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 37

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 37

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BAKER COUNTY SKETCHES.

ninty-four pounds, and left it weighing 156). Mr. Norris was wounded-not dangerously-three times, never missed a day when able to be on duty, never was sick except a few days with small-pox, and missed roll call only three days. After the war he returned to Baker county and farmed until 1868, when he engaged in merchandising. In 1873, on account of the panic, he returned to his farm, which occupied his attention several years. He next went to Decatur, Ala., and went into the restaurant business, which he continued until the yellow fever drove him out. He then returned to Newton, and re-entered the general merchandise business, in which he is now successfully and profitably engaged. He is a shrewd business man, one of a high sense of honor, and throws his whole soul into whatever he undertakes. Mr. Norris married Miss Mattie O., daughter of James C. Lark, of the mercantile firm of Hammond & Lark, Hamburg, Macon Co., Ga. One child only-Thomas P .- has blessed this union, who is now a student at the university at Macon, Ga. Mr. Norris is an unadulterated demo- crat, and took a very active part against the third (or populist) party; is a Master Mason; a Knight of Honor, a member of the Legion of Honor, and an influential member of the Presbyterian church.

H A. LEDBETTER, hotelkeeper and merchant, Newton, Baker Co., son of Drury and Nannie (Dodwell) Ledbetter, was born in Dougherty county, Ga., in 1856. The family came from middle Georgia and settled near Albany, in what is now Dougherty county, and engaged in planting. Later they moved to Dougherty county, where the father died in 1864, aged fifty-six years, and the mother died in 1866, aged fifty-five years. He was a member of the Baptist church, and she of the Methodist church. Nine children were born to them: William A., Albany, Ga .; Alfred M., Albany; H. A., the subject of this sketch; Lizzie, deceased wife of W. W. Dodwell, leaving one child, and five who died when small. Mr. Ledbetter was principally raised in Dougherty county, and educated mainly in Dawson, Terrell Co., Ga. In 1874, he began life for him- self on a farm near Walker station, Dougherty Co., and, later, embarked in merchandising. In 1877, he moved to Baker county, and settled at what is now known as Ledbetter P. O. (so named in compliment of him), where he engaged extensively in farming and conducted a general merchandise store. He continued this about ten years and then went to Decatur, Ala., where he engaged in business in partnership with J. T. Norris, which, however, had to be abruptly abandoned on account of the yellow fever. Returning to Newton he embarked in the hotel business, and in partnership with Mr. Norris established a general merchandise store, transacting a very large and successful trade. Having ample means, and being of affable manners, sociable and of generous impulses, he is very popular and a leading citizen. When he went to Decatur he resigned the position of clerk of the board of county commissioners, but was re-elected imme- diately on his return, and holds the office now. He is wide-awake and public spirited, takes a deep interest in county affairs, and is active in politics. He is especially solicitous that his chldren should be thoroughly educated. Mr. Led- better was married to Miss Annie, daughter of James C. Lark, formerly of Augusta, Ga., but now of Baker county. She was raised in the county, but edu- cated at Forsyth and Thomasville, Ga. Eight children blessed this union: James D., student, Cuthbert, Ga .; Annie Pearl; Adolphus B .; George Lark; Thomas Norris (living); and Lessie, Maude and an infant deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Ledbetter are exemplary members of the church. I-17

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MEMOIRS OF GEORGIA.

