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 62

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 62

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REV. W. W. KELLEY, Baptist minister, Whitesburg, Carroll Co., Ga., son of Andrew Wilson and Elizabeth J. (Pitts) Kelley, was born in Coweta county, Ga., in 1847. His paternal grandparents, John and Mary (Hews) Kelley, were natives of North Carolina, and came to Georgia about 1810. His grandfather was a soldier in the war of 1812. Mr. Kelley's father was born in North Carolina, came to Georgia with his father, and had a very fair education for his day. He was a member of the Baptist church and a man of considerable prominence in his day. His maternal grandparents, Archey and Charlotte (Burnett) Pitts, were South Carolinians, were Baptists, and early settlers of Georgia. Mr. Kelley was reared on a farm and received a good common-school education, and attended a theological school at Greenville, S. C., a part of one term in 1873. His father being a poor man, he earned the money himself to pay for his higher education. In 1863 he became his father's substitute in Company G, Second Georgia regiment, and served two months, when he was relieved. During this time he was sent to Grayville, Tenn., to engage in a battle, but it had been fought before he and his comrades reached the field. In 1864 he enlisted in Company I (Capt. J. Johnson), Bell's battalion, his company performing guard duty most of the time. He began life after the war very poor, but feels that he has been wonderfully sustained and blessed by Providence. He was ordained a Baptist minister in 1871, but the first pastorate to which he was called was that of Whites- burg in 1874, since which time he has been actively engaged in the Master's service. He is now pastor of the churches of Central Hatchee, Heard Co .; Corinth (at Banning), and Salem, Carroll Co., and Effices, in Douglas county, Ga. He aided in the organization of the three last named, and also in the organization of Friendship, in Heard county, and Friendship and Ebenezer, in Douglas county. He was pastor of Friendship for fifteen months. In addition to this arduous work he taught school in 1874-75-76 and a part of 1877. During his ministry he had baptized about 1,000 persons and made scores of couples happy by uniting them in marriage. Rev. Mr. Kelley was married to Miss Elizabeth T., daughter of James D. Moore, a pioneer settler, in 1877, who has borne him five children, of whom three, James A., William B. and Charles S., are living, and two, Carrie E. (Mrs. Van D. Sewell) and Thomas Mercer are dead. Rev. Mr. Kelley is a master Mason and Mrs. Kelley is a member of the Baptist church. He has a fine farm and comfortable residence in the edge of Whitesburg, is an exemplary Christian minister, and a useful and very highly esteemed citizen. To Andrew W. and Elizabeth Kelley ten children were born, eight sons and two daughters. Of these W. W., Thomas A. and James M. were ordained Baptist ministers, and actively engaged in the ministry. Andrew W. died in infancy and Newton Calvin at the age of eighteen. J. M. and Mary K. were twins. The latter married Mr. Capes, and the other sister, Amanda J., is the wife of W. M. Hunter.

J. R. LASSETTER, general superintendent of the Hutcheson Manufacturing company, Banning, Ga., son of William and Parthenia (Brown) Lassetter, was born in Carroll county. His grandfather, Benjamin Lassetter, came

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from Virginia to Georgia in 1828, and went to Milledgeville and bought the frac- tions of land in Carroll county on which he settled and began clearing for a farm that year. He was a soldier in the last war with Great Britain. His father, a farmer, was born in Carroll county, and was a member of the cavalry company commanded by Capt. Shuford three years during the late "unpleasantness." Mr. Lassetter received a good common-school education. His father died when he was young, but being of the stuff that men are made of, he has persistently struggled toward the front, where, before many years, he will be. As soon as qualified he began teaching, and after following it a few years engaged in mer- chandising. Having the misfortune to be burned out, he went back to the old farm, which he bought on credit, and after much privation and hard struggling he paid for and began to lay up money. In 1891 he went to work for the Hutcheson Manufacturing company, and in 1893 bought an interest in it. He has- since been made general superintendent-a well-earned and deserved compliment to his pluck and energy and his superior general capabilities. He is a thorough- going young man, recognized as promising to become one of the most influential of his generation in the county. Little is known in Georgia of this Hutcheson Manufacturing company; on a small scale it is but a sample of many, in other localities in Georgia, of like topography and surroundings, and demonstrates the grand manufacturing possibilities of the state. Mr. Lassetter richly deserves the confidence he has secured, and the success he has attained. With the position he holds in the company, the natural manufacturing advantages of the mills' site, the possibilities of greater development and expansion, and the advantages of the experience and instruction of the company's president, Arthur Hutcheson, this rising young manufacturer has before him a brilliant future.

