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 80

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 80

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WM. A. MITCHELL, clerk of the superior court of Coweta county, Ga., and son of B. H. and Susan W. (Barnes) Mitchell, was born in November, 1839, His father, who was born in Virginia in 1800, went to North Carolina with his

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parents when eight years of age, and at the age of twenty-one started out for him- self. He walked from North Carolina to Georgia, and in 1832 settled in Newnan, and, being a saddler by trade, opened a shop. In 1838 he was elected clerk of the superior court and served ten years; and in 1852 was elected ordinary, serving sixteen years, when he retired on account of old age. He was a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal church and a council degree Mason. He was the father of eleven children, only two of whom are living, William and a sister, Mary. William A. Mitchell was reared in Newnan and received a common school educa- tion. In April, 1861, he enlisted in Company A, Twelfth batallion, Georgia vol- unteers, in Gen. Evans' brigade, entering before the first gun was fired and remain- ing until after the surrender. In 1862 he was made sergeant. He was present at the battle of Cold Harbor, Laurel City, and retreated at Monocacy; was in the smaller conflicts in the Shenadoah valley in Virginia, and was present when Sheridan made his famous ride. He was with E. Kirby Smith in his raid in Ken- tucky, serving in the artillery and living on roasted ears of corn and pumpkins. After the war he returned to Newnan and engaged in the hardware business until 1891, when he was elected clerk of the superior court of Coweta county. In 1868. he was united in marriage to Neah W. Brown, daughter of Joseph Brown, who served one term as representative of Coweta county, sometime in the fifties. To this union three children were born, Brown, Bessie, and Lillie. Mrs. Mitchell was born in Heard county, Ga., but came to Coweta county when a child, and here died in 1875. She was a member of the Methodist church. In 1876 Mr. Mitchell married Mrs. Susan M. Coleman, daughter of Henry K. Allen, a native of South Carolina, who came to Georgia in an early day, and engaged in mer- chandising and cotton buying. He was a member of the M. E. church and also a member of the masonic order of the council degree. He was one of the leading citizens of the county, and his death was deeply mourned by the community. To the second marriage of Mr. Mitchell three children have been born, John, Mary E., and May Bell. Both Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell are members of the M. E. church south. He is a member of the masonic order, council degree, and is also a mem- ber of the I. O. O. F.

JOHN P. MORGAN, a thriving farmer and son of John and Mary (Mccullough) Morgan, was born in Coweta county, where he now lives, in May, 1851. His father was born in South Carolina in 1812, and came when a young boy with his father to Coweta county, Ga., which at that time was a wilderness. Mr. Morgan's grandparents, Daniel and Mary (Lankford) Morgan, were both natives of South Carolina, but removed to Coweta county, Ga., in the early part of the nineteenth century, and cleared up a farm about ninety miles from Macon, to which place their cotton had to be carried for sale. The mother of Mr. Morgan was a daugh- ter of Lewis and Ruth (Elmore) Mccullough, both natives of South Carolina who had removed to Georgia, and cleared for themselves a farm. John P. Morgan was reared on the farm where he now lives and received a common school educa- tion. In 1871 he married Elizabeth Elmore, daughter of Thomas A. and Matilda (Brooks) Elmore. Mr. and Mrs. Elmore were both natives of South Carolina, who in an early day came to Georgia. Mr. Elmore was a soldier in the late war and served in Company D, Nineteenth regiment, under Capt. James Hunter, and was killed in the battle of Manassas July 10, 1863. Five children, four of whom are living, have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Morgan: John T., Wilber E., Walter S., and Nellie F. Mr. and Mrs. Morgan are members of the M. E. church. Mr. Morgan is also a member of the masonic order, and was an alliance man during the lifetime of that order. He is a man that is well respected by all who know him.