JOHN O. PERRY, judge county court, Newton, Baker Co., son of John and

Martha (Partin) Perry, was born in Crawford county, Ga., April 3, 1835. His father was a native of North Carolina, who, on the death of his father when he was a boy, left that state and came to Georgia. He dwelt awhile in Burke county, then went to Twiggs county, where he married his wife (who was a native of South Carolina), and, later moved to Crawford county-among its earlier settlers. He was a farmer, but took an active part in politics, holding the offices of bailiff and tax collector many years. When advanced in years he moved to Jefferson county, where he married a second time, and died in 1863, aged sixty-six years. An older brother, William Perry, died while a soldier in the war of 1812. Judge Perry's mother died in Crawford county, in 1856, aged fifty-seven years. Both parents were members of the Primitive Baptist church. They had eight children, of whom those living are: John O., the subject of this sketch; M. F., treasurer Crawford county; Caroline Becham, wife of Washing- ton Becham, Crawford county; and Martha L. Seely, of Terrell county. The deceased are: William R., died in Florida, in 1881, aged sixty-one years; Colum- bus B., of the Twelfth Georgia regiment, died October, 1861, on Greenbriar river, aged twenty-four years; America, drowned when two years old; Bettie, died at twenty-three; Jane, wife of Robert Hancock, died in Crawford county, sixty years of age. Mr. Perry remained on the farm, and attended the common schools until he was sixteen years old, when he engaged as a clerk in a neighboring store until he was of age. He then went to Bainbridge as bookkeeper for J. H. Colbert & Co. He was elected marshal and held the office until he left for the Confederate army as a member of the Bainbridge independents, Capt. J. W. Evans, First Georgia regiment, Col. Ramsay. After serving here a year he enlisted in the Abell battery, Florida artillery, with which he remained as first gun sergeant until Gen. Johnston surrendered at Greensboro, N. C., April 26, 1865. He was in the battle at Greenbriar river, Va .; at Olustee and other battles in Florida, and the battles around Savannah, besides many minor engagements. After the war he returned to Bainbridge, finding nothing left but a wife and three children. He soon left for Mitchell county, Ga., where he engaged in farming, with excellent success, for four years. The latter part of 1869 he moved to, and settled in the woods on the land he now owns, and which has since been his home-on the Flint river, between two and three miles below Newton. Besides this 250-acre tract, under improved and profitable cultivation, he has one of 500 acres partially cleared, and several other tracts. He is a progressive and good farmer, full of energy, and very popular. Besides his farming interests he is largely interested in real estate in Baker and adjoining counties. April 1, 1876, he was appointed judge of the county court, and is now serving his tenth term-will have served twenty years on the expiration of his present term, April 1, 1896-and during his nineteen years' service the decisions of but one case have been reversed, and he has never, from any cause whatever, failed to hold his court at the stated time. He is thoroughly alive to the interests and progress of the county and its development. Mr. Perry was married in Abbeville, Ala., Nov. 29, 1859, to Miss Sarah, daughter of Edwin J. Cole, a leading merchant of Clayton, Barbour Co., Ala., a union which has been blessed with four children: Mrs. Lulu A. May, Florida; Walter C., traveling salesman, Bainbridge, Ga .; Edwin J., cashier Bainbridge state bank; Willie Frank, died when two years and six months old. Mr. Perry was president of the county board of education fifteen years, or until the law was passed against holding two offices at the same time. He is a member of the American Legion of Honor, and has been grand commander of Georgia, and was Georgia's representa - tive to the supreme council held at Milwaukee, Wis., August, 1893. He also was

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Georgia's representative at Detroit, Mich., in August, 1895. Himself and wife are exemplary and active members of the Presbyterian church, of which he has been a ruling elder twenty-one years. He has been superintendent of the Newton Sunday school twenty years, and president of the Sunday school association of the county fifteen years. Baker county cannot, and it might safely be said that no county can, claim a more useful citizen. Judge Perry is now in his sixty-first year. He is hale and hearty, strong and active, and is a total abstainer from all intoxicants, not having so much as tasted wine or strong drinks for the last twenty- three years of his life.