J. W. G. LASSETTER, farmer, Villa Rica, Carroll Co., Ga., son of William and Mary Parthenie (Brown) Lassetter, was born in Carroll county in 1858. His grandfather, Benjamin Lassetter, settled in Georgia early in the present cen- tury. Mr. Lassetter's father was Georgia-born, was reared a farmer, and came to Carroll county and settled on Snake Creek when it was a wilderness, in 1841. He cleared a farm and made a home there and reared a family of fourteen children, all of whom made good citizens. His maternal grandparents were also among the early settlers of upper Georgia. Mr. Lassetter was bred a farmer, received but little schooling, but enough to enable him to teach a short time. In 1883 he married Miss Mary Barnett, born in Georgia, daughter of Waddie H. and Nancy (Butler) Barnett, who were native South Carolinians, but came to Georgia many years ago. Two children, Erie and William C., have blessed this union. The first died in his youth. Mr. Lassetter began life with a horse and $200, has steadily pursued farming as a business, and has succeeded admirably. He has a nice 250- acre farm, a comfortable dwelling and substantial outbuildings, and is a pro- gressive and prosperous farmer. Himself and wife are members of the Mission- ary Baptist church, and are exemplary farmers, citizens and church members.

W. D. LOVVORN, farmer and miller, Bowdon, Carroll Co., Ga., son of James- and Bashaba (Traylor) Lovvorn, was born in Henry county, Ga., in 1831. His great-grandfather, Elijah Lovvorn, came from Ireland to this country before the revolutionary war, and was a soldier in the patriot army, during which time he suffered many privations and great hardships. His grandparents, James and Hannah (Smith) Lovvorn, were born in Virginia, whence they moved to North Carolina, and afterward to Georgia, about 1800, and settled in what is now Morgan county. Subsequently they moved to St. Clair county, Ala. He was a soldier in

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the war of 1812. Mr. Lovvorn's father was born in Morgan county in 1807 and went with his father to Alabama, where he died. His mother was a daughter of Mijman and Lidy (Lang) Traylor. Mr. Traylor was a soldier in the war of 1812 and was captured and confined in Fort Pickens. He was fond of fun and jokes, and on one occasion when sweeping the floor an officer passed him, and on the i.apulse of the moment he gave him a playful swipe with the broom. The officer resented the apparent indignity, and the incident came near involving him in serious trouble. He also served through the Indian war of 1836. Mr. Lovvorn was reared on the farm, in Alabama, and was educated in the common country schools (walking three miles, sometimes barefooted in the winter), taught in a dirt floor log house with split log seats. After "graduating" he taught school himself a few years. He was a justice of the peace many years, and in 1872 was elected to represent Randolph county in the legislature of Alabama-the last republican elected from the county. In 1878 he removed from Alabama to Carroll county, Ga., and bought and settled the large farming property on which he now lives, and on which he has built and runs a large custom mill. Mr. Lovvorn was married in Alabama in 1851 to Miss Sarah D. Burden-born in Elbert county, Ga .- daughter of Henry and Sarah (White) Burden. Her parents were born in Virginia, migrated to Georgia, and settled in what is now Hart county, and afterward moved to Alabama, where he died. Ten children blessed this union: Thomas J., Mary, Gaines W., William J., Sarah R., Robert M., Martha E., Cin- donia and Henry O. Mr. Lovvorn and his wife are members of the Missionary Baptist church. He was one of the first county commissioners of the county, a man of large property and a most substantial and highly-respected citizen.

