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 66

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 66

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CHATTOOGA COUNTY SKETCHES.

CHATTOOGA COUNTY.

HON. ANDREW PERRY ALLGOOD. That portion of Georgia commonly denominated the mountain region has, since its earliest settlement, been chiefly noted for its agricultural products. With every natural advantage for the main- tenance of manufactures and the mechanical arts, with a water power unexcelled and fuel in abundance, rural customs, ideas and occupation predominate in the minds of its people. To this general rule, as applied to the industrial progress of this section, there are a few notable exceptions, as is evidenced occasionally by the sound of the hammer and the hum of business industry heard in the mountain fastnesses. The rich and blooming Chattooga valley, the Eden of north Georgia, is far in advance of other localities in the happy possession of this mark of industrial progress in the country. To the business thrift and enterprising spirit of the founder of the Trion Manufacturing company the public of Chattooga county are indebted for the benefits and the advantages accruing from the estab- lishment in their midst of an institution destined in many ways to enhance the value of property and contribute to the wealth and material prosperity of the people. In the business circles of this state and beyond its boundaries the name of Andrew P. Allgood has long since been familiar. He was a native of South Carolina, having been born in Laurens district, Nov. 23, 1816. His father was De Forrest Allgood, also a native of Virginia, born in 1787, of French extraction, and a gentleman of the old school, who possessed a highly cultivated intellect and the polished manners of his time and associates-the planter class of South Caro- lina in Calhoun's day. In 1837 he settled in Walker county, Ga., on a planta- tion where he resided until 1842, when he moved to Mississippi, where he remained until the late war. Returning to Georgia, he spent his remaining years with his son, Andrew P., dying in Chattooga county, June 9, 1877. His wife survived him until March 17, 1883. The issue of their marriage was five children: Elvira, who married William T. Parks, of Pontotoc county, Miss .; Andrew P., Barnett Jefferson, William H. and Margaret B., who married Dr. Andrew Berry, of Walker county. All are now deceased. Andrew P. Allgood settled in Walker county in 1838 and engaged in mercantile pursuits. He was among the first merchants of that county and one of its early pioneers. Possessing that skill, tact and judgment which, be they natural or acquired, are ever characteristic of the successful business man, he prospered, and in 1845 he settled on a large and valuable plantation in Chattooga county, which still remains in the possession

of his family. His shrewd judgment and observing eye was quick to discern the facilities which the country afforded for the establishment of a plant adapted to the manufacture of the cotton product, and the value of such an institution to himself and others. Accordingly, in March, 1846, together with Spencer S. Marsh and William K. Briers the well-known establishment now bearing the corporate name of the Trion Manufacturing company, located in the heart of Chattooga valley, for the manufacture of cotton goods, commenced business. For upward of forty years he was the head and one of the chief pillars of this institution, now ranking among the most successful and reliable of the kind in Georgia. From its early infancy he nursed its growth, expanded its powers and capacity, and by that energy and perseverance which ever accompanied him in hours of progress, and that courage which never deserted him in hours of trial and in financial panics, he lived to build his own monument by the permanent estab-

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lishment of an industry which has been fruitful of blessings past and to come to the people of Chattooga county and the adjacent territory. About 300 hands are now employed at the Trion factory and upward of 700 looms and 25,000 spindles are in operation. During the war Mr. Allgood received notice from the Federal authorities to suspend the operation of his plant or incur the penalty of its destruction by the torch of the brigand invaders. And in consequence for a period the company were thus compelled to discontinue business. He con- tinued at the head of the company and largely conducted its affairs until 1882, when, after half a century of usefulness and remarkable business success, he died in the bosom of his family at his home in Chattooga valley, universally lamented by an extensive list of social friends and a large circle of business acquaintances. Georgia has produced men of greater distinction, but it may well be doubted whether any citizen of this state deserves more highly the gratitude of the mass of the people, or with the opportunity at his disposal, contributed more generally by his acts and deeds to promote the public welfare. He had no taste for politics and neither sought nor desired political preferment. But during his long life in Chattooga county he was active in promoting the public interest, and was regarded as a leader and trusted counselor in the management of county affairs. For many years he served as justice of the inferior court. His friendships were strong and lasting and his benevolence unbounded. Ever ready to acknowledge by act and example the spirit of righteousness and sound morality among men, he did not hesitate to condemn wrong, believing it to betray pusillanimity of char- acter whenever or wherever manifested. Mr. Allgood married in 1842 Miss Mary Marsh in Walker county. Her father was Spencer S. Marsh, a native of Chatham county, N. C., born Nov. 24, 1800, and died at La Fayette, Ga., in 1875. His name has already been mentioned as the associate of Mr. Allgood in the founding of the Trion factory. He married Miss Ruth Brantly of North Carolina and reared six children, viz .: Edwin W., now a leading and prosperous business man of Atlanta; Mary, who married Mr. Allgood; Joseph, Emily, Addie and James. Of these Edwin, Addie and Mrs. Allgood survive. Joseph was for many years a practicing physician. He entered the Confederate service and served through the war in Longstreet corps as surgeon of the Eighteenth Georgia regiment. He was with his regiment during all the battles and campaigns in which the army of Northern Virginia was engaged, and which made that army famous in military annals. He died in Walker county in 1888. By their mar- riage Mr. and Mrs. Allgood had born to them six children: Addie, De Forrest, Alice, Mary, Margaret and Maude. Of these Mary is deceased. De Forrest succeeded his father as president of the Trion Manufacturing company and died in 1890. Margaret married Alfred S. Hamilton, at present president of that com- pany.

