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 61

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 61

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JUDSON T. FULLER, farmer, Villa Rica, Carroll Co., Ga., son of Alfred and Amanda (Evans) Fuller, was born in Meriwether county, Ga., in 1851. His paternal grandparent, William Fuller, was a native of South Carolina, and came to Georgia in 1828 and settled in the woods in Meriwether county. He was one of the pioneers, started on labor and pluck, and became one of the county's leading and wealthy citizens. Mr. Fuller's father was born in South Carolina, came to Georgia with his father, and helped to clear and then work the farin. His maternal grandparents, Elijah and Mary (Reed) Evans, were also natives of South Carolina, who came to Georgia about the time Meriwether county was laid out, and were among the early settlers in its woods. He was a tanner by trade and became rich. Mr. Fuller was reared on the farm, and as he passed through youth during the war enjoyed quite limited educational advantages. In 1866 he came to Carroll county and began life by hiring out. By persistent, well- directed effort, economy and good management he has acquired a fine property- 1,400 acres of good land, including a large, well-improved farm within five miles of Villa Rica, and an elegant home in the little city, where he is living a con- tented life, happier than if he were a millionaire. Such men are the nation's

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reliance in extreme emergencies. Mr. Fuller was married in 1872 to Miss Mary E. Johnson-born in Walton county, Ga .- daughter of William and Elizabeth (Malcom) Johnson. This marriage has been blessed with seven children: Beulah, Lela, Maggie, Hardy, Thomas, Maude and De Witt. Mrs. Fuller is a consistent and devoted member of the Baptist church. It is almost needless to add that Mr. Fuller is one of the little city's most substantial and reliable citizens, and he and his interesting family rank with the best.

ALLEN M. GAY, farmer, Bowdon, Carroll Co., Ga., son of Gilbert and Sarah (Stamps) Gay, was born in Coweta county in 1831.,His paternal grandparents, Allen and Abigail (Castleberry) Gay, were Virginians by birth, and he was a soldier in the patriot army during the revolutionary war. Some years after that they migrated to Georgia and settled in Hancock county-bona fide pioneers. Here Mr. Gay's father was born in 18II. When he was thirteen years of age he went to Wilkinson county, Ga., whence a few years afterward he moved to Coweta county. In 1848 he removed to Heard county and settled on Jumping Creek, where he ended his days. Mr. Gay's mother was a daughter of Moses and Ann (Eason) Stamps, who came to Georgia and settled in the woods in Jackson county in 1795. He cleared a farm and also did work as a gun and blacksmith. Leaving Jackson, he went to Gwinnett, and after two years went to Clarke county, where he staid two years, and then went back to Jackson county. From Jackson he went to Fayette, and lastly to Coweta county, where he died. June 29, 1894, Eson Stamps, Mr. Gay's uncle, his mother's brother, was one hundred years old, and he was given a birthday dinner-spread picnic style on the grass under the trees-at Mr. Gay's home. There were about 500 people there, of whom he fed 300. The Grandfather Stamps was a soldier during the war of 1812, in the wars with the Indians, and was captain of a company in the Indian war of 1836. Mr. Gay was reared a farmer, and was given such education as the schools afforded during his boyhood-taught as they were in log houses, with dirt floor and slab or split log seats. In 1851 he was married to Miss Martha Stamps-born in Jack- son county in 1822-daughter of Eson and Polly (Watts) Stamps, who has borne him five children, of whom only one, Sarah F., wife of Jeff Butler, is now living. When he married himself and wife had but one change of clothing, but now he has a well-improved 350-acre farm and is a well-to-do farmer. Himself and wife are members of the Missionary Baptist church and are much respected by all who know them.

JAMES P. GRIFFIN, merchant, Temple, Carroll Co., Ga., son of Charles W. and Sarah (New) Griffin, was born in De Kalb county in 1838. His paternal grandparent, James P. Griffin, was a native of South Carolina, came to Georgia in 1818, and settled in what is now De Kalb county. At that time they had to tramp their wheat out on the floor. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. Mr. Griffin's father was born in Abbeville district, S. C., in 18II, came to Georgia with his parents when he was seven years old, and was reared on the farm originally settled. He followed farming all his life, was a soldier in the Indian war in 1836, and was a member of the Methodist church. His maternal grandparent, Joel New, was a native of South Carolina and among the early settlers of De Kalb county. Mr. Griffin was reared on a farm in Carroll county, where he went with the family when he was eight years old. His father being a very poor man, and he the eldest boy of eleven children, had to work very hard, and was almost entirely deprived of the school advantages he yearned for. Oftentimes, too, he had to plow through briar patches and his feet would get so badly torn he could hardly