D. R. MARTIN, farmer, Carrollton, Carroll Co., Ga., son of John C. and Emily (Bates) Martin, was born in Coweta county, Ga., in 1846. His paternal grandparents migrated from South Carolina to Coweta county in 1830. They came in the old-time block-wheel ox carts, and it took them three weeks to make the journey. His grandfather was born in South Carolina and was a farmer- he, however, supplemented farming with blacksmithing and wood-working. Like other early settlers, he had to clear the land on which he made his home. His father was born in South Carolina in 1821, and his mother, daughter of David and Rhoda (Evans) Bates-old settlers-was born in Wilkes county, Ga., in 1824. Mr. Martin was reared in Coweta county, and, as were other boys at that time, was educated in an old-time dirt floor log cabin and subjected to all the inconveniences incident to them. In May, 1863, he enlisted in Company K (Capt. George Short), First Georgia regiment (Col. Lester), for six months; when the time expired he enlisted in the First Georgia cavalry (Capt. H. A. North, under Col. Crusc) and was in many battles. He was in front of Gen. Sherman's army from Marietta to Atlanta, and during the "March through Georgia." He was in North Carolina at the time of the surrender. Immediately after the event he returned to Carroll county penniless, but with a firm will and a stout heart went to work. In 1869 he bought a tract of land with not a stick amiss on it, and proceeded to make a farm and lay the foundation for a fortune. He made a specialty of raising Irish potatoes and fruit, and his great success has demonstrated his sagacity and wis- dom. In 1893 he bought the land on which he now lives, also virgin forest, which he has transferred into one of the best improved farms in this community, and has built on it one of the finest modern residences in the county. He is recog- nized as one of the leading and most successful farmers in Carroll county; rich and getting richer. In 1869 Mr. Martin was married to Miss Mary Ann, daughter of E. B. and Ruth Ann (Curtis) Martin, both born in Gwinnett county, Ga., who

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were among the early settlers of Carroll county, by whom he had the following children: Henry C., Lou, Ida, Mary and Claude. The mother of these children died in 1887, and in 1888 Mr. Martin married Nannie, widow of Thomas Dixon, and daughter of Otha and Eliza (Curtis) Bell, born in Randolph county, Ga. To them two children-Laura and Susie-have been born. Mr. Martin is a Knight of Honor, and himself and wife are members of the Methodist church. In farm management Mr. Martin is acknowledged to have few equals-no superiors. Con- tent with the superior management of his 240-acre farm, its profitable returns and the esteem of his neighbors, he is unambitious of public honors. Whatever he has is the result of honest toil.

