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 60

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 60

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CARROLL COUNTY SKETCHES.

S.J. BROWN, ordinary of Carroll county, Carrollton, Ga., son of Samuel and Ruth T. (Brooks) Brown, was born in Newton county, Ga., in 1842. His grandfather, Burrell Brown, came to Georgia late in the last century and settled in the woods. Mr. Brown's father was born in Burke county, Ga., in 1800. After receiving his education he taught school a number of years himself, finally settling on some lands in the woods in Newton county, living alone and working hard to open a farm. In 1836 be married his wife, a daughter of Terrell Brooks, and reared a family of nine children. In 1854 he removed to Carroll county, where the future ordinary took his lessons in and enjoyed the beauties and facilities of pioneer life. Judge Brown was reared on the farm, and attended the common county schools. In 1861 he enlisted in Company B, Capt. Charles A. McDaniel, Cobb's legion, Gen. T. D. R. Cobb, and participated in many important battles; Dam No. I on the Peninsula, in April, 1862; the retreat toward Richmond; in the seven days' fight, Fredericksburg, Dec. 13, 1862; Chancellorsville, May I, 1863, when he was wounded in making a charge on the enemy's breastworks, and returned home in June. Although disabled by the loss of the use of his arm, he determined to return to the army and to his company, and as he could do nothing else he carried water and waited on the sick and wounded, exhibiting a patriotic, self-sacrificing disposition very rare. After his return he participated in the battles of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Hanover Junction, Cold Harbor, Petersburg and several other battles, remaining in the field until July, 1864, when he was retired on account of disabilities. After the war he attended Bowdon college, remaining from 1867 until 1871, and then he taught school until 1875. In 1876 he was elected county school commissioner, and held the office eight years. From 1881 to 1884 he taught school again. In 1885 he was elected ordinary of the county, and has held the office continuously since. Judge Brown was married Jan. 10, 1871, to Miss Charlotte C., born in Lee county, Ala., a daughter of W. T. and Ann (Stringer) Colquitt, by whom he has had eight children: Ruth, Belle, Mary Lee, Helen, George C., Samuel D., Mattie and Lamar. Judge Brown is a Primitive, and his wife a Missionary Baptist. He has made an upright, faithful officer, is esteemed by everybody, and will probably hold the office as long as he wants it.

W.F. BROWN, lawyer, Carrollton, Carroll Co., Ga., son of James C. and Emily M. (Knight) Brown, was born in Carroll county in 1850. His grandfather, John Brown, was born in South Carolina, whence he came to Georgia in ox-carts and settled in the woods on land now included in De Kalb county. They lived in tents until they cut the logs to build their cabin, and then cleared the land for cropping. In 1832, ten years after De Kalb county was laid off, he removed to Carroll county, organized a year or two before, and again settled in the woods, practically repeating his experience in making the home he had left. Mr. Brown's father was born in what is now De Kalb county in 1815, and accompanied the family to its new home. His mother's parents, John C. and Emily (Hopkins) Knight, were among Carroll's early settlers. Mr. Brown was reared in Carroll county and received a good common school education. When nineteen years of age he began teaching school and continued it seven years, and also began reading

law. In 1876 he entered the literary department of the University of Georgia, and was graduated in 1878. He was admitted to the bar, and entered upon the practice of law in 1880, and has been eminently successful. He is recognized as being as well read in law as the majority of the profession practicing in his circuit, as one of its leading lawyers, and gains his share of the cases intrusted to his management. He has a good and growing clientage. No citizen stands higher or better in the estimation of the people than Mr. Brown. In 1884 he was elected to represent

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Carroll county in the general assembly and served the term. Mr. Brown was married in 1873 to Miss Emily, daughter of Archey and Malinda (George) Hagan. The father was one of the early settlers in Coweta county --- the mother was born in Jackson county, Ga. Of the eight children born to Mr. and Mrs. Brown these seven are living: Earl I., appointed to a cadetship at the West Point Military academy, after passing a crucial competitive examination; Ralph S., Emily, Paul F., Willie G., Harry D., and Eveline. Mr. Brown is a member of the I. O. O. F., and in masonry a royal and select master. Himself and wife are working mem- bers of the Methodist church-he being superintendent of the Sunday school. He is also one of the trustees of the Hucheson Collegiate institute. He is now judge of Carroll City court under appointment of Ex-Gov. Northen. Altogether Mr. Brown is a thoroughgoing, progressive and most worthy citizen.