HENRY T. PULLEN, planter, Millford, Baker Co., Ga., son of Moses and Pen- elope (Askew) Pullen, natives respectively of Virginia and North Carolina, was born in Laurens county, Ga., in 1825. His grandfather, Rev. Thomas Pullen, was a native of Scotland, and came to the United States late in the last century, married a Miss Bowers in Virginia, then migrated to Georgia and settled in Laurens county at what is now known as Pullen's Hill, where he engaged in planting. He was a zealous Methodist preacher, and supplied several churches. He died in Laurens county at the age of seventy-five years. His wife died several years before he did. They had six children-all deceased-of whom Henry T. Pullen's father was the youngest son. He was born and raised on the home place, and received a common school education in Laurens county. He married a Miss Ard, by whom he had three daughters: Priscilla, born deaf and dumb (deceased) ; Sarah, widow of Seabon Walters, Americus, Ga .; Martha J., wife of Simeon Walters, Baker county. The mother of these having died, he married Miss Pene- lope Askew, born in North Carolina. In 1831 he moved from Laurens to Sumter county, Ga., and settled on a tract of land and lived there until he died. He was a lieutenant in the army in the last war against Great Britain-1812-14-was an old-line whig in politics, and a member and class leader in the Methodist church, and was a much-esteemed citizen. His wife died in 1865, and himself in 1866. Of the children born to them five lived to maturity: Henry Thomas, the subject of this sketch; Mary Ann, wife of Isaac C. Harris, Norwood, Warren county, Ga .; Moses M., Alabama; Joshua H. (deceased); and William, died in Virginia during the war, a member of Patterson's company, Cutt's battalion brigade of artillery. Mr. Pullen's father moved while he was a child to Sumter county, where he was raised and educated. He remained at home until he was twenty-five years old, when he went to Stewart county, Ga. After several years' residence there he moved to Calhoun county, Ga., where he lived four years, and then returned with his family to Sumter county. In 1864 he enlisted in the Tenth regiment, Georgia state troops, and remained in the service till the close of the war. In 1866, he removed to Blakeley, Early county, Ga., living there five years; thence to Damascus, same county, where he planted until 1879, when he settled permanently where he now lives. Mr. Pullen has a fine plantation and com- fortable home, is a prosperous man, very highly esteemed, and exercises a wide and strong influence for good. Mr. Pullen has been twice married. His first wife was Miss Annie E., born in Columbia county, Ga., daughter of William P. Jones, of Sumter county, by whom he had nine children: William M., Early county; Thomas H., physician, graduate Georgia college eclectic medicine and surgery, Atlanta; George M., at home; Mittie L., deceased wife of W. I. Layton, Seneca, Florida; Sarah W., deceased wife of G. D. Webb, Cuthbert, Ga .; Emma, died at thirteen years of age; Ida Anna, died at four years of age; and two which died when infants. Mrs. Pullen died Sept. 13, 1874, and subsequently Mr. Pullen mar- ried Miss Jane E. Hardy, whose parents moved from South Carolina to Miller

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county, Ga., in 1859, by whom he has had no children. Mrs. Pullen is a member of the Missionary Baptist church, and Mr. Pullen is a member of the Methodist church, of which he has been a steward for twenty-five years.

BALDWIN COUNTY.

JOHN T. ALLEN, judge of the county court, Milledgeville, Baldwin Co., son of James Troup Allen, was born at Mt. Zion, Hancock county, Oct. 24, 1861. His father is, and all his life has been a farmer in Hancock county. During the late war he was a non-commissioned officer in the Confederate service, and remained until the surrender.

Judge Allen was raised on the farm, and received such education as the near-by schools could give, and in 1880, when the middle Georgia military institute opened its doors at Milledgeville, he entered that institution, graduating from it in 1883. He then entered the law department of the universiy of Georgia at Ahens, from which he graduated in 1884, and was at once admitted to the bar, but returned to his home at Mt. Zion. Early in the ensuing year he came to Milledgeville, and in April formed a law partnership with Hon. Robert Whitfield, which still continues. He is a well-read and able lawyer, creditably sustaining the dignity of his judicial position, to which he was elected in 1889, and after serving four years was re-elected.

Judge Allen was married Nov. 27, 1890, to Miss Hattie, daughter of H. E. Hendrix, of Milledgevllie, by whom he has had three children: Marion, Isabelle A., and Gladys Pernita. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., a royal arch Mason, and affiliates with the Presbyterian church.

JOHN A. CALLAWAY, physician and surgeon, Milledgeville, Baldwin county, was born in Milledgeville, Aug. 17, 1858. His boyhood and youth were spent in the city, and he received his primary and preparatory education at its excellent schools. He afterward attended Mercer university, from which he was graduated in 1877, and then began the study of medicine. After careful preparation he attended lectures at the college of physicians and surgeons, New York city, from which he was graduated in 1881, and returned to Milledgeville, where he located and has since practiced his profession. Dr. Callaway is a man of natural ability, and of more than ordinary skill as a surgeon. Personally he is. a very pleasant and most affable gentleman, and universally popular. He is a member of the state medical association.

Dr. Callaway was married in 1882 to Miss Bessie Fleming, a union which has been blessed with two bright sons-Leon and Thomas. He is a member of the masonic fraternity and a member of the Baptist church.