JAMES P. MOORE, capitalist, Carrollton, Carroll Co., Ga., son of John and Levisa (Petty) Moore, was born in Spartanburg district, S. C., in 1839. His paternal grandparents, Hugh and Elizabeth (Thomas) Moore, were natives of South Carolina. His grandfather was a soldier in the revolutionary war and his grandson-the subject of this sketch, is "a chip of the old block"-has the musket he "toted" all through that memorable struggle. His maternal grandfather, Charles Petty, was also a soldier in the patriot army. Mr. Moore was reared in South Carolina and received a limited education, and when a mere child had to walk three miles daily to obtain it. April 1, 1861, he enlisted in Company H (Capt. Joe Walker), Fifth South Carolina regiment (Col. Jenkins), which was assigned to the command of Gen. Beauregard. He served in this company nearly a year, when another company was formed known as the First Palmetto Sharp- shooters, which caused some changes, and in the reorganization of Company H Mr. Moore was made captain, which he continued to be until the surrender. He was present at the firing on Fort Sumter. When it fell he went to Virginia, and beginning with First Manassas, participated in many of the bloodiest and. most fiercely contested battles during the entire war-including every battle in which Jenkins' brigade was engaged. That he was in the foremost on every battlefield it is needless to say, for with a double strain of revolutionary blood in his veins, and South Carolina blood at that, nothing else could be expected. It has been stated above that he had in his possession the musket which his Grandfather Moore carried during the war for independence. The following incident will show why he should be doubly proud of it-first, its family and historic interest; second, the circumstances attending its retention. After the war, in pursuance of a mili- tary order, the union soldiers proceeded to gather up all the arms in private hands in the south. When this old musket was demanded Mr. Moore refused to give it up, and when the soldiers attempted to take it by force he foiled them and made his escape with it. It is asserted that many a Federal soldier "bit the dust" in after attempts to capture him, and on roll call was reported "missing." Although he escaped capture, the continual danger he was in determined him to leave the state; so, in 1873, he came to Georgia and settled in Carroll county. He was a brick-mason, and worked at his trade, but he has done so well and managed and invested his gains so judiciously that he now ranks as one of the moneyed men of the county. In 1867 Mr. Moore was married to Miss Honora Elkin, daughter of Elbert and Mary Elkin. Mr. Moore stands well in Carroll county and is very much esteemed by all privileged with his intimate friendship.

JAMES D. MOORE, farmer, Whitesburg, Carroll Co., Ga., son of Abraham and Ann (Dismukes) Moore, was born near Raleigh, N. C., in 1814. His paternal grandfather was Abraham Moore, who was a soldier in the revolutionary army. His maternal grandparents, George and Elizabeth (Thompson) Dismukes, were North Carolinians, and his grandfather Dismukes served through the revolutionary

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war as a major in the patriot army. Mr. Moore's father was born and reared in North Carolina, but his father and mother died, and he was left an orphan when a very small child and was reared in Pittsboro, N. C., in the home of his grandfather Dismukes. He learned but little from his books, but was taught to work, and thanks to his inborn will-power and energy has made a success. In 1834, when twenty years of age, he came to Georgia and settled in Carroll county. The following fall he located where he now lives, where for many miles around the clearings were few and far between. He came to Georgia with a horse and a pair of saddle-bags; now he has 1,800 acres of good land lying on the Chattahoochee river, on which he has one of the most productive and best improved farms in all that section, and ranks as one of the most substantial and reliable citizens, as well as one of the best farmers in Carroll county. During the war a small battle was fought on his farm, during which shot and shell flew thick and fast all about. All the windows in his house were shattered, and there remains a hole in the wall of his house where one shell, coming into a window, passed out on the opposite side. Fortunately no one about the premises was hurt. Mr. Moore has owned a ferry across the Chattahoochee river at this place from the time he first settled there. On one occasion he was getting some parties across the river who were fleeing before the Federal army, among them Mr. William Amos, when the skirmish began. Before the boat reached the opposite shore the troops reached the river and fired upon the passengers. Mr. Amos fell by his side, but he stood by them and the boat, and at the risk of his own life saved them In 1837 Mr. Moore was married to Mrs. Caroline (nee Martin) Malone, daughter of Benjamin Martin, of Jones county, granddaughter of Mr. Lester, of the same county. Mr. and Mrs. Moore were the parents of seven children, five of whom are living: Mrs. W. A. Parks; Mrs. Robert Early ; Mrs. W. W. Kelly; George W., deceased; James D., Jr .; Dr. John F., deceased, and Benjamin F. The two surviving sons, J. D. and B. F. Moore, are hardware merchants of the Moore & Handley Hardware company, Birmingham, Ala.