O. D. BUNT, farmer and merchant, Bowdon, Carroll Co., Ga., son of John R. and Frances J. (Morris) Bunt, was born in De Kalb county, Ga., in 1857. His paternal grandfather, Thomas Bunt, was a native of South Carolina, and came to Georgia early in this century. He was a soldier during the revolutionary war. Mr. Bunt's father was born in South Carolina in 1825, and came to Georgia with his parents when a child. In 1861 he enlisted in Capt. Potts' company for two years, and in 1863 re-enlisted and served until the surrender. He had acquired a large property before the war, but lost it all; and when he returned from the army he had to make a new start. His maternal grandparents, Obadiah and Sarah (Binion) Morris, were native Georgians. Mr. Bunt was reared on a farm, and as the war was raging, and school facilities were limited, during his boyhood he was favored with but limited schooling. But he had capacity, and with it ambition and pluck, and so he pressed forward in the race of life. Without money, but with the qualities mentioned, he is fairly on the road to wealth and position. He now owns a 350-acre farm of fine land, and has supplemented his farm with a general mer- chandise store, building up a good trade and largely increasing his income. Mr. Bunt was married in 1884 to Miss Nora P., daughter of L. J. and Ada J. (Hood) Aderhold, all born in Carroll county. Her father was a son of G. W. Aderhold, who was born in 1843, and served gallantly in the Confederate army under Gen. Bragg, and was a physician of some note. Three children have blessed this union: Ethel, Leola and Hettie. Mr. and Mrs. Bunt are members of the Methodist church, with cheering prospects of a prosperous and happy future.

JAMES W. BURNS, farmer, Bowdon, Carroll Co., Ga., son of Samuel and Jane (Morris) Burns, was born in Florida, Dec. 19, 1838. His grandfather on his father's side, James Burns, came from Ireland to the United States early in this century, settled in North Carolina, and was a soldier in the war of 1812. He was a near relative of the poet, Robert Burns. In 1835 he came to Georgia and settled and cleared a farm in Henry county. Some years subsequently he re- moved to Carroll county and settled. Mr. Burns' father was born in Ireland in 1804, came to this country with his father, and with the family from North Carolina to Georgia. His grandparents on his mother's side, William and Hannah Morris, were natives of Virginia, whence they came to Georgia and made their home in De Kalb county, being among the county's pioneer settlers. Mr. Burns was reared on the farm, received only the limited education obtainable between "laying- by" and "fodder-pulling" time at the old-time school house two and a half miles away. In early manhood he taught school two years. In 1861 he enlisted in Company E (Capt. James Blalock), First Georgia cavalry; for a while he was with Gen. Forrest, and afterward with Gen. Wheeler. To have been with either

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CARROLL COUNTY SKETCHES.

of those generals means that he saw as much continuous hard service and bore a part in as much hard fighting as any one during the war. He was engaged in the battles of Perryville, Murfreesboro, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge and Franklin, and was with Johnston and Hood all the way to Atlanta; and under Wheeler made the raid all the way to Nashville, and was with the forces that harassed Sherman when "marching through Georgia;" while in the service he was sergeant of his company. After the war he returned to Georgia. Mr. Burns was married in 1865 to Miss Elizabeth F. Moore-born in Henry county -- daughter of Harrison Moore, a native of Georgia, who removed from Henry to Carroll county, and who, though starting poor, lived to become rich. To the happiness of this household eleven children were added, nine of whom are living: Sarah J., Lula, James M., Beulah, Benjamin L., Samuel H., Ed, Katie and Joseph. After his marriage he began life without a dollar, but by hard work, economy and good management he has accumulated a fine property, includ- ing 1,000 acres of excellent land, with an improved farm and a delightful home in Bowdon. He is solid, substantial, popular. Mrs. Burns is a member of the Missionary Baptist church.