J. HARRIS CHAPPELL, president of the Georgia Normal and Industrial college, Milledgeville, Baldwin Co., was born near Macon, Bibb Co., Ga., Oct. 18, 1849. When eight years old his father moved to Columbus, Ga., where he received his primary education. Later, in 1869-70, he attended the university of Virginia. Soon after leaving the university he began teaching school, filling engagements in Clinton, Jones Co., and in other small country towns until 1877, when he located at his old home in Columbus, where he remained seven

P. J. CLINE.

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years. In 1884 he was elected principal of the State normal school, Jacksonville, Ala., which he held two years and was re-elected, but he declined because of the earnest and urgent solicitations of leading citizens of Columbus, Ga., to return to that city and establish a high grade girls' school. In response to this urgent solicitation he went to Columbus and opened the school. He met with phenomenal success, the attendance soon reaching 150 pupils, demanding a faculty of ten teachers. He was principal-equivalent to a presidency-of this school until 1891, when he retired to accept his present position. He was elected secretary of the Georgia State Teachers' association in 1887, and served one year, and in 1888 he was elected president. For a number of times he has been chosen or appointed by the association as an essayist-unfailingly meeting every expectation. As a practical educator, and one commanding the fullest confidence of the public as such, President Chappell doubtless has equals, but he has few, if any, superiors.

President Chappell was married in 1883 to Carrie, daughter of the late G.H. Brown, Madison, Ga., for many years president of the Madison female college. She died childless in 1886, and in 1891 he contracted a second marriage with Etta, daughter of Dr. J. Kincaid, Rome, Ga., by whom he has had two children-Cal- mese, deceased, and Cornelia.

PETER J. CLINE .- Industry and economy, when accompanied by intelligently

directed enterprise, will generally win under any surroundings; but there now and then occur cases of more than ordinary success and interest. One of the most conspicuous of these, as well as one of the most instructive, is that of Peter J. Cline, merchant-farmer and stock raiser, Milledgeville, Baldwin Co., Ga., son of Peter and Bridget Cline, who was born in Augusta, Ga., Sept. 22, 1845. His parents were natives of County Roscommon, Ireland, and the subject of this sketch was the only one of the children born in this country. Mr. Cline's father, a teacher by profession, emigrated to this country in 1843 and settled in Augusta, Ga., where, by his unusual ability he soon attained prominence and influence and position in the city government. About three years afterward he sent for his family, and two years later, in 1848, he died, aged thirty-nine years. His widow was born in 1813 and died in 1853. Both were devout Catholics.

On the death of his parents Mr. Cline was placed under the guardianship of his sister, Miss Mary E. Cline, who with himself were the only surviving members of the family. He was sent to Sharon, Taliaferro Co., Ga., to school. While he was at school his sister married Patrick Otis, of Augusta, Ga., and after his return from school he was "cash-boy" in a dry-goods store for some time in Augusta. In February, 1861, he was sent to St. Vincent college in Pennsylvania, where he remained until July, 1864, when he left there and started home. By the time he had reached Louisville, Ky., his money gave out, and having no friends and knowing no one through whom to get a passport, he sought employment, which he finally obtained on the railway, and worked his way as a brakeman to Nashville. In that city, having some friends, he secured a situation in a crock- ery store and retained it some considerable time. Himself and other "southern boys" there were very closely watched, but the national characteristics of impul- siveness and impetuous courage caused him to be more closely watched than others, and involved him in several fights with the Federal authorities, and finally five weeks' incarceration in jail-and he was really threatened with more serious punishment. Through the influence of kind friends he was finally released, and there being no railway transportation, he left Nashville as quickly as possible for Augusta by wagon, via Atlanta. On reaching Augusta he obtained a situa-

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tion in a dry-goods store, which he kept until December following, when he went to Crawfordville, Ga., where he clerked several months. In 1869 he went to Atlanta, where he entered the employ of John Gannon in his dry-goods store, and remained about a year. Returning to Augusta he clerked awhile and then formed a partnership with J. P. Quinn and sold silks and broadcloth in South Carolina with horse and wagon-a portable store. Starting with a joint capital of $150, he made $1,400 in between four and five months. He now "struck out" for bigger things. In September, 1870, he and his partner began business in Milledgeville under the firm name of Cline & Quinn, and in 1873 established a branch store, with Mr. Quinn as manager in Eatonton, Ga. In 1875 the firm, with $23,000 cash capital, dissolved. Their success had been phenomenal from the beginning; a very striking example, as well as affording the greatest encour- agement to young men ambitious of success in any line of human endeavor. Turning his attention to husbandry, he has been no less successful and prosperous; and here, also, sets an example which thousands of southern farmers would do well to emulate. He has a large grass farm, is the largest hay producer in that part of the state, and is making money at it. In addition to this he has one of the largest and best blooded herds of Jersey cattle in the south-no better pedigree in the country-in which he takes just pride, as well as realizes large profits. When southern farmers "wake up" and work up to the great possibilities of their section there will be tens of thousands like the enterprising subject of this sketch. It was hardly possible that a man of Mr. Cline's practical business qualities should be entirely overlooked by his fellow-citizens-so he has been elected to the mayoralty of Milledgeville, been a member of the board of trustees of the Middle Georgia Military and Agricultural college, a director in the bank, and was appointed by Gov. Northen a member of the board of commissioners to the colored school at Savannah-all through the urgent solicitation of friends. He has always been an active temperance worker, and although not a prohibition- ist has never taken a drink of whisky. How much of his success may be credited to that?

