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 74

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 74

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instantaneous and decisive. No man with a less available and thorough knowl- edge of the law of deliberative bodies could have been equal to the trying occasion. His intuitions were like lightning, and as resolute as the edict of an autocrat. Both sides stood in eager, reckless antagonism and fought for every advantage. Both sides were determined and combative, and their spirits drove toward an explosion. Mr. Trammell held the unruly elements with a strong hand and car- ried the stormy proceedings for eight long days to an orderly conclusion. It was a splendid triumph of a presiding genius. It was an extraordinary and unequaled piece of tact, intelligence, firmness and leadership." Prior to his chairmanship of the executive committee in 1883 the two-thirds rule governed the gubernatorial nominating conventions. Through his wholesome influence this rule was changed, and since that time nominations have been made by a majority vote, and the change has proved his wisdom. In October, 1881, Mr. Trammell was appointed railroad commissioner by Gov. Colquitt, reappointed in 1887 by Gov. Gordon, and again in 1893 by Gov. Northen; in 1890 he was made chairman of the commis- sion. Endowed with unusual mental capacity, keen and strong, a courage of con- viction unappalled by the most powerful antagonisms, an integrity of character and sincerity of purpose absolutely unassailable, a deep insight into motives, and common sense and executive ability of a high order, he naturally became an almost unerring judge of public sentiment, and a wise and successful leader of men, and enabled to exercise a strong and salutary influence on the legislation of Georgia. Well-informed, patient, diligent and conscientiously just he has, in his present honorable and responsible position, been incalculably serviceable, because he has won and enjoys the entire unreserved confidence of the railway authorities on the one hand and of the people on the other. The interests of the people and the' development and advancement of Georgia are near his heart, for them in the prime of his life he has worked in the past, and to them his energies and labors are devoted to-day. Affable, courteous, open-handed, big-hearted and public-spirited, it excites no wonder that his political preferment arouses no jealousy and that everybody is his friend. Mr. Trammell was married in 1856 to Miss Zenobia J., daughter of Elihu S. Barclay, a union which has been blessed with an interesting family of eight children: Mary M., wife of Samuel B. Scott, Atlanta, Ga .; Paul B., Atlanta, Ga .; Elizabeth V., wife of George L. Morris, Birmingham, Ala .; William J., Marietta, Ga .; Alice N., wife of Walter L. Sessions, Marietta, Ga .; Fleta, wife of Frank E. Boston, Atlanta; Margaret Z., and Leander N., Jr. He is a member of the masonic fraternity and a prominent member of the Methodist church.

COFFEE COUNTY.

GEORGE R. BRIGGS, lawyer, Douglas, Coffee Co., Ga., was born in Stafford county, Va., Dec. 29, 1846. His father, Rev. W. S. Briggs, was a prominent Baptist minister who died in Richmond, March 5, 1892. George R. Briggs was educated in the excellent schools of Virginia, and then entered Richmond college where he remained three years. In 1861, he enlisted in the First Virginia cavalry, and served with the regiment until the closc of the war. After the surrender he returned to Virginia and taught school until 1870, when he came to Georgia, teach- ing in Macon and Taylor counties. Elected president of Houston female college, he

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remained there for four years, when he was elected president of Spalding seminary, near Montezuma, Macon Co., a position he held three years, and then removed to Hawkinsville, Pulaski Co., to take charge of the institute at that place. Dur- ing this time he was reading law, and in 1884 was admitted to the bar before Judge A. C. Pate. Returning to Montezuma, he entered upon the practice of his pro- fession, and a portion of the time conducted a farm until 1889. That year he was elected principal of the Carrollton high school in Alabama. He held this position but a year. Resigning he went to Birmingham, Ala., where he opened a law office. In June, 1893, he went to Douglas, where he engaged in the practice of law. Mr. Briggs was married in Houston county, Ga., in January, 1873, to Augusta E., daughter of John S. Taylor, of that county. Six children have been born to him: Maude and Bessie, at school at Richmond, and the other four, May, Lucille, Hor- tense and Seals (a son), are at home. Mr. Briggs is a Baptist, a Mason and a member of the I. O. O. F.

