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 77

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 77

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ARTHUR P. CAMP, one of the prosperous men of this section, a brother of Dr. G. E. Camp, was born and reared in Coweta county. His birth occurred in 1851, and his parents, Hiram and Penina (Reynolds) Camp, were among the ear- liest and most esteemed residents of this county. Mr. Camp, a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church, was at one time the proprietor of the greater part of the land in and about Moreland. He was foremost in every enterprise designed to benefit the community, whether of business, church or schools. He was gen- erous-hearted and open-handed, an unfailing friend to the poor and needy. He was always ready to bestow of his bounty to the widow and the fatherless, and is said to have given away a small fortune. He was especially zealous in promoting the cause of education, aiding in the establishment of schools and encouraging their successful management. His son, Arthur P. Camp, spent his early years upon the farm, and in 1875 married Miss Martha J. Dunlap. This lady's grand- parents, Joseph and Mary (Whitman) Dunlap, came to Georgia from Tennessee some time before 1800, and after a short residence in Elbert county came to Meri- wether county to make their home. This family was one of the first three families in this county, and at the time of their settlement in the forest wilds they were twelve miles from neighbors, except Indians and wild animals, which were very numerous, especially the latter; their home was a little cabin of boards, and the wolves frequently caine about their door at night and kept them awake by their frightful howls. Mrs. Camp's parents were Robert L. and Jane (McGruder) Dun- lap, and her father was born in Elbert county in 1817. She herself was born in Meriwether county in March, 1851. Mr. Camp and his wife are both members of the Methodist Episcopal church. They have had eight children, seven of whom are living: A. Haygood, Lillian P., Ida J., Mary L., Mattie and Mittie, twins, and Ethel. Mr. Camp is also a member of the masonic order, which he joined in 1879. He and his family have the respect of the community, in which he is a leading citizen.

COL. GEORGE H. CARMICAL, of Newnan, Ga., was born in 1842. He is a son of William and Margaret (Hunter) Carmical, both natives of South Caro- lina, and came to Georgia with them when he was ten years old. He received a common school education, and in May, 1861, enlisted in Company A, Seventh Georgia regiment. He entered as a lieutenant, in which position he served about seven months, when, the company being reorganized, he was chosen captain. In this position he only served a short time, when their major was killed at the Malvern Hill battle. Capt. Carmical was then promoted to the rank of major, and served in that capacity until the death of Col. W. T. Wilson, who was killed

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in the battle of Second Manassas. He was then promoted to the rank of lieuten- ant-colonel, which place he filled until the resignation of Col. White, who had been severely wounded at Garnet farm, when he was promoted to the colonelcy of the regiment. His regiment was engaged in some very hard conflicts, such as the battle of Malvern Hill, both battles of Manassas, Antietam, Gettysburg and the battle at Knoxville, Tenn. Col. Carmical was wounded in each of the battles of Manassas, and at Knoxville, Tenn., he received four shot wounds. At Fussell's mill he was hit by a ball which went through his nose and out under the left eye, leaving a very ugly scar, one of seven. After partial recovery from this wound he returned to his regiment, while camped near Richmond, Va., and sur- rendered at Appomattox Court House. After the war he returned home and was the first man elected to the office of sheriff of Coweta county, which position he resigned and returned to farming until 1882, when he was again elected to the same office, which he has since held. In 1876 he was married to Miss Florence Robinson, daughter of John E. and Sarah (Ramey) Robinson, both natives of Georgia. Col. Carmical is a man of great courage and has but few equals. He won many laurels for a man of his age while in the war, as he was only nine- teen when he entered the service. He is a member of the masonic order and is highly respected by all who know him.