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walk. After he became of age he "boarded himself" and went to school. In 1862 he enlisted in Company E (Capt. Blalock), First Georgia cavalry, and during the war was in many hard-fought battles, among them Richmond, Ky., Wheeler's Gap, Murfreesboro, Chickamauga, Resaca, and thence to Atlanta and on to Macon. At the time of surrender he was at Greensborough, N. C. He was in numerous minor engagements, and during his service had several horses shot from under him, but was so fortunate as to escape being wounded or captured. A part of the time he acted as orderly-sergeant. After the war Mr. Griffin worked a farm at fifty cents a day and taught school. Struggling on, working hard, and saving his money, he at last came into the ownership of a 500-acre farm of good land, and well improved. In 1881 he engaged in a general merchandising business at Temple, where he has built up a good and profitable trade and has made and is making money. For six years he served as justice of the peace. Intelligent, industrious, and economical, in connection with energy and judicious enterprise, it may be expected his achieved success will be far exceeded by that of the future. Mr. Griffin was married in 1868 to Miss Sarah A. Adams-born and reared in Carroll county-daughter of Absalom and Elizabeth (Reid) Adams, by whom he has had seven children: Joseph, Ryburn, M. E., Bettie M., Lewis, Ella and Claudie. Mr. Griffin is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and himself and wife and all the children except the baby are members of the Methodist church.

R. L. GRIFFIN, farmer, Carrollton, Carroll Co., Ga., son of Charles W. and Sarah (New) Griffin, was born in De Kalb county, Ga., in 1848. His father was born in what is now De Kalb county in 1812, where he was reared a farmer, and moved to Carroll county in 1850. He settled on a farm about eight miles from Carrollton. His mother was the daughter of John and Mary New. Mr. Griffin was reared mostly in Carroll county, a plain farmer, and was educated at the "old field" school, taught in a log cabin. After reaching manhood he taught school about ten years and then engaged in farming. In 1887 he was elected tax collector and served two terms (four years) and discharged the duties of that office to the entire satisfaction of the people. In 1869 Mr. Griffin was married to Miss Georgia Holmes-born in Coweta county-daughter of Thomas and Mary Holmes, by whom he has had nine children: Charles M., Mattie, Thomas, Percy, Herbert, Mary, Lee, Ellen and Barron. Starting with nothing, Mr. Griffin has now one of the best improved farms, containing 360 acres, in his localitv, and is well thought of as a wide-awake, progressive farmer. Himself and wife are members of the Methodist church.

S. E. GROW, lawyer, Carrollton, Carroll Co., Ga., son of Paschal P. and Elmyra (Wollcott) Grow, was born in Carroll county in 1851. The family is, of Eng- lish origin, and among the early settlers of Vermont, in the person of John Grow, the great-great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch. His great-grandparents were Joseph and Tirszah (Sangor) Grow, and his grandparents were Samuel and Jerushia (Stowell) Grow. His great-grandfather and his grandfather were soldiers in the patriot army during the revolutionary war. His parents were school teach- ers, and migrated from Vermont to Georgia, and settled in the woods in Carroll county in 1836-bona fide "pioneers." In the early history of the county his father was one of its leading citizens. Three of his sons were in the Confederate army: Paschal P., who was in the battle of Manassas, died while in the service; Jacob C., now a Presbyterian minister in Llano, Tex., and Lewis K., who was killed in the charge at Petersburg. Mr. Grow's father died in 1861. Mr. Grow was reared in the county and received a good common school education. He