EDWARD A. BUCK, merchant and naval stores manufacturer, Douglas, Coffee Co., Ga., is of North Carolina stock, a son of Edward Buck, a farmer and naval stores manufacturer, and was born in Pitt county, N. C., Nov. 17, 1848. Like many thousands of others whose school age covered the same period of time, Mr. Buck was deprived of the advantage of an education. He has, however, managed to hold his own in his life struggle. In 1875 he came to Georgia and engaged in the manufacture of naval stores in Charlton county. He remained there only a year; then he removed to Wayne county, where he lived eight years. At the end of this time he went to Brunswick, where he engaged in the commission business, but retired after a year's experience. Leaving Brunswick he went to Clinch county where he resumed the manufacture of naval stores, continuing it eight years. From there he came to Douglas, where he is now operating a farm and manufacturing naval stores; and in connection with these conducting a store in town. Mr. Buck married Lillie Lipsey in Clinch county, in 1887, by whom he has had one child, a daughter, Mary Ethel, born Sept. 28, 1889. Mr. Buck is a man of energy and enter- prise, and fine business and executive ability, and is reputed to be one of the wealthiest men in the wire grass belt.

F WILLIS DART, judge of the county court of Coffee county, Douglas, Ga., is a son of F. M. and Mary (Hall) Dart, and was born in Brunswick, Ga., in 1869. He received his primary education in the public schools, and was graduated from the law department of Georgia university, class of '93. In 1893 he practiced law for a short time at Brunswick, Ga., and in 1894 located in Douglas. In March, 1895, he was appointed judge of the Coffee county court, to fill the unexpired term of Judge C. A Ward, who had resigned. Judge Dart is one of the youngest county judges in the state, and enjoys the distinction of reaching the bench in a little less than two years from the time he was admitted to practice. He took the honors at school, and though young in years, possesses the legal acumen not often found in older heads. He is a close student and a fine orator, and had already secured a gratifying success in his profession when appointed county judge. Judge Dart is a member of the Delta Tau Delta college fraternity, and possessing a most amiable disposition and irreproachable character, is deservedly popular, and has a bright future before him.

M'INTOSH M. HALL, M. D. (deceased), Douglas, Coffee Co., Ga., brother of Dr. J. F. Hall, Statenville, Echols Co., Ga., was born in Montgomery county, Ga., in January, 1853. Receiving a very good common school education during boy

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and youthhood, he entered the medical department of Washington university, Baltimore, Md., in 1871, from which he graduated in February, 1874. Soon after- ward he located in Coffee county, where he has since resided with the exception of one year, 1883, in Appling county. He located in Douglas, county seat for Coffee county, where he established an enviable professional reputation, and an excellent practice, and kept a drug store until he died, Jan. 15, 1895. In 1875, he married Rebecca B., daughter of Hon. John M. Lott, an influential and popular citizen, who has represented Coffee county in the general assembly two terms. Dr. and Mrs. Hall had three children born to them: John M., born December, 1876, who attended the lectures at and graduated from the Southern Medical college, Atlanta, in 1895, and has succeeded to his father's practice and business; J. Frank, born in March, 1879; and Minnie May, born in April, 1886. Dr. Hall was a master Mason, and a member of Broxton lodge No. 247.

W ILLIAM A. MOORE, M. D., Willacoochee, Coffee Co., Ga., son of Arthur Moore, farmer, Coffee county, was born in Berrien county, Ga., July 8, 1869. Dr. Moore, having had the advantage of a good common school education, began studying medicine in 1890 under Dr. Jeff Wilson, entered the Southern Medical college at Atlanta the ensuing fall, and graduated from the same in May, 1892. He went to Broxton at first to locate, but after a stay of a few months, decided to move to Willacoochee, where he has already secured a good practice, with a very bright prospective future. Dr. Moore married Georgia, daughter of William Shaw, Ber- rien county, June 15, 1893, who has borne him one child-a boy, Aubray-born May 10, 1894. The doctor is a master Mason, and a member of Willacoochee lodge No. 197, F. and A. M.