W. W. CARMICAL, one of Coweta county's worthiest citizens, a native of South Carolina, born in 1833, is the grandson of Arthur and Frances (Bell) Carmical, of South Carolina, and the son of Arthur and Elizabeth (Cox) Car- mical, who came from their native state, South Carolina, and settled in Coweta county, Ga., in 1834. The toilsome journey was made in ox-carts, and on reaching their destination the family lived in tents while their cabins were being built, very small and without floors, for the first year or two. Mrs. Carmical was the daugh- ter of Christopher and Sarah (Mosley) Cox, South Carolinians. The child, W. W. Carmical, who was but a year old when brought to Georgia, grew up on the farm, making the most of his educational privileges, even though obtained at the price of much hardship to himself. Much of the time, even through the winter, he was obliged to go barefooted, but the courageous endurance of his boy- hood fitted him for a sturdier manhood. In 1862 he entered the army, enlisting under Capt. Henry North, in the First Georgia cavalry, being appointed corporal. But he was severely wounded at Cassville, Ga., and compelled to return home, nor did he recover his health until some time after the close of the war. In this part of the country, upon which war had laid its devastating hand, the out- look at the time of the cessation of hostilities was very discouraging. But Mr. Carmical entered bravely into the unequal contest and has been very successful, and although his beginning was made on rented land, he now owns 460 acres of fine land in excellent condition, and is regarded as one of the most enterprising and successful men of his section, and is generally respected. He belongs to the masonic fraternity, and he and his wife are members of the Baptist church. He was married in 1854 to Miss Elizabeth Robinson, born in Alabama in 1835, and reared in that state, to which her parents, Feudal and Margaret (Stracener) Robinson, had come in the early days when Indians were numerous, wild game also plenty, and white inhabitants but few. Mrs. Carmical, who was a member of the Baptist church, died in 1890, leaving her husband with ten children: John, Arthur, Maggie, Sallie, Harper, William, Ida, Robert, Walter Lee and James. In 1892 Mr. Carmical married Miss Henrietta Stephenson, a native of Pike county, Ga., and the daughter of James and Sylvia Stephenson.

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MEMOIRS OF GEORGIA.

PATRICK CARMICHAEL, an old citizen of Coweta county, was born in Abbe-

ville district, N. C., in March, 1819. His father, Arthur Carmichael, born in South Carolina in 1774, was the son of Patrick and Elizabeth (Thompson) Car- michael. Patrick Carmichael, the elder, was by birth an Irishman, who took an active part in the revolutionary struggle, in which he was wounded in the arm. He was a well-known Presbyterian, of which church all his family were worthy members. The wife of Arthur Carmichael was Frances Bell, whose parents, John and Sophia Bell, were of German ancestry. In 1831 Mr. Carmichael brought his family from South Carolina to Coweta county, Ga., moving by means of ox- teams. Here they settled in the midst of the woods, at that time full of game, which for many years helped to supply them with food. They cleared up a farm and reared a family of nine children: Elizabeth, Abraham, Sophia, Arthur, Mary Ann, Patrick, Robert, Nancy and W. W. Educational opportunities were of course but limited, but the young Patrick made the best of such as fell to his lot. He married in 1839, March 28, his wife, Mary A. W. Speer, being the daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Riggan) Speer, who settled in Jasper county, Ga., in 1818. Mr. Speer had been a soldier in the war of 1812. Mr. and Mrs. Car- michael have been the parents of fourteen children, nine of whom are now living: Smith, Thomas, Jane, John, Ella, Abraham, Alberta, James E. and Louisa V. Three of the sons served in the late war, two of whom, Joseph W. and Robert, were killed. Mr. Carmichael himself was in the service of the state during the war, and during the last year of the war served as first lieutenant of Company H, Georgia regiment. Mr. and Mrs. Carmichael are worthy and esteemed members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and are among the leading citizens of Coweta county.

JUDGE BENJAMIN F. COCK is the descendant of Caleb Cock, who early in the last century came from England to North Carolina, where he accumulated a considerable fortune. Here, in 1734, his son Zebulon was born, and afterward married to Miss Sarah Perry. In 1764 they emigrated to Burke county, Ga., and obtained by grant 200 acres of land, the title to which was received from King George the III., who reserved all the gold and silver and one-tenth of the white pine. By one will and three deeds this land has descended to its present owner, Allen Jones. In the midst of this forest wilderness, on the Bark Camp creek, the young couple bravely settled, and here, Sept. 4, 1774, was born a son, John, who was afterward the father of Judge Benjamin F. Cock. Zebulon Cock was a soldier of the revolution, serving throughout the war, and one of his sons, Caleb, also served in that war. In 1788 a Baptist church was formed in the locality of Mr. Cock's home, known as the Bark Camp church, which church is still standing. Of this church Zebulon Cock was a charter member and gave toward it four acres of land. John Cock, the son of this revolutionary hero, enlisted during the war of 1812, but had only been mustered in a short time when the war closed and he was discharged. His wife was Miss Lydia Davis, also a native of Burke county, born May 17, 1791, and a daughter of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Daniell) Davis. Her father was a Virginian by birth and a son of Rev. Elnathan Davis, who was a Baptist minister in the old colonial days, when to preach the doctrines of that sect rendered a preacher liable to imprisonment. Benjamin Davis was also a soldier of the revolution and he and his wife were both members of the Baptist church. John Cock served as justice of the peace for fourteen successive years. He and his wife were also both steadfast members of the Baptist church. Of this brave pioneer stock, with this noble revolutionary record-better than any patent of nobility-comes Benjamin F. Cock, the son of John and Lydia Cock,