C.C. MORRIS, farmer, Bowdon, Carroll Co., Ga., son of J. L. and Elizabeth (Almond) Morris, was born in Carroll county in 1856. His paternal grand- parents, William and Hannah (Biggars) Morris, were natives of South Carolina, came to Georgia early in this century, and settled in what is now De Kalb county. He was a farmer, and, also, a Missionary Baptist minister and preached in the old log churches. He was a soldier in the revolutionary army. Mr. Morris' father . was born in De Kalb county in 1826, and was a farmer. He enlisted in 1861, was a lieutenant in his company and remained in the army through the conflict. His maternal grandparents, Asbern and Jane (Biggars) Almond, were early settlers, and the grandfather was a revolutionary soldier. Mr. Morris was reared on a farm in Carroll county, and received a fair common school education. Adopting farming as a pursuit, but without means, he acquired a good farm, and is among those at the head of the list as progressive farmers, manages well, is much esteemed and is prosperous. He has a tract of more than 200 acres of choice land, productive, with good improvements. In 1882 Mr. Morris married Miss Rebecca Lovvorn, daugh- ter of W. D. Lovvorn, an old and influential settler, who has borne him six children: Eva, Mattie, Joseph and Otto, living; and Lillian and Anna, deceased. Himself and wife are members of the Baptist church.

H L. MORROW, farmer and miller, Whitesburg, Carroll Co., Ga., son of Wil- liam H. and Nancy (Elliott) Morrow, was born in Newton county, Ga., March 15, 1823. . His grandparents on his father's side, Robert and Nancy (Herly)

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CARROLL COUNTY SKETCHES.

Morrow, were Virginians, and came to Georgia in 1795. His grandfather was a soldier in the revolutionary war. His grandparents on his mother's side, George and Mary (Cloud) Elliott, were natives of Virginia, and the grandfather was a soldier in the patriot army during the revolutionary war. Mrs. Morrow's grand- uncle, Zeke Cloud, joined the patriot army when but fourteen years of age, and remained with it until independence was achieved. Mr. Morrow's father was born May 12, 1788, in what is now Morgan county, Ga., and his mother was born Dec. 12, 1790, in what is now Jasper county, Ga. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, in which he served as quartermaster. He also served as sheriff of Newton county for many years. Mr. Morrow was reared in Newton county until he was twelve years old, when the family moved to Henry county. His father died when he was only seventeen months old, and from that time until he became of age he had a hard time of it. When he first went to school it was under an old tent, then in the old-time dirt floor log school house, with puncheon seats and stick and mud chimney, etc. But such was the necessity for work to help his widowed mother that he received very little schooling-he couldn't be spared from the field. In 1863, he enlisted in Company E (Capt. Mann), Seventh Georgia regiment, was at one time acting lieutenant, and most of the time was on guard duty in and around Atlanta. Mr. Morrow was married Dec. 17, 1844, to Miss Mary A. Gilbert -- born in Henry county, Ga., Nov. 15, 1826-daughter of Matthew and Tabitha (Mathews) Gilbert, North Carolinians, who came to Georgia, and settled in the woods in Henry county in 1820. Eleven children have blessed this union, of whom eight are now living: James R., born Sept. 12, 1845; Jane T., Jan. 19, 1847; Zachary T., Feb. 19, 1849; Nancy T., Dec. 3, 1850; Polly Ann, Feb. 4, 1853; William D., Jan. 30, 1855; Millard F., Dec. 25, 1856; Mary J., Dec. 24, 1859; Lizzie O., Sept. 12, 1862; Roberta L., June 7, 1865; Joe J., July 30, 1870. When he was married he had nothing but good health and habits, a robust constitution and sturdy manhood trained to labor and self-reliance. The first year after his mar- riage he rented land, afterward bought some land and settled on it. In 1848 he commenced milling in a small way, and as he prospered added more and improved machinery. It is, however, what is known as a "custom mill," grinding for toll, and makes meal and flour as good as the best. Mr. Morrow has a splendid mill property on a well-improved and productive 800-acre plantation, besides a pleasant residence and "home place" in Whitesburg. His success is a striking and instructive illustration of what is possible in Georgia, with industry, economy and integrity, when coupled with a determined will. Though not a millionaire in the popular sense he is wealthy, as are many thousands just like him, beyond compu- tation. No citizen of Carroll county is more highly esteemed. Fifty years a master Mason he has exemplified its teachings in his life. Himself and wife are members of the United Congregational church.