WILLIAM B. CANDLER, merchant, Villa Rica, Carroll Co., Ga., son of Samuel C. and Martha (Beall) Candler, was born in Carroll county in 1847. An ancestor of the family, which is one among the most distinguished in Georgia at this time, was an officer in Cromwell's army. Mr. Candler's great-grandfather, William C. Candler, came from Ireland to America before the revolutionary war and was an officer in the patriot army. His paternal grandparents, Daniel and Sarah (Slaughter) Candler, were native Georgians. Mr. Candler's father was born in Upson county, Ga., in 1809, and removed to Carroll county in 1832, where he began life by working in the gold mines at $6 a month. His life success affords another and striking illustration of the opportunities this country affords for acquiring fortunes and achieving distinction. He served as a justice of the inferior court of the county a number of years; he represented the county in the general assembly-once as senator and twice as representative-and was in Charleston in 1860 at the democratic presidential convention. He was one of eleven children, all of whom are living but one; he was a "live" member of the masonic fraternity, and at the age of sixty joined the Methodist church. From a poorly-paid workingman he rose to wealth and honor and lived to a ripe old age. Mr. Candler's maternal grandparents, Noble and Justain (Hooper) Beall, were of Scotch descent and early settlers in Georgia. Mr. Candler was reared on the farm within a mile of where he now lives, and attended school at the "regulation" log school house. But, as during his youthhood war raged the fiercest, and there was the direst necessity for field labor, his educational advan- tages were seriously curtailed. After the war ended he taught school six months and after that (1868) embarked in the mercantile business, in which he has been exceptionally successful. In 1871 Mr. Candler was married to Miss Lizzie Slaugh- ter-born in Carroll county-daughter of Dr. J. T. and Melvina (Freeman) Slaugh- ter. Dr. Slaughter was a leading and one of the most prominent physicians in the state. Four children blessed this happy union: Eugene, Florence, Lizzie and William B. Mr. Candler and two of the children are members of the Presbyterian church, and Mrs. Candler and the other two children are members of the Methodist church. Mr. Candler rates high in the commercial world as a man of practical business and financial ability, while in social life himself and family are outranked by none.

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MEMOIRS OF GEORGIA.