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began teaching in 1874, also read law and was admitted to the bar in Florida, May 10, 1875. Returning to Georgia, he was admitted to the bar in Carrollton, June 1, 1875, and has been in the practice in Carrollton ever since, holding his own with his professional compeers. No one of the local bar outranks him, and he is held in the highest esteem professionally, politically and socially. A safe counselor, and an able and impressive advocate, he has secured a valuable client- age which is augmented every year. In 1882 he was mayor of Carrollton. He was chairman of the democratic fourth congressional committee in 1892, and for four years was chairman of the democratic executive committee of his county and has been re-elected for another term. In 1893 he was appointed clerk to the committee on pensions in the fifty-third congress. He has been a delegate to several state conventions, but although he has always taken great interest in poli- tics, he has never sought or been a candidate for office. Mr. Grow was married in 1877 to Miss Lenora, daughter of Col. Charles A. and Victoria A. (Hines) McDaniel. Her father was colonel of the Forty-first Georgia regiment, and was killed at the battle at Perryville, Ky. When the civil war began he was president of the college at Bowdon, Carroll Co .- a college and town which he founded- and very many of his pupils went with him into the army. To Mr. and Mrs. Grow these children have been born: Samuel E., Dudley M., Victor D., Elmyra, Stepnen and Helen. Mrs. Grow was born in Bowdon. Mr. Grow is a member of the I. O. O. F., and is a member of the council and a select master, of which he has been thrice illustrious master. He has also been worshipful master of his local lodge seven years. He is now district grand deputy. Himself and wife are members of the Presbyterian church. A record such as Mr. Grow's needs no comment-it speaks for itself with emphasis.

ARTHUR D. HARMAN, a farmer, and engaged in milling and cotton ginning business, Carrollton, Carroll Co., Ga., son of William M. and Nancy (Dillard) Harman, was born in Monroe county, Ga., Nov. 14, 1832. His great-grandfather, Hezekiah Harman, emigrated from England to Vir- ginia some years before the revolutionary war, and then moved to North Carolina. His grandparents, Merriman and Nellie (May) Harman, were born in North Carolina, migrated to Georgia in 1828, settled first in Monroe coun- ty, and then went among the first settlers to Meriwether county. There they lived the first year on a dirt floor, and as there was no sawmill near, he split out puncheon with which to lay a floor. Mr. Harman's father was born in Chatham county, N. C., in 1805, where he grew to manhood; then (1826) he came to Georgia and settled in the woods. In 1830 he was married to Nancy, daughter of Arthur and Mary (Abney) Dillard, who were born in South Carolina, and moved thence to Georgia and settled in Jones county in 1826. Both families for generations were farmers. To this union five children were born: Eliza J., Emeline E., Nancy A., Martha F. and Arthur D., the subject of this sketch- all of whom are now living except the eldest daughter. Mr. Harman was reared in Meriwether county and was schooled in the log cabin of that day and locality, with dirt floor, puncheon seats, a chimney made of clay and sticks and square holes cut through the logs for windows. The only time he had for schooling was between "laying-by" and "fodder-pulling" time. Before the war he was cap- tain of the militia, when the position had some local distinction, but in 1861 he enlisted as a private in Company A (Capt. J. D. Frederick), Tenth Georgia battalion (Maj. Rylander). He was on some of the most hotly contested fields-the Wilder- ness, Petersburg, Davis Farm, Blow Up, Deep Bottom, Turkey Ridge, Hatcher's Run, Suffolk, etc. After Suffolk he was transferred to Gen. Ranse Wright's bri-

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gade and remained with it until the surrender at Appomattox. For a considerable time during the war he acted as commissary, and in this position was faithful and prompt in the discharge of every duty. After the war he returned to his farm and has since engaged in farming. In 1892 he moved to Carrollton and invested in milling and cotton-ginning. Mr. Harman was married in 1857 to Miss Jane I. Fincher-born in Troup county-daughter of Isaac and Elizabeth (Brooks) Fincher, who were among the early settlers of Meriwether county. To them eight children have been born: William I., born March 26, 1859; Arthur D., born July II, 1861; John A., born July 13, 1864; Betsy B., born February 15, 1867; James R., born March 3, 1870; Luther M., born Jan. 26, 1872; Edgar S., born March 21, 1875, and Anna I., born Nov. 12, 1878. Mr. Harman is a royal arch Mason and himself and wife are members of the Baptist church. He is a man in whom everybody has the utmost confidence and possesses no inconsid- erable influence, and he and family are highly esteemed.

