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 36

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 36

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the Confederate. line. He was at Fredericksburg, Chancellorsvile, Gettysburg and Knoxville. He defeated Gen. Sedgwick's assault at Salem church, and was in the command of Georgia and opposed Sherman's march through the state. Gen. Johnson's surrender included his command, and after the war Gen. McLaws established himself in business at Augusta. He was appointed collector of internal revenue in 1875 and collector of the port of Savannah in 1876.

FEW, WILLIAM, was born in Baltimore county, Md., June 8, 1748, and was a descendant of William Pfew, one of the Penn colonists. He received a good education from private tutors in North Carolina, and coming to reside in Georgia in 1776, he began the practice of law in Augusta. The following is a summary of the more prominent positions filled by Mr. Few during his long, busy and useful life, as given by Mr. C. C. Jones, Jr .: 1777, member from Richmond county of the Georgia legislature; 1777, member of the executive council; 1778, engaged in the expedition conducted by Gen. Robert Howe and Gov. John Houston, for the subjugation of East Florida; 1778, elected surveyor-general of Georgia; 1778, appointed commissioner of confiscated estates, and senior justice of the county of Richmond; 1779, appointed lieutenant-colonel of the Richmond county militia, and actively employed in the field in resisting the advance of Col. Campbell upon Augusta, and guarding the frontiers of Georgia, and in resisting the predatory attacks of British, Tories and Indians; 1779, a commissioner on the part of Georgia to bring about a pacification of the Creek and Cherokee Indians; 1779, a member of Georgia assembly; 1780, a member of continental congress; 1781, by will of congress, present in Georgia to reconstruct state government; 1782, member of congress; 1783, member Georgia legislature; 1784, admitted to bar of Savannah; 1786, re-elected to congress; 1787, delegate from Georgia to the Philadelphia convention for revising the constitution of the United States; 1788, member of the Georgia convention which ratified the constitution of the United States; 1789, United States senator from Georgia; 1793, member Georgia legis- lature; 1796, appointed judge second judicial circuit of Georgia; 1799, removed to New York city; 1801-1804, member general assembly of New York; 1804, commissioner of loans; 1813-14, alderman New York city.

HABERSHAM, JOSEPH, was born in Savannah, July 28, 1751, and was the son of James Habersham, governor. Joseph was a member of the council of safety during the war and served in the continental army, being a lieutenant- colonel at its close. He was a delegate to the continental congress, and speaker of the state assembly in 1785 and in 1790. He was postmaster-general under Washington, John Adams and Jefferson until 1801, when he resigned to become president of the United States branch bank at Savannah. He died in 1815.

YOUNG, PIERCE MANNING BUTLER, was born at Spartanburg, S. C., Nov. 15, 1839. At thirteen years of age he entered the Georgia military insti- tute, at Marietta, Ga., and in 1857 was appointed to West Point. He left the school and entered the Confederate army as second lieutenant, was attached to Gen. Bragg's staff and was aide at the same time on Gen. W. H. T. Walker's staff. By frequent promotions he became brigadier-general of cavalry in1 1863 and major-general of cavalry in 1864. After the war, he was elected from Bartow county to congress, in 1867, 1869, 1871, 1873. He was delegate to the democratic national conventions that nominated Seymour, Tilden and Hancock. He was appointed by President Hayes, a commissioner in 1878, to the Paris International exposition, and in 1885 by President Cleveland, consul-general to St. Petersburg,

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resigning in 1887. Gen. Young was a brilliant soldier in the war, and at twenty- three years of age was made major-general. He was wounded three times in battle and three times mentioned for gallant conduct by Gen. J. E. B. Stuart.

COBB, THOMAS R. R., was born in Cherry Hill, Jefferson county, Ga., April

10, 1823. In 1841, at the head of his class he was graduated from the Uni- versity of Georgia. He was admitted to the bar and was reporter of the supreme court from 1849 till 1857. He was a member of the Confederate congress and became a general in the southern army, being killed at the battle of Fredericks- burg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862. Mr. Cobb gave much attention to religious and educa- tional matters. He published Historical Sketch of Slavery, from the Earliest Periods; Digest of the Laws of Georgia; and several essays in behalf of a state system of education. He was married to Marion, daughter of Judge J. H. Lumpkin.