M. E. MURPHEY, farmer, Carrollton, Carroll Co., Ga., son of William and Martha (Murphey) Murphey, was born in Talbot county, Ga., in 1827. His father was born in South Carolina, in 1798, came to Georgia when a young man on pack horses, and settled in the woods in Wilkes county, where he cleared a farm. A few years afterward he removed to Talbot county, and thence to Sumter county, in 1836. He was a soldier in the Indian war of that date, and lived to be. seventy-six years of age. Mr. Murphey's mother was a Murphey, who first mar- ried James Willis, who died, and then she married Mr. Murphey. M. E. Murphey was reared in Sumter county and educated in the historic dirt floor log school house, split log seats and mud and dirt chimney, etc., and walked three miles, generally barefooted, to school. In 1861, he enlisted in what was known as the "Nelson Rangers," under Capt. Nelson, who was killed at Tupelo, Miss., and was suc-

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ceeded by Capt. Ragland. He experienced some very hard and trying service, and was engaged in many very hot skirmishes, but although he kept in the field until the war ended, he escaped both wounds and capture. When he came out of the war all he had, he says, "was a spell of chills and fever and a horse." He first went to Coweta county and went to work on a farm with a vim, and remained there until 1883, when he moved into Carroll county, where he now owns a 600- acre well-improved farm, a beautiful home in Carrollton, and "cash in advance." Mr. Murphey was married in 1860 to Miss Sarah Kampson-born in South Carolina-daughter of Peter and Mary (Long) Kampson, natives of South Caro- lina who came to Georgia from that state in 1844. This union has been blessed with six children: Peter, Beulah, Jeffy, Katie, William J. and Lizzie. Mrs. Mur- phey, who was a member of the Lutheran church, died in 1892.

B. J. M'CAIN, merchant, Temple, Carroll Co., Ga., son of William B. and Mar- garet N. (McCain) McCain, was born in Troup county in 1843. His grand- parent, Hugh McCain, was a native of North Carolina and was a soldier in the revolutionary war. His parents were born in North Carolina, came to Georgia and settled in Troup county in 1840, where his father cleared a farm and built for himself two mills, merchant and saw mill. His maternal grandparents, Joe and Margaret (Moore) McCain, were also born in North Carolina. Mr. McCain was reared on the farm and his early education was obtained at a country school. In 1863 he enlisted in Company F (Capt. B. F. Long), cavalry, with which he served six months. He then enlisted in Company F (Capt. George Austin), Georgia State troops, with which he remained until the close of the war, and of which he was a corporal. He was in two battles, both fought at Coosahatchie, and at the surrender he stacked arms at Albany, Ga. After the war he returned to the farm, but in 1868 he attended school in Carrollton. The next year he worked on the farm, and the one following he attended a private school four months. In 1871 he finished his preparatory commercial education by attending Moore's business university at Atlanta. In August, 1872, he engaged as a clerk with J. C. Carter, with whom he remained four years. After that he entered into partnership with Gus Smythe, but at the end of fifteen months he sold out to his partner and formed a new partnership with L. P. Barnes. Twelve months after he retired from this business, and with George and John McGahee and I. Y. Sawtell organ- ized the Atlanta Wild Land company. He remained in this company ten months, and then, in the fall of 1878, located in Simsville, Ga., and engaged in a general merchandise business in which he was satisfactorily successful. In 1882 he closed out in Simsville and permanently settled in Temple, where he is now, and where he has built a large and profitable trade, and is a leading business man and citizen of that part of the county. In 1875 Mr. McCain was married to Miss Tallulah V., daughter of Maj. D. A. and Nancy WV. (Collier) Cook, of Atlanta, by whom he has one child surviving, Ida Tallulah. They have an adopted son, William B. Mr. McCain is a master Mason and he and his family are members of the Methodist church. He exerts a well-earned influence in the community and county.

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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 62

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