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born in Burke county, Aug. 20, 1812. He spent his youth upon the farm, attending school in the old log schoolhouse, with its dirt floor, dirt and stick chimney and puncheon seats. When he reached manhood he started out for himself with nothing, but has gradually acquired a sufficiency of this world's goods, and the esteem of all who know him. This is shown by the various offices to which he has been called in various parts of the state. In Burke county he served as justice of the peace for about six months. For about six years he was justice of the inferior court of Lee and Terrell counties, and was collector of the taxes in Lee county during the years 1840, 1846 and 1847. In 1840 he took the United States census for Lee county, also in 1850 was assistant in taking the census for Lee county, and in 1860 took the census for Terrell county. For six years he acted as jury reviser in Coweta county. During the war Mr. Cock was judge of the inferior court of Terrell county, and when the war came on it was made the duty of the five inferior judges to care for the women and children left at home by the soldiers in the field. After a year's experience in keeping bachelor hall, in 1841 Judge Cock married Miss Margaret Cameron, whose parents, Alex- ander and Nancy (McCarty) Cameron, were among the early settlers of Cumber- land county, N. C. They were both natives of Scotland, and in faith stanch Presbyterians. Mr. Cameron was a soldier in the war of the revolution. In 1828 he brought his family to Georgia settling in Early county. The daughter, Mrs. Cock, was born in North Carolina, Aug. 16, 1819, and died on June 3, 1889. To Judge and Mrs. Cock seven children were born, of whom six are now living. Of these Henrietta is the wife of M. H. Couch; La Vonia is the wife of J. H. Mc- Knight; William J. resides in Atlanta, and married Sallie Heard; Alice married J. A. McKnight; B. F. Cock, Jr., married Veta Hunter.

ROBERT DUKE COLE, SR., president and founder of one of the largest man- ufacturing companies in Western Georgia, was born in Newton county, Ga., Dec. 21, 1820. He is a son of Robert Cole, who was born in Surrey county, N. C., July 29, 1775, and was married to Elizabeth Famborough Oct. 6, 1796. Mrs. Cole, who was born Oct. 7, 1778, was well known as a good and pious lady. Mr. Cole was a man of a very limited education, but was a hard worker. During the revolutionary war, while but a small boy, he suffered much from the hands of the British soldiers. He started in life without anything, settled in Newton county, Ga., and in 1830 came to_ Coweta county, Ga. He, accumulated consid- erable property in Newton county, Ga., but unfortunately lost all and was left largely in debt, but he found a ready helper in his son, R. D. Cole. Mr. Cole died March 20, 1852, and Mrs. Cole died Aug. 12, 1863. William Cole, grand- father of Robert D., was a soldier in the revolutionary war, but was captured and thrown into prison at Georgetown, S. C., where he died. Robert D. Cole was reared mostly on the farm, and his education was limited, but at an early age he began teaching school in Campbell county, Ga., where he had to study hard at night to keep ahead of his pupils. He continued to teach for three years, but as he could not collect the tuition fees, he did not have money enough to pay his board and expenses, and he consequently ran in debt, for which he was sued. He was then under age and some of his friends advised him to take advantage of his minority, but he would not do so, and little by little he liqui- dated the whole amount, even plowing barefooted to pay a small balance. After this he began work at the carpenter's trade, saved some money and Sept. 9, 1849, he married Martha Burrel Overby. They had one child, a boy, who died at the age of nineteen, in 1885. Dec. 27, 1849, Robert D. Cole settled on the lot where he now lives and continues to work at his trade. In 1854 he founded the firm