WILLIAM F. SIBBETT, M. D., Douglas, Coffee Co., Ga., was born in Colum- bus county, N. C., June 12, 1853. His father, of English descent, is still living. Dr. Sibbett, while a boy, received a fairly good common-school education. In 1877, while yet a youth, he came to Georgia and worked three years in Dodge and Appling counties in the turpentine business. Sober, industrious and eco- nomical, he saved money and engaged in the drug business in Hazlehurst, Ga., with Dr. Latimer, under the firm name of J. H. Latimer & Co. During this period he read medicine under Dr. Latimer, and, in 1886, entered the Atlanta Medical college, whence he graduated in March, 1888. Returning to Hazlehurst, he remained only a few months, when he sold out and went to Broxton, Coffee Co. After remaining in that place two and one-half years he removed to Doug- las, county seat of Coffee county, where he has established himself in an excellent paying practice as a physician, and in connection with this is doing a good drug business. He was elected coroner in January, 1895, being one of two democrats elected to county offices. Dr. Sibbett was married in December, 1884, to Amanda R., daughter of James Graham, of Appling county, by whom he has had two children: Willie, eight, and Annie, six years old. He is a member of the Georgia Medical association and of the Pharmaceutical association. He is a member and worshipful master of Douglas lodge No. 386, F. and A. M., and a royal arch Mason. He is also worthy patron of Douglas chapter of the Order of the East- ern Star.

CALVIN A. WARD, JR., lawyer and county judge, Douglas, Coffee Co., Ga., was born in Coffee county, Dec. 20, 1857. He is of a North Carolina family, his father being a son of John Ward of that state. C. A. Ward, Sr., is a farmer and stock-raiser, and at one time was justice of the inferior court. Calvin A. Ward, Jr., was given the best education obtainable in that part of the state during

2. 7. Sibbett M.D.

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COLUMBIA COUNTY SKETCHES.

the troublous time of his boyhood. He then attended the university law school at Athens, from which he graduated in 1886, and soon afterward established him- self in Douglas, where he has built up a very handsome practice. On reaching his majority he was elected clerk of the superior court, and held the office six years. His faithfulness and efficiency in this office commended for higher honors, so his fellow-citizens elected him county judge, an office he has held for three years. He is also editor of the county paper, "The Douglas Breeze," and conducts a farm. Judge Ward was married Jan. 24, 1883, to Emma, daughter of J. T. and Elizabeth Smith, Coffee county. He is a member of the State Bar association.

JEFFERSON WILCOX, M. D., Willacoochee, Coffee Co., Ga., was born ini Coffee county, March 20, 1860. His father, Mark Wilcox, who died in 1892, was a farmer and at one time was sheriff of the county. Dr. Wilcox, fortun- ately, was favored with a good common-school education preparatory to his entrance into the Southern Medical college at Atlanta, in 1881, from which institution he graduated in 1883. He located first at Broxton, Coffee county, but left there after a while and settled in Willacoochee, where he is now and where he has a choice remunerative practice not excelled in all that section. In addition to his practice he has a drug store, which is doing a profitable business. Dr. Wilcox has been mayor of Willacoochee, and now represents the county in the general assembly, and is a member of the following committees: Agriculture, hygiene and sanitation, pensions, lunatic asylum and penitentiary. Dr. Wilcox was married May 6, 1883, to Mary A., daughter of James Hinson, Coffee county, who has borne him two children: Ira E., born May 20, 1884, and Mark, born May 21, 1890. He is a master Mason and a member and treasurer of Willa- coochee lodge No. 197, F. and A. M. Dr. Wilcox stands high in his locality as an able and successful physician.