FRANK CORDLE, a practicing physician and surgeon residing at Trion, was born in Chattooga county in 1859. His father is Calvin Cordle, a planter residing in that county, and a native of Virginia, where he was born in 1832. He settled in Chattooga county in pioneer days and married Miss Martha Green, of Floyd county. They reared three sons and two daughters: Edwin C., a me- chanic and farmer at Birmingham, Ala .; James C., engaged in planting in Chat- tooga county; Lizzie, wife of W. P. Wood; Fannie, wife of John Bennett, and Frank, all of Chattooga county. The mother of Dr. Cordle died in that county in 1872. Calvin Cordle entered the Confederate army and was attached to the hospital service. He served in that capacity through the war. Dr. Cordle was reared and educated under Capt. J. M. Jackson in Chattooga county. Before

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CHATTOOGA COUNTY SKETCHES.

attaining the age of twenty-one he was elected tax collector of his county, and discharged the duties of that office creditably during the term of two years. He resolved to enter the medical profession, and commenced the study of medicine and surgery in 1879 with Dr. J. W. Clements, of Subligna. In 1881 he entered the Atlanta medical college and pursued a course of study during 1881-82, and graduated in 1883. He commenced the practice of his profession with his former preceptor, Dr. Clements, at Subligna, where he continued with success until 1891, when he accepted an offer from the Trion Manufacturing company to act in the capacity of regular physician and surgeon for that institution. He located in Trion and has since that time continued to serve that company. His practice, which has been of a general character, has been very successful, and with the public and his professional brethren he ranks high as a physician and surgeon and as an active and energetic citizen. In 1883 he married Miss Claudie Murphy, of Floyd county. They have three children: Lollie Hix, Myrtis Cavender and Tom Howard. Dr. Cordle is a royal arch Mason, and with his wife is a mem- ber of the Baptist church. His paternal grandfather was Absalom Cordle, a native of Virginia, born in 1794. He married in Virginia and reared a family. He was a soldier in the Mexican war and was a well-known and highly respected citizen of Chattooga county, where he died in 1886, at the advanced age of ninety- two years. The maternal grandfather of Dr. Cordle was James P. Green, a native of this state, who early settled in Floyd county, where he died in 1876.

WILLIAM M. RANSOM, educator, Menlo, Chattooga Co., Ga., was born in Walker county, Jan. 7, 1869. His father was Reuben Ransom, born in Mecklenburg county, N. C., in 1825. There he grew to manhood, and was edu- cated first at Mecklenburg and later at Griffin college, Georgia, where he pur- sued a classical course and was graduated with the degree of master of arts. He read law and was admitted to the bar, but owing to ill health was forced to abandon his profession and engage in farming, which pursuit he followed during the remainder of his life. He died in Walker county, April 22, 1872, where he had resided twenty-seven years. He had three brothers and one sister: Washington, John, Milton and Parmelia. The four brothers entered the Con- federate service and Milton was killed in battle. The father of Prof. Ransom was a lieutenant in the Confederate army. He fought with the army of Northern Virginia, and was present and actively engaged in the memorable battle which made that army famous in the history of the war-the Wilderness-Chancellors- ville, Fredericksburg, and the second battle of Manassas. He followed Long- street to Chickamauga in September, 1863, and fought in that battle. He returned to his home at the close of the struggle and resided in Walker county until his death. He married Miss Caroline Owens, daughter of John and Har- riet Owens. His wife was born in Spartanburg, S. C., in 1828, and moved with the family to Walker county in 1845. By this union they reared four sons and three daughters: Parmelia, wife of John C. Wall; John M .; Ocea, wife of C. C. McConnell; George W., James B., William M., and Cora, wife of T. W. Hasleria. All are residents of Walker county. In 1889 Prof. Ransom entered the junior class of Emory college, Oxford, Ga., and continued his studies in that institution until June, 1891, when he graduated with the degree of bachelor of arts. Since graduating he has been engaged in teaching in Chattooga county; since 1891 he has been principal of the Menlo high school in that county, which institution he established. He has devoted his entire time to building up this school in the heart of Chattooga county, where, by untiring zeal and at great personal sacrifice, he has succeeded in providing for the youth of that county