STILES, JOSEPH CLAY, was born in Savannah, Dec. 6, 1795. He was graduated at Yale in 1814, and began the practice of law in Savannah, but left it to study theology, graduating at Andover in 1825. The presbytery ordained him in 1826 and he served as an evangelist in Georgia and Florida up to 1835. In 1835, he removed to Kentucky and for nine years labored in the west. After serving as pastor in Richmond, Va., and New York city, he resigned, and, in 1850, became general agent for the American Bible society in the south. In 1853 he became pastor of the South church in New Haven, Conn., and from 1860 to 1875 he labored as an evangelist in the south. He received the degree of D. D. from Transylvania university in 1846, and that of LL. D. from the University of Georgia in 1860. Dr. Stiles was the author of several works on the slavery question. He died in 1875 at Savannah.

HARDEE, WILLIAM J., was born in Savannah about 1818. He entered the army as second lieutenant in 1838, after he was graduated at West Point in the class with Gen. Beauregard. His advancement was rapid and the United States secretary of war sent him to the military school of St. Maur, in France. He returned to America and was one of the officers who crossed the Rio Grande with Gen. Taylor in 1846. He was taken prisoner at Curricito, but was after- ward exchanged. For gallantry on the field he was made brevet major March 25, 1847. He was appointed to the command of the cadets at West Point, with rank of lieutenant-colonel in 1855. In 1861 he resigned his commission in the United States army to enter the Confederate service as brigadier-general and was promoted to major-general. Gen. Hardee was in command of the Third corps at Shiloh in 1862, and at the battle of Perryville, Oct. 8, he commanded the left wing of Gen. Bragg's army. He distinguished himself at Murfreesboro and Chattanooga and was made lieutenant-general for services at Perryville and other engagements. He was subsequently assigned to commands in South Caro- lina and Georgia, surrendering to Gen. W. T. Sherman with Gen. Joseph E. Johnston's army at Durham, N. C., April 26, 1865. He died in Virginia Nov. 6, 1873.

CRAWFORD, MARTIN JENKINS, associate justice of the supreme court of Georgia, was born in Jasper county, Ga., March 17, 1820. He was ad- mitted to the bar and entered public life as a member of the state legislature of 1845-47. He was appointed judge of the superior courts of Chattahoochee circuit in 1853, but resigned to go to congress, where he held his seat from 1855 to 1861. He was one of the three commissioners sent by the Confederacy to

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Washington to treat with the government for the peaceful separation of the states. He served gallantly in the Confederate army on the staff of Gen. Cobb. After the war he was appointed to the superior court bench of the Chattahoochee district and then to the supreme court.

STILES, WILLIAM HENRY, was born in Savannah in January, 1808, studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1831. He was solicitor-general for the eastern district of Georgia in 1833-36, and was elected to congress as a democrat in 1843. In 1845 he was appointed charge d'affaires in Austria, serving till 1849. At the beginning of the war he raised a Confederate regiment, in which he served as colonel, but on account of his health resigned. He was the author of a History of Austria, 1848-49.

CLAYTON, AUGUSTINE SMITH, was born in Fredericksburg, Va., Nov. 27, 1783, and with his parents removed to Georgia before 1800. In 1804 he was graduated at the university of Georgia, was admitted to the bar and elected to the legislature. In 1810 he was appointed to compile the statutes of Georgia from 1800. In 1819 he was elected judge of the superior court of the western circuit of Georgia, serving six years, and then again, from 1828 till 1831. In 1831 he was elected to congress, and opposed the tariff and United States bank meas- ures. He served two terms in congress and retired in 1835. He died at Athens June 21, 1839.

M'INTOSH, LACHLAN, was one of two officers furnished by Georgia to the continental army, who attained the rank of brigadier-general. He was born near Raits, in Badenoch, Scotland, March 17, 1725, and when only eleven years old he accompanied his father, John More McIntosh, to Georgia. While still a lad he was enrolled by Gen. Oglethorpe as a cadet in his regiment. He was educated chiefly by his mother, with a military training under Gen. Ogle- thorpe. At the age of seventeen he entered the counting room of Hon. Henry Laurens, of Charlestown. He subsequently returned to his home near New Inver- ness, where he married, and adopted the calling of a surveyor. He was made colonel of the First Georgia battalion, formed in January, 1776, and served in behalf of the colonies until independence was achieved. As a result of a clash of jealous ambitions he fought a duel with Button Gwinnett, which resulted in the latter's death. Following this he served during the war in the districts of Vir- ginia and Pennsylvania, but on personal request he was transferred by Gen. Washington to Savannah, where he served gallantly in the siege of that place. He died in 1806 rich in the esteem, the friendship and the gratitude of his fellow- citizens.