W.A. COLEMAN, farmer and banker, Carrollton, Carroll Co., Ga., son of Henry A. and Sarah Ann (Barnes) Coleman, was born in 1838. His paternal grandparent, George Coleman, was a native of South Carolina, and came from that state to Georgia early in this century. His father was born in Putnam county, Ga., in 1814, was reared a farmer, and was a soldier in the Indian war of 1836. For many years he was bailiff, and also a major of militia in Cobb county, Ga., when to be a major was something of a distinction locally. He was a prominent member of the Missionary Baptist church. His maternal grand- parents, James and Sarah (Mckenzie) Barnes, were among the early settlers of Lincoln county, Ga. Mr. Coleman was reared on a farm in De Kalb county, and what little education he received was at the old-time log school so many times described elsewhere in this volume, and in obtaining it had to go three or four miles barefooted. In October, 1861, he enlisted in Company E (Capt. Sharpe), First Georgia cavalry, and continued in the service until April 26, 1865. He was in many hard-fought battles, notably Chickamauga, Resaca, Kennesaw and Marietta-all the way to Atlanta and Savannah. He was on the skirmish line when Stoneman surrendered, and although he was neither wounded nor captured during the war, he narrowly escaped both. A spirit of enterprise and adventure took him to Honduras, Central America, in 1868, when he carried with him the necessary machinery and implements to engage extensively in saw-milling, fruit growing and cane-culture. He sawed the first lumber ever sawed and baled the first cotton ever baled for shipment in that country. His extensive manufacturing, agriculture and property interests in Honduras are now in charge of his son, William F., who resides there. From that source he derives a very large income, in addition to that from a large, well-improved farm in Carroll county, for, in addition to successfully managing enterprises so large and so remote, he prides himself on being one of the best farmers in his county. His success in every- thing he has undertaken has been phenomenal. He changed his residence from his farm to Carrollton, where he has an elegant home, so as to educate his children. He is one of the directors of the Carrollton bank. Mr. Coleman was married in 1858 to Miss Cynthia Riggs-born in Butts county, Ga .- daughter of John and Jane (Florence) Riggs, early settlers. Mr. Riggs was born in South Carolina, ran away from home and came to Georgia when sixteen years of age, and after- ward became a Baptist minister of note. This wife died in 1877, leaving one child, William F., now in Honduras. In January, 1879, Mr. Coleman married Miss Clara, daughter of Valentine and Eliza (Gant) Kolb, a family of wealth, and among the first settlers of Meriwether county, Ga. By this marriage two children have been born to him-Laura and James. Mrs. Coleman is a member of the Missionary Baptist church and Mr. Coleman is a master Mason.

HENRY F. CRAWFORD, farmer, Temple, Carroll Co., Ga., son of Gallant and Katie Crawford, was born in what is now Spalding county, in 1846. His paternal grandfather, William Crawford, was a native Virginian, came to Georgia in ox-carts in 1810, and settled in the woods. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. Mr. Crawford's father was born in what is now Henry county, in 1816, and was reared a farmer, and followed farming all his life. He was a soldier in the Indian war of 1836. His maternal grandparents were among the first settlers and wealthy citizens of that part of the state. Mr. Crawford was reared on the farm and had to work hard, and so had to be content with a very limited education. In 1864 he enlisted in Company F (Capt. Thomas), Phillips' legion, and, although his service was not lengthy, it was rough and arduous. He participated in the Bellfield creek raid-three days' fighting-the battle of Petersburg, and the stirring events

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of the closing scenes of the war. He was in the engagement at Orangeburg, S. C., and Salisbury, N. C., and was at Charlotte, N. C., at the time of the surrender. After the war he came home and engaged in farming. In 1870, Mr. Crawford was married to Miss Nancy, daughter. of John and Eliza (Weidner) Lee. Mr. Lee, her father, was born in Kentucky in 1818, and when seventeen years of age ran away from home and came to Georgia with some hog drivers, and never returned. Having fine business capacity, and being a shrewd trader he became very rich, but the war about ruined him. When Mr. Crawford married he was very poor, but not discouraged, and his wife proved a helpmeet, indeed; she worked with him in the field during the day, and at night spun and wove the cloth and made the clothing for the family. Thus they worked together and struggled on as plain farmers, until now he has a good 200-acre farm and comfortable home where he lives, and, nearby a 250-acre tract of choice land. To them six children have been born: Alice, wife of Cas Cantrell; Robert, Frank, William H., Rilla, and O. V. Mr. and Mrs. Crawford are members of the Missionary Baptist church, content with their success in life, and happy in the consciousness of having the confidence and esteem of their neighbors.