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and adjacent territory the advantages of a higher system of education. The average attendance at the school is 250 students. There are three departments of study, the literary, musical and elocutionary. The higher mathematics and the learned languages, Greek and Latin, are also taught. In the attendance both the states of Tennessee and Alabama are represented, and in Georgia the attend- ance is made up from the counties of Chattooga, Dade, Walker, Whitfield and Murray. From the start the school has been successful, and Prof. Ransom has given universal satisfaction. On Dec. 26, 1894, Prof. Ransom married Miss Hat- tie Belle Wyatt, daughter of R. Wyatt, of Chattooga county. Prof. Ranson is a member of the Methodist church, and Mrs. Ransom belongs to the Presby- terian communion.

ROBERT YOUNG RUDICIL, a well-known physician and surgeon residing in Chattooga county, was born in Spartanburg district, S. C., on Aug. 8, 1832. His father was Philip Charles Rudicil, a native of Lincoln county, N. C., the son of George Rudicil, a native of Wurtemburg, Germany, who accompanied the celebrated Baron De Kalb to America during the revolutionary war and fought throughout that struggle for American independence. He joined the continental army at Trenton and was present and endured the sufferings at Valley Forge in the winter of 1777. Three of his brothers were in the continental service, and . all four of the brothers were wounded. Dr. Rudicil's grandfather served under Greene and De Kalb in the Carolinas and was present when Count De Kalb was killed at the battle of Camden, where he was wounded and sent to a German settlement in North Carolina. As soon as he recovered he rejoined the army and saw further service on the famous retreat of Greene, through the Carolinas. He was present at the siege of Yorktown, and witnessed the surrender of Lord Cornwallis. At the close of the war he settled near Lincoln Court House, N. C., on a fine plantation and resided there until his death about 1820. He married a Miss Johnston, of Virginia, and reared three daughters-Susan, who married George Hovis; Eva, wife of John Mostiller; Ann, wife of John Stroup-and four sons-John, Jacob, Michael and Philip Charles, who was born in 1804. Philip Charles settled in Spartanburg district, S. C., about 1826, and in 1828 married Miss Mary Ann MacMillan, whose mother was Jane McDowell, daughter of Robert McDowell. He was a planter and also engaged extensively in mechanical pursuits. They reared five children: Dr. R. Y., Elizabeth J., David Luther, Seleni C., wife of James A. Greene, and Mary A., who married Gabriel Greene. The father of Dr. R. died in 1861, and his mother died in Chattooga county in 1881. The family settled in Chattooga county in 1860. Dr. Rudicil was educated in Spartanburg district, and after completing his literary course in the schools of Spartanburg he resolved to embrace the medical profession. He accordingly entered the medical college of South Carolina and pursued a course of study in that institution in medicine and surgery. Graduating therefrom in March, 1855, he settled in Summerville, Ga., and commenced the practice of his profession. where he has resided ever since and has enjoyed a large and most successful practice. At the opening of the war he entered the service of the Confederacy as a surgeon, and with his command was in the famous march under Gen. Joseph E. Johnston from Winchester to Manassas, and remained at Piedmont on Sunday, reaching the battlefield on Monday morning, where he was at once assigned to duty. He continued in active duty until September, 1861, when he returned to his home, remaining until May, 1862. He was appointed assistant surgeon to Smith's legion and reported for duty at Nelson Springs, Gordon Co., Ga., and accompanied that army to Tennessee and participated in the Kentucky and Ten-