COLUMBIA COUNTY.

DR. R. B. BAILEY, the most prominent physician in Columbia county (post- office, Appling) was born in that county in 1828. He was a son of Nathaniel and Ann E. (Wilborn) Bailey. Nathaniel Bailey was a native of Maryland and moved to Wilkes county, Ga., with his parents when he was a small boy. He was a successful man and accumulated large tracts of land and owned many negroes. He moved from Wilkes to Columbia county, was a leading citizen, and served as judge of the inferior court several years. Ann E. (Wilborn) Bailey, Dr. Bailey's mother, was a daughter of Elias and Mary (Marshall) Wilborn. Elias Wilborn was a native of North Carolina, but moved to South Carolina and thence to Georgia. He was a soldier in the revolutionary war, was engaged in many battles and was one of the wealthiest citizens in Columbia county. He was a leader in church and state. Dr. Bailey's maternal great-grandfather was Daniel Marshall, a noted Baptist minister, who sojourned in many places in Vir- ginia and North Carolina, and in 1771 moved to Georgia and settled on the largest of the Kiokee creeks, and organized the church of Kiokee, which is the oldest church in Georgia. It is about eighteen miles from Augusta, in Columbia county. in the neighborhood of the two Kiokee creeks, which empty into the Savannah

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river. Dr. Bailey was reared on the farm. He received his collegiate education at Emory college and graduated there in 1849. He began the study of medicine under Dr. William S. Jones, afterward under Dr. H. R. Casey, and attended the sessions of the Augusta Medical college, where he graduated in 1851. He located in Appling, where he has practiced ever since. He has a large practice, is a highly cultivated, honorable gentleman, and is greatly respected and loved by the people of Columbia county.

M.J. BRANCH, farmer and legislator, Berzelia, Columbia Co., Ga., and one of the most prominent men in the state, was born in Petersburg, Va., in 1847, the son of Thomas and Sarah P. (Reed) Branch. He received a liberal education and graduated at college. When the civil war began he was a cadet in the Virginia Military academy, and went into active service with the cadets. He moved to Augusta, Ga., in 1868, and engaged in merchandising until 1879. In 1880 Mr. Branch married Miss Sue Steiner, who was born in Tiffin, Ohio, in 1852, and was an adopted daughter of Dr. R. Steiner. They have three living children: Hal S., Melvin C. and Steiner. In 1876 he moved to Columbia county, where he has been engaged in farming ever since, and has taken an active part in public affairs. He was a delegate to the national convention of the people's party at Omaha in 1892 and was chairman of the committee on platform. The same year he was elected a member of the Georgia legislature, and was re-elected in 1894. He is a leading member of the house, is on several important committees, and was the nominee of his party for speaker of the house, but was defeated by W. H. Fleming, the democratic nominee. Mr. Branch's father was a native of Virginia, was prominent in business and public affairs, and a leading member of the Methodist church. He was a delegate to the state convention when Vir- ginia seceded from the union, was a wealthy man, and in 1871 established the Merchants' National bank of Richmond, of which he became president. Dr. Steiner, Mrs. Branch's adopted father, was a very prominent man. He served in the Mexican war with Gen. Scott, was a surgeon in the Confederate army, and after the war settled in Augusta, where he was a leading physician until he died in 1892.