SAMPSON W. HARRIS, judge of Coweta circuit, Carrollton, Carroll Co., Ga., son of Sampson W. and Paulina (Thomas) Harris, was born in Alabama, in 1838. His great-grandfather, Simpson Harris, was a native of Wales, and emi- grated to Virginia before the revolutionary war. He came to Georgia in 1795 and settled in the woods. His grandparents were Stephen W. and Sarah (Watkins) Harris. His grandfather was one of the first graduates of the university of Georgia, Athens, Ga., was an eminent lawyer, and for many years a judge of the superior court. The father of the subject of this sketch was born in Elbert county, Ga., Feb. 23, 1809, graduating from the university of Georgia in 1828, and removed to Ala- bama in 1837, where he practiced law and rose rapidly professionally and politic- ally. He represented the Fourth congressional district of Alabama for ten years and died in Washington, while in congress, in April, 1857. Judge Harris was reared on the plantation, and received a good common school education. He entered the university of Georgia, in 1853, and graduated in 1857; studied law and was admitted to the bar in Oglethorpe county, Ga., and entered upon the practice. In 1861- he enlisted in Company K (Capt. John T. Lofton) Sixth Georgia regiment, which was assigned to Gen. A. H. Colquitt's command. He served through the war, and was in many hard fought battles. He was seriously wounded and was captured by Sherman's army just before the surrender, but was paroled. He entered the army as first lieutenant, and was gradually promoted until he reached a colonelcy just before the close of the war. After the war he planted a few years, in Chambers county, Ala., and then resumed his law practice. He moved into Georgia in the seventies, and was a member of the constitutional convention of 1877. That same year, also, he was appointed solicitor-general of the Coweta circuit, which office he held until 1880, when he was elected judge of the circuit-a position he still holds. In May, 1894, Gov. Northen tendered him the office of secretary of state to fill a vacancy, but he declined the appointment. In 1866 Judge Harris was married in Alabama to Miss Lucy, daughter of Henry and Emily (Watkins) Todd. This union has been blessed with six children: H. F., physician, graduate of Atlanta medical college, and of Jefferson medical college, Philadelphia, been in practice three years; Sampson; Stephen, graduate of Atlanta medical college; Isabella, Paulina, and Lucy. Judge Harris is a master Mason.

HAMILTON HOGAN, farmer, Whitesburg, Carroll Co., Ga., son of James and Elizabeth (Spraggins) Hogan, was born in Pendleton district, South Carolina, March 1, 1820. His paternal grandparents, William and Nancy (Dillard)

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Hogan, were Virginian born; and Mr. Hogan was a soldier in the revolutionary army. His maternal grandparent, Thomas Spraggins, was a native South Caro- linian, and a soldier in the patriot army during the war for independence. In 1824, Mr. Hogan's father came from South Carolina to Georgia, settled in Haber- sham county, and rented a farm with a cabin on it preparatory to bringing his family. In 1825 he went for some needed articles, and to bring them he cut two poles to serve as shafts, and fastening the box containing his articles on one end, hitched his horse between the poles at the other end. He then put little five-year- old Hamilton, the subject of this sketch, on his horse, and returned to Georgia, he walking all the way. This shows one of the methods by which the "Empire State of the South" was peopled. In 1832 his father moved to Coweta county and cleared a farm on which he ended his days. Mr. Hogan attended school in the old-time schoolhouse, and after he "graduated" he taught school himself five years, by which he earned his first money. He next engaged in farming, which has been his life pursuit, in which he has been successful, and acquired a compe- tency. In 1862, he enlisted in Company H, third Georgia battalion (Col. Stovall) and served one year, when his health failed and he was discharged. As soon as he recovered his health he re-enlisted, this time in Company H, of which he was made orderly sergeant, Sixty-sixth Georgia regiment (Col. Nesbit). He was captured at Decatur, Ala., and after being held some time was paroled. While at home the conflict terminated, and he is now the proud possessor of two one-hundred-dollar bills paid him for his services. Although he was not wounded during his service in the army, the numerous perforations in his clothes show how narrowly he escaped not only wounds but death. He was in the battle of Missionary Ridge, and the charge on Peachtree creek, and many other engagements. In 1876 he . was elected a representative from Carroll county to the general assembly, and was re-elected in 1878, but did not serve out the term. He is now serving his second year as county commissioner, and while serving as such he was largely instru- mental in having erected the really elegant new courthouse, as good as any in the state, and, all things considered, one of the cheapest. Mr. Hogan was mar- ried in 1846 to Miss Jane Watson-born in Carroll county-daughter of Tyre and Clarissa (Sockwell) Watson-Georgia born-by whom he has had nine children: Helen, wife of J. T. Jones; Elizabeth, wife of L. J. Jones; Sarah J., wife of John A. Byers; Ellen M., wife of N. C. Morris; Fannie, James T. and Gus A., who are living; and Louisa J., wife of Henry G. Jennings; and Hepsie A., wife of John W. Duncan, deceased. Mr. Hogan is one of the most substantial and influential citi- zens of Carroll county, and is held in the highest esteem by everybody. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and is a useful and exemplary member of the Methodist church.