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nessee campaign in 1862. Hc was present at the battle of Perryville, Richmond and at the last battle at Rock Castle river. In February, 1863, he was appointed by the secretary of war surgeon of the Sixth Georgia cavalry regiment. He con- tinued in the service during the summer and accompanied his regiment to the battlefield of Chickamauga in September following. He was present during the four days' fight, Sept. 18, 19, 20 and 21, under Gen. John Pegram, and was with the general when he moved on Alexander bridge on the afternoon of Sept. 18, and when he crossed at Byrum ford, and was present at the opening of the fight at Jay's mill at sunrise on the morning of the 19th. Later, after the vic- tory at Chickamauga, his brigade led the charge on Minty's brigade of Thomas' corps at Mission Ridge, where Lieut .- Col. Fain, commander of the regiment, was severely wounded. After Mission Ridge his regiment followed Longstreet to Knoxville, and was in the siege of Knoxville and the battle of Dandridge, and throughout the winter of 1863-64 was in active duty in the field, enduring the trying hardships of a severe campaign. On May 8, 1864, his regiment, then in Martin's division, joined Johnston at Resaca and was present at the battle fought there. He continued with his regiment during the celebrated campaign of that year and was at New Hope Church, Kenncsaw Mountain, Peachtree Creek and in the siege of Atlanta. He was present when Walker was killed near Cobb's mill, and later accompanied Wheeler into Tennessee, and was present at the battle of Murfreesboro. His command penetrated Tennessee as far as Nash- ville and Franklin. At Campbellville Dr. Rudicil sustained a severe injury by a fall of the horse on which he was mounted. His command crossed the Ten- nessee at Colben Shoals, swimming their horses in the night, and after constant service and hard riding finally joined Johnston at Macon. Later he was present at the battle of Aiken, S. C., and the last fight in the war, the battle of Benton- ville, N. C., and was discharged, as appears from the parole, on May 3, 1865, after having given the best years of his life to the Confederacy in defense of the institutions and cause of the south. Returning to his home, he endeavored to resume his practice and at the same time engage in the pursuit of agriculture. The severe financial losses which he, among hundreds, sustained as a result of the war and the new order of things were finally overcome and prosperity restored. His practice was very large and his experience in the service necessarily en- hanced his value and service as a physician and surgeon. He took an active and prominent part in political affairs, designing thus to promote the public welfare of Georgia and its people. In 1873 he became the candidate of the democratic party for representative of Chattooga county in the general assembly and was elected. He served on several important committees and was chairman of the committee on the institute for deaf and dumb, and took an active part in the deliberations of that body both in committee work and on the floor of the house. Since his valuable legislative service he has continued his large prac- tice in Chattooga county, among whose citizens he stands foremost as a gentleman of broad, liberal and conservative views, and in whose confidence and esteem he justly occupies a high place. He is a member of the Confederate Veterans' post at Summerville, a member of the Presbyterian church at that place, and a royal arch Mason. On April 19, 1857, Dr. Rudicil was married to Eliza Agnes Knox, daughter of Capt. Samuel Knox. They have two surviving children- Madora A., wife of Judge W. M. Henry, of Rome, born July 25, 1860; C. C. L. Rudicil, born March II, 1866, now a practicing physician. Madora was edu- cated at the Rome female college and was graduated from that institution. Dr. C. C. L. was educated and is a graduate of the university of Georgia, Athens. He entered the Atlanta Medical college, of which institution he is a graduate, and

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later was graduated at the New York Polyclinic institution, and is now engaged in the practice at Chickamauga. He married Miss Lydia Rowland, a grand- daughter of Maj. John S. Rowland, of Bartow county, a well-known Georgian; David Luther was born Nov. 26, 1867, and died Dec. 6, 1869; Leon D. was born June II, 1869, and resides at home with his parents, engaged in farming. Dr. C. C. L.'s wife graduated at Oxford, Miss.