MISS SARAH JANE CRAWFORD, a very prominent and wealthy lady of Appling, Columbia Co., was born in that county in 1813. She is a daughter of Dr. Nathan and Mary (Marshall) Crawford. Her father, Dr. Crawford, was born in Virginia and moved to Georgia in 1799. He read medicine under Dr. Smelt, a prominent physician of Augusta, and after completing his course went to the upper part of Columbia county and settled on the Kiokee creek and practiced his profession. The first tax he ever paid was $5, but he afterward accumulated a large fortune and was the wealthiest man in Columbia county. His practice was very large, extending over a wide territory, in all the adjoining counties, and over into South Carolina. He was the first physician to perform the difficult operation of placing a silver plate on a broken skull. He was prominent in public affairs and served as a member of the legislature, and as judge of the inferior court. His father, Charles Crawford, was a native of Virginia, and came to Georgia a boy at the beginning of the revolutionary war, in which he served in the patriot army as captain, participating at the siege of Savannah and Augusta, being taken prisoner at the latter place. He graduated at the medical college presided over by Dr. Rush, in Philadelphia, in 1799, and returning to Georgia settled on the Kiokee creek, at the residence of Rev. Abraham Marshall, where he practiced his profession. He was a very prominent man, and lived in Columbia county until his death. Mrs.

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Mary (Marshall) Crawford, the mother of Miss Sarah J. Crawford, was a daughter of Levi and Sarah (Wyme) Marshall. Levi Marshall was the fourth son of Daniel Marshall; was a wealthy merchant and farmer, and lived in Columbia county all his life. His father, Daniel Marshall was born in Windsor, Conn., in 1706. At the early age of twenty he became a convert to religion and entered upon the work of the ministry with great energy and zeal. He sold his home, and as his biographer says: "Gave up his commodious buildings for a miserable hut; his beautiful fields and orchards for barren deserts, the luxuries of a well-furnished table for coarse, scanty fare, and numerous civil friends for rude savages." He moved to Winchester, Va., thence to Hughwarry, N. C., and then to Abbott's Creek, N. C., where he organized a church and located as its pastor. Subsequently he traveled in Virginia, organized a number of churches, and afterward moved from North Carolina to South Carolina, thence to Georgia, where he established the first Baptist church in the state in 1772, on the Kiokee creek. This church is still standing, about two miles from Appling. Mr. Marshall was once seized while preaching and whipped, a man named Sam Cartledge using the lash, and Cartledge was afterward converted and became a preacher. Miss Sarah J. Crawford, the sub- ject of this sketch, is one of the foremost ladies of the county. Her ancestors were distinguished, and her family connections are prominent and well known. She is first cousin of ex-Gov. George Crawford, second cousin of W. H. Crawford, and - Gov. Culberson, of Texas, is her nephew. Liberal, public spirited, and having a strong intellect, she is highly respected and honored in the community where she lives.

JAMES A. LAMKIN, a prosperous farmer, Kiokee, Columbia Co., was born in Columbia county, in 1850. His father, Augustus Lamkin, was also a native of Columbia county, was a farmer and race-horse man, and traveled over the state, taking part in all the leading races. He was successful in business, was highly respected and lived in his native county until he died in 1869. His parents were James and Katie (Smith) Lamkin. James Lamkin was a native of Virginia, but came to Georgia and settled in Columbia county, when a young man, and was one of the early settlers of that county. When he came to Georgia he was a very poor man, but was successful and accumulated a large fortune. Mr. James A. Lamkin's mother was a daughter of James Alexander, who was a native of Columbia county, and lived there many years, but subsequently moved to Augusta, where he died. He fought in the battle of New Orleans as a major. Mr. James A. Lamkin, the subject of this sketch, was reared on the farm and received a limited education. In 1882 he married Miss Ella Walton, daughter of Jesse and Palatil (Jones) Walton. Mr. Walton was born in Columbia county; was a successful farmer, and lived and died in the county of his birth. Mr. and Mrs. Lamkin had six sons: Walton, James A., Clanton, Griffith, Jacob P. and Frank E. He started in life with very little, but by hard work and diligent application to business was successful, and now owns 3,000 acres of choice land, a gin mill, saw mill, and other property. He was deputy sheriff of his county six years and is a highly respected member of the masonic fraternity. His wife was born in Columbia county, in 1852. She is an active and useful member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