Mr. Cline was married in 1874 to Miss Katie L., daughter of Hugh Treanor, of Milledgeville, by whom he had seven children, six of whom are living. The mother of these, a devout and exemplary member of the Catholic church, died in August, 1884. Subsequently he married a sister of his first wife, who has borne him six children, of whom five survive. Mr. Cline and wife and family are devout and influential members of the Catholic church.

THOMAS JEFFERSON COOPER, farmer-merchant, Stevens Pottery, Ga., son of William M. and Millie (McGinty) Cooper, was born in Muscogee county in 1837. His father and mother were both born in 1811; the former died in 1866 and the latter in 1886, and both were devoted and devout members of the Primitive Baptist church. They were the parents of eight children: Mary, wife of James T. Robinson; Melinda, wife of W. R. Fenn; Thomas J., the subject of this sketch; Emily, widow of Mr. Etheridge; Catharine, deceased; James, died at Goldsboro, N. C., while in the Confederate service; Elizabeth, wife of W. C. Patterson; Gatsey, wife of W. F. Partee.

Mr. Cooper's parents moved to Baldwin county about 1845, so that he was raised and educated in the county of which he has been a citizen fifty years. On attaining to manhood he began farming, but in 1862 enlisted in a company commanded by Capt. Conn, went to Virginia and was discharged. He re-en- listed under Col. (afterward Gen.) Doles, serving six months; next under Capt. Lofton, and later, for awhile under both Capts. Beman and Rutherford, and was

COL. CHARLES DUBIGNON.

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finally discharged in Augusta in 1865. He came home from the war to find his earnings all gone, and that he must begin life anew, so he set about the "reconstruc- tion" of his own affairs with a will. By hard work, and working early, late and long, practicing economy and investing his surplus judiciously he has forged ahead until he now owns 635 acres of excellent, well-improved farm-land, and since 1868 has had a well-stocked general merchandise store, where he does a good and profitable business. He is now one of the leading planters and one of the solidest and most reliable men of Baldwin county. For four years he served his fellow-citizens as a justice of the peace.

Mr. Cooper was married in 1858 to Miss Sarah, daughter of Joseph S. and · Fannie Etheridge, a union which has been blessed with twelve children: Catha- rine, James, Charles, Sallie, Fannie, John, Effie, Mamie, Roy, Cleveland and two which died in infancy. The mother of these died in 1892 and subsequently Mr. Cooper married Miss M. E. Fenn.

COL. CHARLES DU BIGNON, deceased, was the son of Col. Henry and Amelia (Nicolson) Du Bignon, and was born on Jekyl island, Glynn county, Ga., Jan. 4, 1809. After receiving his preparatory education in his native state he went north to finish it. On his return he read law under the late R. R. Cuyler, one of the most eminent lawyers of his time, and for many years the able president of the Central Railroad & Banking company, and located in Glynn county. In 1841 he was elected to represent the county at the general assembly at Milledgeville, then the capital. In 1844 he moved from Glynn to Baldwin county, where he made his permanent home, and abandoned politics and the practice of his profession to look after the very large plantation interests of his wife, whose father, Senator Grant- land, was then one of the wealthiest men in Georgia. He was a magnificent specimen of southern manhood and chivalry and was made captain of the governor's horse guards, which was composed of the flower of the citizenry of the state's capital and Baldwin county. As the captain of this company he went to the Confederate army in Virginia. He died at Woodville, near Milledgeville, Baldwin Co., Sept. 13, 1877, and is entombed in the cemetery at Milledgeville. His estimable widow, who survives him, is living at the old homestead.

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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 37

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