WARD, JOHN ELLIOTT, was born in Liberty county, Ga., Oct. 2, 1814. He attended Amherst, then studied law and was admitted to the Savannah bar in 1835. In January, 1836, he was appointed solicitor-general for the eastern district of that state, and in 1838 was appointed United States attorney for Georgia. He was elected to the legislature several times and in 1854 was elected mayor of Savannah. In 1856 he presided over the democratic national convention that met in Cincinnati. In 1858 he was appointed United States minister to China. He moved to New York city in 1866 and practiced law there for many years.

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BAKER COUNTY.

B. H. ASKEW, merchant and postmaster, Milford, Baker Co., son of David R. and Eliza Ann (Jordan) Askew, was born in Spalding county, Ga. His Grandfather Askew came from North Carolina and settled in Georgia in the early part of the present century. Mr. Askew's father moved to Griffin to educate his children, where he remained until 1873. That year he removed to Baker county and settled at Haggard's Mills, and later moved to Plattville, Early Co., where he engaged in merchandising until 1876, when he moved to Milford- where our subject now lives-and continued his business until his death, in 1878, aged fifty-eight years. In early life he was a whig, but later became a democrat, and served four years in the Confederate army. His wife survived him some years. To them three children were born: Tallulah Virginia, wife of S. B. Chancy; B. H., the subject of this sketch; Elizabeth, wife of Mr. Thompson. The maternal grandfather of Mr. Askew, Willis A. Jordan, was born in Hancock county, was a physician of fine reputation, and a Methodist preacher. He moved to Spalding county, where he successfully practiced his profession and preached until called "to that bourne whence no traveler returns." Mr. Askew passed his early life in Griffin, where he was educated, attending a school taught by Prof. W. F. Slaton, now superintendent of the public schools of Atlanta. In 1879 he embarked in a general merchandise business at Milford, continuing in it until now, carrying a large and varied and well-selected stock, and is the leading mer- chant and postmaster of the place. Mr. Askew married Miss Mary L., daughter of Dr. I. H. Hand, of Baker county, and to them seven children have been born: Ben Hill, Birdie May, E. Bower, Fannie Roslin, Gladys, and Floy and Laura, deceased. Mr. Askew is a master Mason, and financially and socially he and his family rank with the best in the county.

B. F. HUDSPETH, clerk of county court, Newton, Baker Co., son of William and Mary (Pool) Hudspeth, was born in Wilkes Co., Ga., May 22, 1833. His paternal grandfather, Richard Hudspeth, was born and raised on a farm in North Carolina, and, when a young man came to Georgia and settled in Wilkes county. After living there many years he moved to Henry county, Ala., where. he died at a very advanced age. He was a member of the Primitive Baptist church. His wife survived some years, and was very old when she died. They raised ten children to be grown, two of whom are yet living: Richard T., Henry county, Ala., and Mrs. Elizabeth Parks, Pike county, Ala. Mr. Hudspeth's father was the oldest of the children, and was born in Wilkes county, Jan. 2, 1802, where he grew to manhood and married. He was an "old-line whig," and quite active in politics, and served as major in the Florida war. About 1840 he moved to Meriwether county where he farmed, but lived in Greeneville. Six years later he went to Arkansas and settled on a farm about eighteen miles west of Camden, Ouachita county, where he remained but a year. From there he went to Vicks- burg, Miss., and organized the firm of A. M. Boyd & Co., for the sale of western implements; but in 1852 he sold his interest in this business and went to Ouachita county, La., and engaged in farming. Not liking the county he returned to Florida and settled in Baker county. He lived here until 1861 when he moved to Chicot county, Ark., where he remained until after the war, when he came back to Baker county, where he died Jan. 16, 1877. He was a member of the Methodist

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church. He was married twice. His first wife-the mother of our subject, died in Wilkes county, and was the mother of six children, of whom Mr. B. F. Hudspeth is the only survivor; Eliza J., wife of Dr. J. T. Glover, died in Newton; Mary Ann, died in Memphis, Tenn .; Mattie, wife of John B. Heard, died in Baker county; two died young. His second wife was Miss Caroline Hill, of Meriwether county, Ga., by whom he had one child: Julia T., wife of Columbus Brooks, Albany, Ga.