JOHN HOUSEWORTH, farmer, Whitesburg, Carroll Co., Ga., son of John J. and Catherine (Lyons) Houseworth, was born in Carroll county, in 1848. His grandparents on his father's side were Philip and Katie (Hollensworth) House- worth. His grandfather's parents came from Germany to America before the revolutionary war, and his father dying when he was quite a child he was reared by a charitable institution in South Carolina. After reaching manhood and marrying he came to Georgia and settled first in Newton county, and afterward moved to De Kalb county. Here Mr. Houseworth's father was reared and married his wife, daughter of George and Kate Lyons, of English descent. Of ten children reared three sons enlisted in the Confederate army: Robert and Abraham, in Company K (Capt. Bark), Seventh Georgia regiment, which was in Early's com- mand. Robert was a lieutenant, and he with his brother were in all the engage-

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ments in which his company bore a part, and was wounded at Knoxville, Tenn. Philip was in the western army under Capt. Kendrick. Mr. Houseworth was reared on the farm cleared by his father, and is living in the house in which he was born. He received a common school education, .and started in life with a good constitution, good health, and a determined and willing spirit as his patri- mony and capital. Mr. Houseworth was married in Carroll county in 1869 to Miss Harriet A. Holland-born in the county-daughter of Linsey and Elizabeth (Lassetter) Holland. Ten children are the offspring of this union: Delvous, Wyley, Walter, Della, Frank and Lee (twins); Katie, Tiney, Anna, Gordon. Mr. Houseworth is a well-to-do prosperous farmer with more than 600 acres of pro- ductive land, doing well, and is highly respected.

ARTHUR HUTCHESON, deceased, for years the president of the Hutcheson Manufacturing company, Banning, Carroll Co., Ga., was the son of James and Sophia (Montgomery) Hutcheson, and was a full-blooded Irishman, having been born in Ireland in 1818. His father died in 1827 and his mother in 1856. In 1836, when eighteen years of age, he left Ireland for America, on whose shores he landed after a journey of six weeks, and came to Campbell county, Ga., and stopped with an uncle living there. This uncle, James Hutcheson, left Ireland for this country in 1818, and his first stop in Georgia was in Milledgeville. From there he went to McDonough, Henry Co., and thence, in 1827, he removed to Newnan, Coweta Co. From Newnan he went, in 1832, and settled in the woods and cleared a farm, and here on this farm Arthur Hutcheson, without education or money, started in life. But he had good common sense, indulged in no bad habits, was frugal, and invested his earnings with rare good judgment. What he amassed was not made by sharp, tricky trading nor semi-gambling speculation. No "blood money" stained his purse. He did not accumulate rapidly, but he did it safely and surely, nor was he a millionaire, nor could he ever be, but he left a comfortable fortune, though he provided generously for himself and those dependent upon or serving him. During the war he was in the commissary department under Maj. Shackelford, whose headquarters were in Atlanta. He had a cousin in the army who saved the Confederate general, Bates, from being captured on one occasion when posting his pickets. After the war he engaged in merchandising at County Line, Carroll county, and in 1878 he bought an interest in what was then known as Amos' factory, to which he subsequently devoted almost his entire attention. At that time there was one mill, and that supplied with old-style, run-down ma- chinery. The old fogy shareholders were gradually bought out, and under Mr. Hutcheson's able management improved modern machinery displaced the old. He next proceeded to organize a joint stock company with a capital of $93,000, of which he was elected president and general manager. Additions and improve- ments were continued and now they have a 5,000-spindle (and preparation) cotton factory, a paper mill, two pulp mills, and a grist and sawmill, all fully equipped with the best made, modern improved machinery, and all within a mile along the creek, propelled by water retained by one dam. This company operates one of the three mills in the United States that make striped paper. The company owns 1,300 acres of good land, employs 210 hands, and when all their machinery is running full time, 240. Workers are furnished house room and a garden spot free, and the company has built a school house for the children and a church for them to worship in. Mr. Hutcheson looked after the physical comfort of his employes and gave attention to their moral training and conduct. He was kind and con- siderate, and treated them humanely, respecting them himself and stimulating them to cultivate self-respect for themselves. It is superfluous to add that Mr.

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Hutcheson was esteemed very highly by all who knew him in financial circles as well as in the humbler walks of life. His true worth as a man could not be better appreciated than by his employes and their families, in whose welfare he took so much interest, and to them his death fell with the heaviest hand. He was a master Mason and an exemplary member of the Methodist church. He died on the morning of April 5, 1895.

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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 61

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