength of mind, uncommonly good judgment, and great energy of character. By her good management the little that was left was made extraordinarily productive and accumulative, so that she was enabled to give the daughters a college education. And Mr. James, after he became grown, was enabled to attend the excellent school at Worthville, in Butts county, Ga., and acquire a good education. He was married Dec. 7, 1858, to Miss Patience Foster-born March 14, 1842-daughter of Andrew J. and Edna Foster, natives of South Carolina. Seven children were the offspring of this marriage: Anna B., Nola B., Hooten A., Frankie E., Wyly C. and John A. and Mary C., deceased. Mr. James moved from Campbell county, Ga., to Haralson in 1886, and enjoys the unaffected esteem of all who know him. He is a Knight of Honor, and himself and family are members of the Missionary Baptist church.

WILLIAM JOHNSON, JR., farmer, Buchanan, Haralson Co., Ga., son of William and Polly (Ayres) Johnson, was born in Haralson county in 1853. His father was born and raised in what is now Haralson county, reached man- hood poor and penniless and uneducated. He made his first money splitting rails at fifty cents per hundred, and worked at that and saved money until he had enough to buy a small tract of land on Tallapoosa river. He was a Baptist preacher and a very useful citizen. His mother was a native of North Carolina. Mr. Johnson was raised a farmer, and as there were no schools then in his neigh- borhood, received no education, but after he was married received instruction from his wife by a pine-knot fire light. He has always lived in Haralson county, and is so highly esteemed as to have been elected sheriff of the county in 1891. When he married he did not have a dollar, but he has worked hard and saved

1050

MEMOIRS OF GEORGIA.

money, and now has a nice farm and is comfortably situated. He is rated among the best citizens of Haralson county and none command higher respect or are more highly esteemed. Mr. Johnson married Miss Mary Munroe-born in 1843 -daughter of Duncan Munroe, and to them five children have been born: Oscar, Martha Jane, Willie, Mollie and Charlie. Mr. Johnson is a master Mason and himself and wife are exemplary members of the Baptist church.

JUDGE JOE W. KELLEY, residing at Buchanan, Haralson Co., Ga., is the son of William L. and Frances C. Kelley. He was born in Polk county, at Wil- son Springs, Ga., July 16, 1856. His father was born in Tennessee, Oct. 15, 1833, and was brought to Forsyth county, Ga., in his infancy, where he was reared until he was eighteen years old, and then moved to Polk county, Ga. His grand- father, William Kelley, was a native of South Carolina, but migrated to Forsyth county, Ga., where he lived several years. While on his way to the west he died in Tennessee. The progenitor of the American branch of this family was William Kelley, born in Ireland. The grandmother of Judge Kelley was a Miss Millie Heath, of Scotch descent, and his mother was Frances C., daughter of Joseph H. Hobbs and Peggie (Summerlin) Hobbs. She was born April 3, 1830, in Cherokee (now Haralson) county, Ga., and was of Scotch-Irish ancestry. Judge Kelley's father was a gallant soldier of the Ninth Georgia battalion of artillery and was in the battles of the western army to the burning of Atlanta. After the war he returned to Haralson county, to his wife and children, renting land to cultivate the first year. It is worth while telling as part of the history of the times that when this soldier-father returned to his home, he and his eldest son, commonly called Buck, whose full name is Joseph William Andrew Jackson Kel- ley, made the crop, with only the food which the grass fields furnished, the young lad holding the horse to graze, and also taking his part at the hoe. The second year the family moved to forty-acre lot in the woods, which the thrifty mother had bought from her father during the war, and building a house and making a clear- ing, cultivated it for a living. Thus it appears that Judge Kelley was a worker from his youth. Sometimes he hired out as a farm hand to help his father to keep out of debt and to pay for more land which the family now owns, and he labored for his father until reaching manhood. He only had the advantage of about nine months' schooling at the common country summer schools until he was twenty-one years of age. At the age of twenty-two he began teaching school himself, which he continued for several years. In the meantime (Dec. 16, 1879) he married Miss Lydia J. Hitt, daughter of Allen R. Hitt and Elizabeth (Le Grand) Hitt. His wife's mother was a daughter of Thomas Harrison, of South Carolina, and was related to Gen. William Harrison. For the first few years Judge Kelley improved a farm and taught school from three to eight months each year. After two years in school at Buchanan he again taught school, making himself com- petent to discharge the duties of the position to which he was called in 1889. As a proof of esteem he was elected tax collector of Haralson county in 1889, and having given faithful services for two years, was re-elected in 1891, and on the expiration of his second term in 1893 the people of his county, who saw his worth, elected him to the highly important office of ordinary, in which position he is now serving acceptably to the people. As may be seen, Judge Kelley is popular and held in high esteem by his community. It is grat- ifying to know that a gentleman says of him that as ordinary of Haralson county he has done more good work than all of his predecessors for forty years. He has interested himself very greatly in the improvement of his county without ma- terial increase of its taxes. The public roads have been very much improved

1051

HARALSON COUNTY SKETCHES.

through his orders; the first iron bridge was built-two completed and another under construction, all spanning the Tallapoosa river, furnishing accommodation in travel to large numbers of citizens. His administration has been a great benefit to his county. Judge and Mrs. Kelley have a family of six children: Winifred C., Louella F., Howell Tilden, Flora Lee, Murdock Cleveland, Bertie Americus. Judge Kelley is a master Mason and Mrs. Kelley is a member of the Primitive Baptist church.

FLIJAH KIRK, farmer-merchant, Felton, Haralson Co., Ga., son of Jack and

Elizabeth Kirk, was born in Pike county, Ga., March 16, 1857. His parents were very poor-so poor they could not spare him from the crop, so the only schooling he received was a few weeks each year after the crop was "laid by." On reaching manhood he came to Haralson county, where he worked on farms until he accumulated enough money to buy a small farm. He worked diligently and intelligently on his farm, made good crops for his force, and saved money. He managed his small annual surplus with unusual discretion, until in 1890, he found himself possessed of enough capital to embark in a general merchan- dise store. He has been phenomenally successful in this enterprise, and has now the largest store in Felton, and is doing a large and profitable business. In addi- tion he owns several nice desirable farms which he rents. He is popular in the community, highly esteemed by his fellow-citizens, and considered one of the best financiers in his section. All he lacks to round off and complete his character and fill the measure of his happiness is a good wife.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

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 155

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