FLISHA CREEL, farmer, Mandeville, Carroll Co., Ga., son of George and Harriet (Belcher) Creel, was born in Fayette county, Ga., in 1847. His maternal grandfather, William Belcher, was a Clayton county, Ga., pioneer and was a soldier in the war of 1812. Mr. Creel's father was born in what is now Monroe county, in 1816; but while yet a young man he removed to Fayette county, among its earliest settlers, settled in the woods and cleared a farm. From this small beginning he has become by hard work and economy, and careful management, one of the wealthiest men in the county. Mr. Creel was reared on the farm and received but a limited education. In 1866, he married Mary Ann Miller-born in Campbell county-daughter of Jefferson and Eliza (Eidson) Miller, early settlers of Campbell county. Of thirteen children born to them these nine are living: George J., Joe, Wiley, Robert, Alice, Alvin, Hattie, Mary and Anna. Mr. Creel began life without a dollar and for some years had a very hard time. He moved to Carroll county in 1869 and in a few years began to prosper. He has now an excellent 750-acre farm, well improved, is recognized as one of the best fariners in the county, and is getting rich. He is another and a convincing example of what can be done in farming in Georgia when the farmer works intelligently, and works hard and early and late, saves a surplus and judiciously invests it. He commands the confidence and respect of all who know him. Mrs. Creel is a member of the Baptist church.

JOHN F. CULPEPPER, SR., Whitesburg, Carroll Co., Ga., son of Joel and Elizabeth (Whitaker) Culpepper, was born in Coweta county, Ga., May 17, 1835. His paternal grandfather, Malachi Culpepper, was one of the early settlers of Morgan county, and was a soldier in the revolutionary war. His maternal grandparents, John and Polly Whitaker (nee Holliway), were among the early settlers of Coweta county. His father was born in Morgan county, April 1, 1802, where he was reared, and lived until 1827, when he removed to Coweta county and settled in the woods. Mr. Culpepper was reared in Coweta county, and received a good common school education, earning the money himself that paid his school expenses one year. In 1855, he engaged as a clerk in a store in Carrollton, and after one year's experience "opened up" for himself, and continued in business until 1862, when he enlisted in Company B, Seventh regiment, Confederate cavalry (Capt. L. J. Smith). At the end of a year he hired a substitute, and entered I-27

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into a contract with the secretary of war to gather material for the manufacture of ammunition for the armies, which contract continued until the surrender. After the war he entered mercantile life again in Newnan, Ga., and in 1877 lost every- thing, and went on the farm where he now lives. He made two starts in life, and failed to attain his end; but in his last undertaking, that of farming, he has suc- ceeded beyond his most sanguine expectations, and rightly feels proud and exultant over his success. Mr. Culpepper was married in 1857 to Miss Epsie Boon-born in Carroll county-daughter of Jesse and Nancy (Lester) Boon, old settlers of the county. To them five children have been born-three living: Lucinda, wife of W. C. Branan; Anna, wife of T. E. Walten; and Vela. Mrs. Culpepper is a member of the Methodist church, and he is a royal arch Mason. Mr. Culpepper is a wide-awake, progressive farmer, and very much respected by all who know him.