MARION M'DANIEL, farmer, Cluese, Columbia Co., Ga., son of Zero and Cath- erine (Thompson) McDaniel, was born in Henry county, Va., in 1829. His father was a native of Virginia, a farmer by occupation, and lived all his life in his native state. His mother was a daughter of Mitchell Thompson, a native of Amherst county, Va., who moved to Grayson county, Va., where he served as I-33

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clerk of the county court several years. He was a man of extraordinary physical vigor, and lived to be ninety-five years of age. Mr. McDaniel was reared on a farm until sixteen years old. In his seventeenth year he discovered a principle by which in tempering steel the proper temper could be ascertained. He traveled ten years in Virginia, the Carolinas and Georgia, giving practical instruction in the art of welding and tempering steel, in horseshoeing, etc. In the early fifties he began training young men who had no experience, and soon found that a bright, sprightly man, white or black, could be taught in eight or ten days to do the simpler kinds of plantation work. He also found that while the negro was almost entirely destitute of the inventive faculty, his imitative power was so great that he was a quick learner. He regards the ten years he thus spent in training mechanics as the most important part of his life. After finishing his work in this line he settled down to quiet farm life in Columbia county, in which he is now contentedly and profitably engaged. Mr. McDaniel has been married three times. He was first married in 1851 to Miss Sallie-born in 1831-daughter of E. D. and Nancy Hamilton Alfriend. She died in 1858, and of the children she bore him but one, Ann H., is living. His second marriage was in 1863 to Miss Ida E .- born in Columbia county in 1847-daughter of Uriah and Sarah (Cartledge) Blanchard. This wife died in 1873; and of the children she bore him three survive: Owenton, Minnie, and Alexander H. For his third wife he married, in 1864, Miss Rosa A., born in Warren county, in 1858- daughter of James A. and Sarah (Lane) Bradshaw. Mr. McDaniel is a master Mason, and himself and wife are members of the Methodist church.

W. H. JONES, one of the most successful farmers of Columbia county, postoffice, Evans, was born in Augusta, Ga., in 1840, but was reared on a farm and edu- cated at Georgetown college. In 1862, he enlisted in the Confederate service, Twelfth Georgia battalion, under J. B. V. Allen, and was engaged in many battles in Virginia, and also in the battles of Resaca, Lost mountain, Kennesaw mountain, Atlanta, and Jonesboro. He was with the army until the close of the war. In 1866, Mr. Jones was married to Mrs. Sophie Ball Mala, widow of William Mala, and daughter of Moses and Harriet (Bassey) Greene. Mr. Greene was a great-nephew of Gen. Nathaniel Greene, of revolutionary fame. Mrs. Jones is also a great-grand- daughter of Col. Joseph Taylor of the revolutionary army, known in history as "Fighting" Joe Taylor. They have five children living: Arthur, Jessie, Walter, William H., and Mary E. He and his wife are members of the Baptist church, and are highly respected by all who know them. Mr. Jones' father, William Jones, was a native of Wales, but came to this country in 1812, and settled first in Charles- ton, afterward moving to Columbia, S. C., and when the Indian war began he enlisted and served through the same. After the same closed he lived in Fort Valley a short time, then moved back to Columbia, S. C., and afterward to Augusta, Ga., where he engaged in the manufacture of gin machinery. In 1841, he moved to Columbia county, Ga., and was engaged in farming until his death. He was a leading citizen, was highly respected and very wealthy. He lost eighty slaves and $100,000 in bank stock by the war. Mr. Jones' mother was a daughter of Mar- shall Keith, who was born in Virginia, was wealthy and owned land in that state, North Carolina, South Carolina and Alabama. He read law under Henry Clay, but never engaged in the practice. His father was a native of Scotland, but was driven from there on account of his religious belief, during the reign of Charles I. He was a grandson of Lord Keith, and first settled in Virginia, subsequently removing to Georgia. Mr. Jones lives on a large plantation left him by his father.

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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 74

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