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HON. CHARLES L. MOSES, congressman from the fourth district of Georgia, is of noble ancestry, for his great-grandsires on both sides took part in the revolutionary conflict. His grandfather, Neal Moses, the son of John Moses, the revolutionary hero, was born in North Carolina, took part in the war of 1812, and in 1820 moved to Fayette county, Ga. His wife was Nancy Manning, and in 1829 his son Ansley was born. The latter was reared on the farm in Fayette county and married Miss Mary Leavell, whose parents Charles and Elizabeth (Hunter) Leavell, were natives of South Carolina, and were married in Newberry district in 1831, removing to Georgia in 1833. Charles Leavell was born in 1802, his father being John Leavell, a Virginian, whose father, also John Leavell by name, emigrated from England before the revolution, and was with Francis Mar- ion through all that struggle. Charles L. Moses was born in 1856 and reared on the old farm in Coweta county, Ga., and received a good common school edu- cation. In 1873 he entered Mercer university and graduated in 1876. He began teaching in Newnan, having charge, for seven years, of the boy's department; the last year in this department there were 150 boys. Among Mr. Moses' college classmates were Thomas Watson, John Boifeuillet, Seaborn Wright of Rome, W. D. Jelks, and T. E. Murphy, who took first honors. Mr. Moses himself carried off the second honors. He is a young man of great promise and recognized abil- ity, his election to congress in 1890 from the fourth district being in evidence of this. Throughout his district he is held in high esteem, and justly regarded as a most worthy citizen. His wife, to whom he was married in 1881, was Miss Blanche Hall, daughter of Rev. J. H. Hall of Newnan. They have seven children living: Coral, James H., Charles L., Jr., Ansley, Hugh A., Blanche, Amaziah. Mr. and Mrs. Moses are honored members of the Baptist church. Mr. Moses is a mem- ber of the I. O. O. F.

LUTHER T. MOSES is one of the best known men of this section of the state, being chief deputy of internal revenue of Georgia. He is a grandson of a soldier of the war of 1812, Neal Moses, who with his wife, Nancy (Manning) Moses, came from their native state, North Carolina, to Georgia in 1821, and after a short residence here went to Alabama, where Mr. Moses died. Their son, Ansley Moses, was born in Fayette county, Ga., in 1829. He was a man of great ability and very useful to his state. In 1860 he helped organize Company D, Fifty-third Georgia regiment, Longstreet's corps. With this he went out as captain, being sent on an expedition to the coast. The next year he went out as first lieutenant but after a few months was made captain of Company D, which rank he held until 1863. Longstreet was then transferred to the western army, and in April Capt. Moses was taken prisoner at Knoxville, Tenn., and imprisoned for eight months at Camp Chase, Ohio; it was while here that he contracted the chronic lung disease which eventually caused his death; from Camp Chase he was trans- ferred to Fort Delaware, where he remained until the close of the war. Mr. Moses represented his county in the legislature in 1873 and 1874. He was deacon in the Baptist church, in which he had been a conscientious member and earnest worker from the age of twenty-one. His death occurred in 1886, and was greatly deplored. The wife of Capt. Moses was Miss Mary E. Leavell, daughter of Charles and Elizabeth W. (Hunter) Leavell, both natives of Virginia, but who passed their youth in South Carolina, coming to Georgia about 1832 and making their home in Coweta county. It was in this county that Luther T. Moses was reared, having been born in 1853. He received a good common school education and devoted some ten years to teaching. His interest in schools has always been very deep, and he has manifested this interest constantly and by every possible

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means, doing everything in his power to advance the educational interests of his native county, often at considerable sacrifice to himself. He was a member of the school board from 1880 to 1887, and again from 1889 to 1893, each time resigning to take an important government position. This was the office of deputy internal revenue collector, to which he was appointed by President Cleveland in January, 1887, holding it until the inauguration of the new president, being ap- pointed chief deputy in August, 1893, the position he still holds. Mr. Moses was married in 1884, his wife being Miss Etta North, born in 1860 and reared in Coweta county, the daughter of Thomas G. and Jane (Jones) North. They have four children: Tallmadge, Alice, L. T., and Mary. Both Mr. and Mrs. Moses are steadfast members of the Baptist church, and everywhere beloved and respected. Mr. Moses is a man of wide and growing influence and is sure to make his mark in his country and age.