Mr. Hudspeth during his boyhood attended school in Greeneville, Ga., and spent his youth in Vicksburg, Miss., where, at the age of seventeen he began life for himself as a clerk for A. M. Boyd & Co. Later he bought an interest in the business, but sold it in 1852 and went to New Orleans, and engaged in steam- boating on the Mississippi and Red rivers until 1854. That year he returned to Newton and settled for life, and has been almost continuously in the employ of the people. In 1859 the people of Baker county elected him sheriff; they next elected him judge of the county court; then, in 1868, they elected him ordinary. In 1871 he was elected clerk of the county court, and the next year he bought the ferry across Flint river at Newton-and still holds the office and ferry. In May, 1861, he enlisted in and was made lieutenant of the "Baker Fire Eaters," which afterward became Company H, Sixth Georgia regiment, Colquitt's brigade. He resigned in a short time to accept the colonelcy of the IIIth Georgia militia, to which he was elected. He saw much arduous service, particularly during the siege of Atlanta, when the command was almost continuously under fire. His command dug nearly all the trenches around, and from Atlanta to Peachtree creek. After the war he engaged in merchandising in Newton, and as has already been related, in serving the people. Enterprising, progressive, and public spirited, his official positions afforded him the opportunity and the influence to be an eminently useful citizen-an opportunity he has been quick to avail himself of.

Mr. Hudspeth married Miss Sarah A., daughter of Israel Maples, a prominent farmer of Baker county, by whom he has had three children: Emma; Mattie, and Kate-all three at home. He is a master Mason, a member and secretary and collector of the American Legion of Honor,-a position he has held since 1880- and an exemplary member of the Methodist church.

I H. HAND, physician, Milford, Baker Co., son of Henry Harrison and Charity (Thompson) Hand, was born in Burke county, Ga., in 1822. The family descended from one of two brothers who emigrated from Holland to America and settled first in New York. Afterward the descendants of one of the brothers scattered from New York eastwardly and westwardly, and the descendants of the other scattered from Maryland and Virginia southward. Mr. Hand's grandfather, Rev. Henry Hand, was born in Virginia, where he migrated to South Carolina, and thence to Georgia. He settled first in Columbia county, but later moved to Talbot county, where he died in 1835 or 1836, aged eighty-two years. He was ordained a minister of the Baptist church when a young man, and was an earnest and zealous worker in the Master's vineyard until within a few years of his death, when the infirmities of old age compelled him to retire. He was very active in his efforts to prevent a division of the Baptist church on mis- sionary work. He was a man of more than ordinary ability, self-educated and self-made; and a man of large influence. He was the father of ten children, seven of whom were sons: William, John, Henry Harrison, James, Rev. Thomas, Joel and Rev. Joseph. Mr. Hand's father was born in Columbia county, but was raised principally in Burke county, Ga., where he married and lived until he had quite a family. From Burke he moved to Houston county, Ga., where he lived about twenty years, when he moved to Sumter county, where he died

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some years later, aged seventy-eight years. He was a farmer and blacksmith, was what is known as a "good liver," made plenty to meet every want, but unani- bitious as to the acquisition of property. In the last war with Great Britain, 1812-14, he served as lieutenant, and afterward was a captain of the militia, when it was a local distinction. He was physically a very strong and active man and earnest and zealous in whatever he undertook. In politics he was an "old-line whig," and, his mother being a Harrison, and a reputed relative of Gen. W. H. Harrison, he took a very active part in the presidential campaign of 1840. His first wife was a Miss Owens, by whom he had one child-Sarah, now deceased- who married a Mr. William Iverson. By his second marriage-to Miss Thomp- son, our subject's mother-he had five children: Joseph, who died in Taylor county, Ga .; Elizabeth, now Mrs. Raiford, Americus, Ga .; I. H., the subject of this sketch; Columbia W .; Camilla, wife of Dr. David Bagley, Sumter county, Ga. His wife died in Houston county in 1848 or 1849, aged fifty-four years. Dr. Hand was raised in Houston county, his father having moved there when he was about five years old. He attended the common schools of the county, but may claim to have educated himself, as he studied assiduously at night after his day's work in the field was done. He studied medicine under Dr. William Fisher, of Wilkinson county, Ga., and afterward attended lectures at Forsyth, Ga., at the institution since removed and established in Atlanta as the Georgia college of eclectic medicine and surgery, at which he has subsequently lectured himself. He has also lectured in the medical department of the Uni- versity of Florida. After his graduation he located in Houston county, where he practiced until December, 1851-six years-when he removed to his present location, where he has since lived, where he established a large and remunerative practice, and where, also, he is engaged very extensively in farming. During the late civil war he was elected by the justices of the inferior court to remain at home and give medical attention to the families of the soldiers. After the war he was elected a delegate to the constitutional convention of 1865, and after- ward elected to the general assembly and served during the sessions of 1865-66. He was also elected a delegate to the constitutional convention of 1877, and in 1886 was elected to represent his senatorial district in the general assembly. In 1890 he was again elected. In each case he was elected without any solicitation on his part-as he never sought office.