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of Cole & Barnes, with Thomas Barnes as partner, and began business on a very small scale. In the same year they purchased a small engine, and about this time their friends came to them and advised them to give up the business or they would lose all they had. Mr. Barnes remained with the company only two years, but Mr. Cole continued as sole proprietor until 1858, when Dr. W. T. Cole and his brother, Matthew Cole, became partners, the firm being then R. D. Cole & Co., which it remained until 1866, when W. T. Cole withdrew and it became R. D. Cole & Bro. Jan. 1, 1854, they started up the steam in their little shop, and their business progressed so rapidly that in 1860 they enlarged their engine to a 30-horse power. During the war they did work for the confederacy, but re- ceived nothing for what was furnished. But since the war their business has continued regularly to increase, until now the R. D. Cole Manufacturing company, which was organized under this name in 1872, manufactures engines, boilers, saw and grist mills, cotton presses and mill machinery, and also sash, doors and blinds, and all kinds of dressed lumber. Immediately after the war they began to manufacture railroad cars for the Atlanta & West Point railroad, which they continued seventeen years, and it is a noted fact that the railroad company said that the R. D. Cole company did the best work they ever had received. Mr. Cole has accomplished more for Newnan, perhaps, than any man living. Beside being president of the R. D. Cole Manufacturing company he was also instru- mental in organizing the cotton mill in 1888, and is the largest shareholder in that corporation, of which he is also president. For this large mill of 6,300 spindles the R. D. Cole Manufacturing company built the boilers, made the shafting, etc., and put in all the machinery. The capital stock paid in is $70,000. Mr. Cole was also one of the prominent men in the organization of the Coweta Fertilizer company of Newnan, and is one of the directors. He is also largely interested in a gin-mill at Grantville. Mr. and Mrs. Cole are earnest workers in and members of the Baptist church. In 1884 the society built a very fine church in Newnan, to which enterprise Mr. Cole donated $2,500. Mr. Cole has always taken a great interest in those in his employ, and for them he built a chapel known as the Mills chapel, at a cost of $1,500, where all those who desire can go and worship. He is an open-hearted man, and although well along in years, he still enjoys a good joke, and likes to tell good yarns, with which he is well supplied. But to appreciate him one must meet him at his own beautiful home. He became a Mason in 1847, but has not attended his lodge since the war closed.

MATTHEW COLE, vice-president of the R. D. Cole Manufacturing company of Newnan, Ga., and a son of Robert and Elizabeth (Famborough) Cole, was born in 1823 in Jasper county, Ga. His father was an early settler of Georgia, and at that time Georgia was in a wild state, and near where he settled, in the woods, there was a large amount of fox grapes, enough to make wine for the whole state if manufactured, and there was also an abundance of chestnuts. Matthew Cole was reared on the farm and received but a limited amount of schooling, learning more out of school than in. He began to work at the wagon-making trade when quite young, and many a time he has had to drive to Augusta, a distance of 200 miles, for provisions. He was in partnership with his brother when they started their business in 1854, since which time their business has largely increased. He was married in 1847 to Emily Woods, by whom he had one child, which died in infancy, the mother following in 1849. Mrs. Cole was a daughter of John Woods, who was the first settler in Newnan, and who sold 200 acres where Newnan now stands for $200. In 1851 Mr. Cole married H. T. Nall, by whom were born six children: Amanda, R. D., Jr., M.

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F., E. M., F. B. and R. N. R. D., Jr., is now general manager of the R. D. Cole Manufacturing company. He attended school at the state university three terms, when he was taken sick and had to give up school. M. F. graduated at the commercial college at Atlanta. He is now the secretary and treasurer of the R. D. Cole Manufacturing company. E. M. went to Cornell college, N. Y., but after being there one year his health failed and he had to give up his schooling. He is now superintendent of the machine shop. F. B. also attended Cornell college one year. He is now the draftsman for the R. D. Cole Manu- facturing company. R. N. attended the same school in New York. He is now bookkeeper for the same firm. R. D., Jr., and F. B. have both held official city positions. Mrs. Cole, the mother of these children, was born and reared in Georgia and died a member of the Baptist church, of which Mr. Cole and all the children except one, F. B., are members. Matthew Cole was a member of the "Joe Brown's pets" of Georgia during the late war. In this company, of which he was first sergeant, were seven attorneys and five physicians. He served through a short part of the war, but there was a petition gotten up at home for someone to be detailed to return to look afer the women and children, and almost everyone signed the petition for Matthew Cole to be the man. He was a member of the masonic order for several years.