I N. ORR, a prominent business man of Newnan, Coweta Co., Ga., who was born in November, 1840, is the son of Robert and Almira (Simms) Orr. His father, who was born in 1813, was a native of Wilkes county, Ga., and came to Coweta county in 1829 with his parents, who, on their arrival, cut a road ten miles long from Newnan to the place in the woods where they cleared up for a plantation. The mother of I. N. Orr was a daughter of John Simms, who was born in Hancock county, Ga., and whose family was one of the pioneer families of that county. I. N. Orr was reared in Coweta county, where he received a good common school education. In April, 1861, he enlisted in Company A, First Georgia regiment, under Capt. Hunley, and, strange to say, he had one finger only on his right hand; he served two years, when he was made enrolling officer for Coweta county. He had four brothers in the war, only one of whom was killed. After the war he returned to Newnan, and in 1875 went into business in a small way, but, by close application and honest dealing, he has built up a large and lucrative business. He served as a member of the school board for five years, but on being elected to the city council in 1878, was obliged to give up his position on the school board. He was then elected mayor of Newnan and was re-elected in 1893, the duties of which office he still fulfills. In 1868 he married Miss Dora Johnson, a daughter of Berry D. and Cynthia (Gibson) Johnson, whose father was a pioneer of Heard county, and who represented Heard county in the legislature two terms. He was a member of the first convention after the war. To Mr. and Mrs. Orr were born eight children, all boys, seven of whom are living: S. G., I. N., Ben- jamin, Robert, Cleveland, Frank and Paul. Mrs. Orr was born and reared in Heard county, Ga., and both she and her husband are members of the Baptist church, and Mr. Orr is an Odd Fellow. Mr. Orr and family are among the leading families of Newnan and are held in high esteem.

ROBERT PERKINS, one of Coweta county's best citizens and the son of John C. and Ann (Parks) Perkins, was born in this county in 1841. His father was born in Virginia in 1807 and while yet quite a small boy came to Georgia, his father having died. He first settled in Coweta county in 1835, coming thence from Oglethorpe county, Ga. His mother was a daughter of Bird and Martha (Smith) Parks, who were among the first settlers of this county. Robert Perkins was reared in Coweta county and attended school in one of the first old log school- houses ever built there. In 1861 he enlisted in Company A, Seventh Georgia regiment, under Capt. S. W. Lee and served two years, then being transferred to Phil Logan cavalry. He was in every battle in which his company was engaged, and was wounded but once, and that was at Sharpsburg, Md. After the war he

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came to his old home and since that time has been engaged in farming. In 1866 he was married to Miss Martha Elder, daughter of William and Elizabeth (Smith) Elder, to which union three children were born: Anna L., Fannie L. and Eula Bird. Mrs. Perkins was born and reared in Coweta county and is a member of the M. E. church. Mr. Perkins is a member of the masonic order and is respected by every one who knows him. He is an uncompromising democrat, but would never allow his name to be used for office. He now owns 1,800 acres where he lives, besides large landed interests in other localities.

A. C. RUSSELL is the grandson of Andrew Russell, who entered the revolu- tionary army at the age of eighteen, and whose father had come from Scotland some years before. Jane Caldwell, a sister, who came over at the same time, paid the sum of nine guineas for her passage. Andrew Russell married Miss Mary Caldwell and settled in South Carolina, where his son Robert was born. Here the latter grew to manhood and was for some time captain in the state militia. He married Miss Mary Brown, whose parents, Robert and Nancy Brown, were natives of Scotland, both members of the Presbyterian church, who had come to this country previous to the revolution, in which war the father took part. Mr. Rus- sell's father was a member and an elder of the Presbyterian church. In 1825, in Newberry district, S. C., Robert Russell's son, A. C., was born, and in 1832 the father took his family and such of his property as he could transport and set out for Georgia, making the long journey in mule wagons. With the train were a dog and a colt which belonged to the little lad, A. C., and in crossing the Savannah river both fell into the stream. To the great joy of their young owner, after con- siderable effort, they were both rescued, but it is not surprising that the circum- stance made a deep impression upon his childish mind. The settlement was made in Coweta county in the woods, where, while their cabins were building, they stretched a tent for shelter. Here the wolves were so numerous that they frightened the stock and even the dogs were driven under the tent for safety. During the first year, while clearing up his farm, Mr. Russell was obliged to go thirty miles for corn to feed his stock. Amid the varied scenes of this pioneer life, with only such opportunities of learning as were commonly found in the little log school- houses of that period, young Russell grew to manhood. In 1862 he enlisted with Capt. Gabbett, under Col. Stovall, but his company was chiefly engaged in the manufacture of saltpetre, and Mr. Russell, desiring to be engaged in more active service, proposed exchanging into a cavalry company; his captain, however, calling him a fool for wishing to go into the danger at the front, persuaded him to remain with his company, which he did until the close of the war. At one time when a raid of the Federal soldiers was expected, there being considerable of a panic among the troops, Mr. Russell was brevetted captain, but the Federals did not make their appearance. After the war he returned to his home in Coweta county, where his thoughtful wife had been busy during his absence and with the little she had been able to save from her own earnings, had made a new beginning; year by year he added to his wealth and has become one of the most influential and well-to-do citizens of the county. He at one time owned 500 acres of well-improved land, but in 1892 he retired from the farm and moved to Turin. In 1856 he married Miss Rebecca C. Parks, daughter of Joseph Parks, whose parents were natives of South Carolina, where she also was born in 1828, but they removed thence to Meriwether county, Ga., in 1832. They were members of the Preshy- terian church, as also their daughter, Mrs. Russell, and her husband. Mrs. Russell died in April, 1891, leaving four children: Ella C., wife of Loson Carmichael; Mary, wife of Payson Watley; Sarah A. and Walter C. Mr. Russell was for some. time a member of the Sons of Temperance. In spite of early disadvantages he