In 1892 he was nominated for congress by the populists, but was defeated. The nomination was unanimous and unsought. Dr. Hand's writings on medical subjects have attracted much attention throughout the country and his contri- butions on the political questions of the day have brought him many letters of congratulation. Dr. Hand was married twice. His first wife was Miss Laura Elizabeth, daughter of Isaac Bower, Milledgeville, Ga., to whom were born: Fannie H., educator; Joseph H., physician, Blakeley, Ga .; Mary S., wife of B. H. Askew, Milford; Miranda, wife of Dr. R. T. Hillman, Senoia, Coweta Co .; A. L., physician, Faceville, Decatur Co., Ga .; Isaac Henry, deceased in infancy; Galen, deceased at five years; Clifford, deceased at eleven years, and Lillie, deceased at thirteen years. For his second wife he married Mrs. Ella S. Bull, Tallahassee, Fla., daughter of Chief Justice Baltzell, whose children by her first marriage were: W. S. Bull, conductor, Brunswick & Western railway; Ella, wife of John Farrant, and Misses Bessie P. and Hattie B., at home. The doctor is pleasantly situated, comfortable in every way, surrounded by an intelligent, accom- plished family, and dispenses "old-time southern hospitality."

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J. T. KIDD, planter and miller, Milford, Baker Co., Ga., son of George W. and Martha (Crocker) Kidd, was born in Stewart county, Ga., in 1851. His grandfather, Richard Kidd, when a young man, settled in Stewart county -- among the earliest settlers-and was a planter of note and a prominent citizen. He represented the county in the general assembly, reared a large family of children, of whom only one survives-Peninah Belle, living in Alabama-was an influential member of the Methodist church, and died at a very old age in 1867. Mr. Kidd's father was born in Newton county, Ga., and, when quite young, went with the family to Stewart county, in which he grew up and was educated. During the war he served awhile in the militia. He served a number of years as sheriff of the county, his vocation being that of a planter, and milling. In 1866 he moved to Albany, Dougherty Co., Ga., where he kept a hotel until 1869, when he moved to Baker county, and settled on a plantation near Milford. Seven years afterward he moved to Brooks county, Ga., where he lived till he died, his wife surviving him but a short time. He was a consistent member of the Methodist church. They were the parents of three children: Missouri, wife of C. W. Dunkin, of Brooks county; J. T., the subject of this sketch, and Cora. Mr. Kidd was raised mainly in Baker county, on the farm, and at milling; but was schooled mostly in Lumpkin, Stewart county, and at Albany. In 1872 he entered into business for himself at the old home place, where he remained about five years;

he then, in the spring of 1877, settled where he now lives, and engaged in planting and operating a saw and grist-mill. Energetic and enterprising, he is a hearty and liberal supporter of all movements calculated to promote the interests of the county morally and materially. He served as county commissioner a number of years. He married Miss Cordelia F., daughter of W. J. Jeffries, a farmer and stock raiser of Baker county. To them three children have been born: Willie J .; Centennial, and George Hand. Mr. Kidd is a stanch democrat, and himself and family are members of the Methodist church.

J T. NORRIS, merchant, Newton, Baker Co., Ga., son of Thomas and Frances (Myrick) Norris, was born in Chambers county, Ala., in 1843. His father was born near Yorktown, Va., in 1807. When he was about ten years old his father died, and he was taken in charge by his uncle. A few years later he left his uncle and worked in a blacksmith shop until he saved money enough to buy a horse. He then came to Georgia on horseback, and stopped in Macon, Ga., where he engaged as overseer with Hon. Henry G. Lamar, with whom he remained several years. In the meantime he had married, and decided to go to Alabama, which he did, and lived some years in Chambers county. Returning to Bibb county, Ga., in 1852, with his family, he purchased land in Baker county, and settled his negroes on it, and in 1856 settled his family there. He engaged ex- tensively in planting, and lived on this plantation till his death, which occurred in 1874. Mr. Norris' mother, who was a devoted member of the Methodist church, died in 1875, aged fifty-nine years. Of eleven children born to them, four died in childhood, two-Abner H. and Samuel A .- died after reaching maturity, and five are living: J. T., the subject of this sketch; Julia F., wife of John Bowman, Macon county, Ga .; C. E., merchant, Newton, Ga .; Lucia O., wife of S. J. W. Livingston, Albany, Ga., C. F., merchant, Newton, Ga. Mr. Norris was raised and educated in Bibb county, and when seventeen years of age joined Cobb's Legion-going from Baker and enlisting in Dougherty county-and remained in the service until the surrender. With his command he participated in the most important battles fought by the army of northern Virginia, and came out of the service as adjutant of Wright's brigade (he entered the army weighing

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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 36

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