F. M. FIEDLER, retired farmer, Villa Rica, Carroll Co., Ga., son of Terrell and Rebecca (Nolan) Fiedler, was born in Morgan county, Ga., in 1823. His great-grandparents, Jasper and Mary (Stewart) Fiedler, came from England to America before the revolutionary war, and settled in Virginia. Among the passengers aboard the same vessel was a Welsh family named Stewart -- husband and wife and little daughter. The parents died during the voyage, and the little girl was reared by a family named Fiedler. She afterward became the wife of James Fiedler and lived to be nearly 100 years old. Mr. Fiedler's grandparents, James and Sally (Benga) Fiedler, migrated from Virginia to Georgia and settled in the woods in Greene county, whence in a few years they removed to what is now Morgan county and cleared another farm, where they made a permanent home and remained until they died-he in 1813 and she in 1830, aged seventy years. Mr. Fiedler's father was born in what is now Morgan county in 1797, and was a soldier in the war of 1812. On reaching manhood he was ordained a minister of the Missionary Baptist church, and preached in 'Morgan and adjoining counties. Having drawn some land in Meriwether county for his services in the war of 1812, himself and his brother-in-law, Sam. Harris, removed to Meriwether county, in 1833. They settled in the dense unbroken forest, in which Indians and wild animals roamed and prowled at will. His father organized a Baptist church -the first in that part of the state-in an old dilapidated log house, which had been built and used for a sheep pen. He afterward, in 1851, moved to Tallapoosa county, Ala., where he died in 1873, aged seventy-six years, peacefully closing a life faithfully spent in doing good and preaching the gospel. His maternal grand- parents, George and Rebecca Nolan, were natives of South Carolina, who, coming to Georgia, settled near Madison, Morgan county. Mr. Fiedler was mostly reared in Meriwether county, and had the benefit of but a few months' schooling, and that was obtained at the old sheep pen where his father organized the church, after a four-mile walk, barefooted. He began life with nothing, and the first land he had he bought on credit, and before the war owned a 600-acre farm and ten slaves. Farming has been the pursuit of his life; and, although not wealthy, he has a fine farm, and a beautiful, comfortable home in Villa Rica. He served as notary public, ex-officio justice of the peace, two years. He was too old for regular service in the army, but served about six months in the Home guard. Mr. Fiedler was married in 1848 to Miss Martha Dobbs-born in South Carolina- daughter of Silas and Nancy (Myers) Dobbs, natives of South Carolina, who settled in Carroll county, in 1852. To them four children have been born, two of whom are living: Rebecca, wife of Dr. G. W. Strickland; and Silas O., who married Florence, daughter of William Candler. Mr. Fiedler joined the church

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when seventeen years of age and has lived a consistent Christian life; and himself and his devoted companion are both members of the Missionary Baptist church.

W. W. FITTS, physician and surgeon, Carrollton, Carroll Co., Ga., son of Walker and Ann P. (Christian) Fitts, was born in Elbert county, Ga., in 1830. His grandfather, Tandy Fitts, was born in Virginia, and was a soldier during the revolutionary war. His father was also born in Virginia, and came to Elbert county and settled in the woods in 1820. In 1829 he went to Monroe county, Ga., and again cleared a farm in the woods. His grandfather on his mother's side, William Christian, was born in Virginia, moved to Georgia, and was among Elbert's early settlers. Dr. Fitts was reared in Monroe county, and was edu- cated in an old-time log schoolhouse with dirt floor, lighted through apertures cut in the logs, the seats being of slabs from the near-by sawmill, with holes bored in them in which to insert the legs. There he was instructed in the old blue-back Webster's speller, reading, writing, and in Smiley's arithmetic, by Prof. Newnan. In after years he attended a good school, taught school himself and studied medicine. In 1856 he went to Atlanta, placed himself under the preceptorship of Drs. J. G. and W. F. Westmoreland, and entered Atlanta Medical college, where he graduated in 1860, and located in Calhoun county, Ala. In 1861 he enlisted in Company K (Capt. Ridley), Forty-fourth Alabama regiment (Col. Dent). Before the command went to the army he was made surgeon. He remained in the service until 1863, when he resigned on account of sickness and returned home. Dr. Fitts was married in 1855 to Miss A. W. Brown-born in Newton county-daughter of Samuel and Ruth (Brooks) Brown, who has borne him six children: Emma, wife of C. B. Simonton; William L., M. D., a graduate of the Atlanta medical college, and eleven years in practice; Robert H., druggist; Anna, wife of R. N. Moses, postmaster, Carrollton, Ga .; Eugenia, wife of Frank Weens, of Rome, Ga., and James W., merchant. Dr. Fitts moved to Carrollton in 1863, took the lead there at once in his profession, has established a large and remunerative practice, and enjoys the esteem and confidence of his fellow citizens. He has been a Mason since 1855, and is a member of the Council of Royal and Select Masters. He has filled all the offices below that of W. M. in the blue lodge, and was a representative of the lodge many years. Himself and wife and family are members of the Baptist church.

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Memoirs of Georgia; containing historical accounts of the state's civil, military, industrial and professional interests, and personal sketches of many of its people. Vol. I, Part 60

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