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has carved out for himself a name and a place in the world. He and his family de- servedly stand high in the community.

W. W. SASSER, one of the leading men of Coweta county, is of the hardy pioneer stock, to which many of the state's most valuable citizens belong. His grandfather, John Sasser, a native of England, came to America prior to the revolution and took part in that heroic struggle for liberty. His son William was a soldier in the war of 1812. During this war, on one occasion he and a com- rade quarreled and to punish them their officers compelled them to undress, smear themselves all over with grease and fight it out. They then made friends and the episode was a lesson to them both. William Sasser married Elizabeth Beverly, like himself a native of Laurens district, S. C., and in 1818, with her and their two chil- dren, set out for Georgia. Their vehicle was a dump-cart, and in this comfortless conveyance they made their toilsome way over rough roads and by-paths, and often through an almost trackless wilderness to their destination. For a short time they rented a small cabin while Mr. Sasser was building one for himself. He completed this and began to clear up his land that fall. With his brother-in-law, who had come wth him, he engaged in sawing lumber, using the old-fashioned whip-saw for a year. After that he was employed as an overseer. In 1825 he removed to Monroe county and with his savings bought a piece of land. On reaching his newly-purchased property he immediately began to saw the boards with which to make a shelter for his wife and five children, the land being covered with the heavy forest which at that time constituted the wealth of central Georgia. After six years on this site, during which time (Feb. 7, 1829) his son, W. W. Sasser, was born, Mr. Sasser moved to Meriwether county, Ga., where he again settled in the woods and in this place he dwelt until his death. He and his wife were consistent members of the Baptist church. In this home, amid such surroundings, W. W. Sasser was reared, attending school in the old log school-house which alone could be found in country districts at that time. The seats were of split slabs, the chimney of sticks and dirt, the fireplace six or seven feet wide, the roof tied on. William Sasser at his death turned all his property over into the hands of his son, W. W. Sasser, with the request that he rear and keep the family, and properly school them and otherwise care for them, and this he has faithfully done. During three years of the war he was running a mail route and did not do much fighting; during the last of the war he was one of Joe Brown's favorites. Mr. Sasser is a royal arch Mason. For seven years he was county commissioner for Coweta county, and then on account of ill health was compelled to resign. He is greatly liked and thoroughly respected by all who know him. On May 14, 1857, he married Keziah Boyd, daughter of Milton and Jane (Douglass) Boyd, both natives of South Carolina, who settled in Meriwether county, near Greeneville, about the year 1836. Mr. Boyd was a soldier in the war of 1812. The daughter, now Mrs. Sasser, was born in South Carolina and was but two years old at the time of the removal of her parents to Georgia. Mr. and Mrs. Sasser have been blessed with a family of eight children, of whom seven are now living: Charles F., Milton, J. A., Hugh, B. Edward, Lula and Eunice. John was the name of the son who died. Mr. and Mrs. Sasser are faithful and devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal church and so, likewise, are all their children.