J R. COLE, one of the prominent men of Coweta county, and among the leading men of business of Turin, is a native of this county, born in 1856, his parents, John N. and Mary M. (Britton) Cole, being South Carolinians by birth. John N., who was the son of Richard and Susan O. (Vance) Cole, both of South Carolina, came to Georgia about 1834, and settled in Coweta county, where he cleared up for himself a farm in the woods. When the war broke out he early enlisted, joining a company of the Fifty-third regiment, under command of Capt. Hance, but after serving nearly two years was taken sick with typhoid fever and died in 1862 at Rich- mond, Va. As a soldier he was loyal and devoted, and as a man was universally liked and respected. He was a faithful and conscientious member of the Baptist church, in which he was an earnest worker. His wife was a daughter of John and Lucinda (Aikens) Britton, who came to Georgia from South Carolina, and after some years' residence in Oglethorpe county, about 1837, settled in Coweta county. After the death of her husband Mrs. Cole had a very hard time, and with very great difficulty provided for the needs of herself and her children. Her son, J. R., was but six years old at the time of his father's death, and the many privations the family must need undergo made a deep impression upon his mind. He saw his mother obliged to burn, corn cobs in order to obtain the soda ash with which to lighten her bread. After the marriage of her daughter, the latter, with her husband, made her home with her mother, her husband taking the control of the family and its affairs. For this brother-in-law the young lad, J. R., worked for several years, and thus early in life manifested his promptitude and energy of character, for he was the first to rise in the morning to call the hands, and the first to start his mule in the field. The privation he felt most keenly was his loss of schooling, and when at last, at eighteen years of age, he was able to attend one year, he appreciated the privilege at its true value, and used it accordingly. Upon reaching the age of twenty years he left his brother-in-law and hired out to his grandfather, receiving for his own labor and that of a mule which his brother-in-law had given him, the sum of $10 per month. He remained here for thirteen months, during which time he only spent $20. In August, 1878, he and his brother-in-law bought out a small business, but as they were not familiar with it, for some time they had considerable difficulty in getting along. After two years Mr. Cole bought out his partner, giving

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his note for the amount. His natural aptitude for business was now developed, and by strict attention to every detail, by care and prudence in its management, and by the most perfect integrity in his dealings, he has built up a large and lucrative business. He occupies a handsome brick block, the foundations of drilled rock, and carries a $10,000-stock of goods. His wife, to whom he was married in 1884, was Miss Lula Sasser, daughter of W. W. Sasser, and they have been blessed with three children, Thomas M., Frank S., and Marie. Mrs. Cole was born and reared in Coweta county, and she and her husband are true and devoted members of the M. E. church. Mr. Cole served as postmaster for Turin from 1882 to 1890. His business ability is recognized throughout his section, where he and his family are well known and highly esteemed.

M N. COLLEY, a well-known farmer of Coweta county, is one of the old pioneer stock of Georgia, to whose courage and hardihood the present generation is so largely indebted. His grandfather, James Colley, a Virginian, having served during the war of the revolution, came to Georgia and settled in Oglethorpe county some years prior to 1798, when his son James was born. The latter, though but a youth, served with Gen. Jackson in the war of 1812. He married Miss Martha King, whose parents, Bennett and Mary (McCaun) King, were also among the early settlers of the state, and suffered all the hardships attendant upon a pioneer life. After their marriage they moved to Columbia county, where they began to clear up a farm, but Mr. Colley died very shortly afterward, leaving this work uncompleted. His little son, M. N. Colley, born in Wilkes county, Ga., Feb. 13, 1825, was little more than four years old at the death of his father. He necessarily was deprived of many educational opportunities, spending his boyhood upon this farm. He married in 1860 Miss Jane Garrett, daughter of James Garrett. To them one son was born, James W. Mrs. Colley was born in Newton county, Ga., in 1838, and died in 1885. She was a faithful and honored member of the Baptist church. In 1863 Mr. Colley enlisted under Capt. Burris, of Columbus, in Com- pany I, Fifth Georgia regiment, and served to the close of the war. He was in several severe battles, Tannis ferry, Lookout mountain, Missionary ridge. In 1864 he was captured at Pocotalago, near Charleston. After the war was ended he returned to Georgia and began farming in Coweta county. He bought a part of the old farm, and by his diligence and prudence was able gradually to add to it, and now owns a fine farm of over a thousand acres of good land, and is thor- oughly liked and esteemed by all who know him, being one of Coweta's best and oldest citizens.

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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 77

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