HON. WESLEY SHROPSHIRE. The Shropshire family is of English origin and is among the oldest of the pioneer settlers of Chattooga county. Wesley Shropshire was born in Oglethorpe county, Ga., April 3, 1801, and was one of a family of seven boys and two girls, children of Spencer Shropshire and his wife, whose maiden name was Pollard. Spencer Shropshire was a successful planter in Oglethorpe county and was a soldier in the war of the revolution. The grand- father of Wesley was a native of England, who was sent as a missionary to Virginia in the last century before the commencement of the revolution. He, too, was a soldier in that war, and fought in the continental army. Mr. Shrop- shire, from his youth, displayed original traits of character, at all times self- reliant and confident of his powers and ability to discharge every duty and obligation he assumed. He was surrounded by few of the opportunities and advantages possessed by the youth of the present generation, but was quick to grasp at such as came in his way, and made the most of his early position in life. In his youth the school system of the present day was rather a Utopian vision than an accomplished fact. But despite these manifold disadvantages for intellectual improvement, he acquired in time a practical education. His mother taught him to read, but he had passed his majority before he had acquired a practical and serviceable knowledge of the art of reading and writing intelligently. At the age of twenty he purchased his time from his father, and was employed as an overseer of a plantation, and for several years he continued to serve in that capacity, and by practical economy saved some money. At the age of twenty- six he married Miss Nancy Swanson, with whom he lived happily until her death, which occurred in April, 1852. The offspring of this marriage were five daugh- ters, only two of whom-Mrs. J. A. Bale, Rome, Ga., and Mrs. Barksdale, of Chattooga county-are now living, and one son, Francis C. Shropshire, the father of the present Wesley Shropshire, representative in the general assembly from Chattooga county. He became a successful planter in Oglethorpe county, and as early as 1826 was elected to the office of justice of the peace, the first of numerous public favors to be afterward conferred upon him. The opening of the Cherokee country in North Georgia afforded excellent opportunities for such aggressive and enterprising spirits as Mr. Shropshire, and he resolved to embark for the new field then attracting the attention of all Georgians and settlers in adjoining states. He accordingly settled in Floyd county in 1835 with his family upon two lots of land, at present within the corporate limits of East Rome, where he resided for several years, became possessed of valuable property, and rose to prominence as a public character. After one year's residence he was, in 1836, appointed deputy sheriff of Floyd county under W. R. Williamson, and at the ensuing election was elected sheriff. He held the office by re-election, and continued in the discharge of its duties until the summer of 1839, when he was elected to the legislature of Georgia as the candidate of the democratic party. He took a very active part in the legislation of that session among colleagues whose lives have since become a part of the history of our common country. His enterprising spirit led him to take a prominent part in the passage of the act providing for the building of the state road to Chattanooga. In 1840 he

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was again a candidate for the legislature on an independent ticket, having encoun- tered violent opposition in the democratic party in consequence of his support of the railroad enterprise, but he was again elected and served through the session which followed. In 1841 he settled in Dirt Town valley, Chattooga county, on what is now known as the Chaney mill property, where lie built and established these mills and acquired a large and valuable landed estate. His services were still sought after by the public, and in 1846 he was again elected sheriff of Chat- tooga county. In 1855 he became the candidate of his party for the state senate, and after a hard-fought contest was elected over the know-nothing candidate, and in 1857 was re-elected over an old-line whig. The very eve of the war found him in the public service of his state at a time when the eyes of the whole union were turned upon Georgia. At this momentous period of our history Mr. Shropshire was an ardent union man and pronounced advocate of the policy of Stephens and his school. He was opposed to secession and was elected in 1860 to the secession convention at Milledgeville, and was present and participated in the deliberations of that famous body in the winter of 1860-61, first at Milledge- ville and later at Savannah. He took strong grounds against the policy of with- drawing from the Federal union, but on the passage of the ordinance declaring that the state of Georgia had withdrawn from the union of states, he gave his support to his state and his approval to the acts of his colleagues. Through- out the war he was known as a union man, but his son, Francis C. Shropshire, died in the Confederate service. He attended the first convention that nominated Hon. Joseph E. Brown for governor of Georgia. He was appointed on the select committee from the Cherokee country to determine on the choice of a candidate for governor, and the action of that committee resulted in the choice of Joseph E. Brown. Judge A. R. Wright was also a member of that convention, and in the course of the contest he was offered the nomination, but declined, having been chosen a member of the convention in the interest of another can- didate. At the close of the war Mr. Shropshire recommended the wisdom of the policy providing for the return of Georgia to the union. In 1868 he was elected to the constitutional convention from the forty-second senatorial district. His years of experience in public life made him an important factor in the deliberations and labors of the convention. This was his last public service, although he continued to live and enjoy comparative good health for twenty- six years thereafter, dying in Chattooga county, Dec. 31, 1894, at the great age of ninety-four years. In his long and remarkable career changes and counter- changes had occurred in the social and political condition of men and empires. "He had seen nations born and die." His life extended through the administration of twenty-one presidents of the United States, having been born in the second month of Mr. Jefferson's first administration. His first vote was cast for Jackson in 1824. Francis C. Shropshire, the son, was born in Oglethorpe county in 1829. He was educated at Mercer university, Penfield, and was married early in life to Miss Mary Wright, daughter of Judge A. R. Wright, of Rome, Ga. He prepared himself for the practice of law and was admitted to the bar. He was elected clerk of the house of representatives in the Georgia legislature in 1859 and served through the session. At the commencement of the late war he entered the Confederate service and was rewarded with a commission. He con-

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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 66

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