H ENRY T. SHORES, a prosperous farmer and native of Coweta county, was

born in 1842, his parents, Daniel and Elizabeth (Kilgore) Shores, being also natives of the state of which his grandparents on both sides were among the pioneer settlers. His paternal grandparents, Planner and Nancy (Dorman) Shores,

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were natives of Maryland and settlers of Putnam county, Ga., while his mother's parents, John and Priscilla (Wood) Kilgore, were born in Pennsylvania. Daniel Shores settled in Coweta county after the death of his father, and here his son Henry was reared with but limited educational advantages, having attended school only four weeks in all. In July, 1861, he enlisted in Company D, Eighth Georgia regiment, under Capt. Howard, upon whose death Capt. Malone was put in com- mand. Mr. Shores took an active part in many of the fiercest engagements of the war. He was in the second battle of Manassas; in that seven days of almost continuous conflict that culminated in the furious struggle of Malvern Hill, scenes the like of which "had never before been enacted on the American continent;" he fought along the Rappahannock, and at Spottsylvania court-house; he was all through the Wilderness campaign, and in the fiercest and most bloody battles, or series of battles, of the war, the fierce strife at Gettysburg, when more than 50,000 brave men were numbered among the killed, wounded or missing. Mr. Shores was wounded by a shell in the abdomen, from the results of which injury he has been a sufferer all his life, and obliged to wear a truss. He was at Charleston for about four months, but as soon as sufficiently recovered returned to his regiment, then at Chattanooga, with which he remained until the close of the war. He was present at the surrender of Appomattox, and then set out for home, walking more than half the way. On reaching home he began work, receiving $8 per month for the first five months; his second employer was Dr. Reese. In 1867 he had saved enough to purchase a mule, by the aid of which he began farming for himself. Thus he continued by industry and close economy to gather wealth, and is now the owner of a fine farm of 800 acres in a good state of cultivation, and is one of Coweta county's most valued and beloved citizens. His wife, whom he married in February, 1868, was Miss Della Latimore, born in Oglethorpe county in 1846, and the daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (Jordan) Latimore. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. and Mrs. Shores have two daughters, Leila and Lillie T. The former is the wife of Jack Croley, and they have two children, Forest G., and an infant.

CAPT. JOHN D. SIMMS, one of the pioneers of Coweta county, was born in December, 1830. His parents, John and Comfort M. (Grace) Simms, were natives of North Carolina. His father was born in 1780, coming in 1788 to Han- cock county with his parents, Robert and Sarah (Dickinson) Simms, both natives of North Carolina. The mother of John D. Simms was a daughter of Joshua Grace. The family came to Coweta county in 1828, settling in the midst of the forest and clearing up a farm, suffering meanwhile the many trials and hardships common to the lot of pioneers. His education was obtained under many disad- vantages in the old log schoolhouse. On reaching manhood he showed himself worthy of the esteem in which he has constantly been held. He had been elected justice of the peace and his commission had just been received at the outbreak of the war, and at the same time he received a commission from Gov. Brown as captain of the militia, which would have kept him out of the service. But this did not suit his ardent temperament, and in 1862 he enlisted in Company F, Six- teenth Georgia battalion of cavalry. He himself organized this company and went out as its captain, serving in this positon throughout the war. His first service was thirty days under Gen. John A. Morgan in Kentucky, and after this under Gen. Early, through Virginia to Washington City, in which service he per- formed a great deal of detached duty. After the war Capt. Simms returned to Coweta county and engaged in farming, which he has carried on ever since. In 1877 he was elected to the legislature, it being the first legislature convened

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atter the constitutional convention, and served three years. He has served also as county commissioner four years. His wife, a native of Heard county, Ga., was Miss Louisa Hanson, daughter of Thomas K. and Gracie (Mosely) Hanson. Her father was the son of Thomas and Sarah (Boswell) Hanson, and was born in Morgan county, Ga., in 1799. The marriage of Captain and Mrs. Simms was solemnized in 1848, and the union has been blessed with three children: Ellen A., wife of Asbury H. Arnold; Fannie L., wife of H. M. Arnold, and John H. Capt. Simms and wife are honored members of the Baptist church, and the family is among the best and most respected in the county of Coweta, where they have the regard of all who know them.

REV. DR. JAMES STACY, LL. D., one of the prominent Presbyterian ministers of the state of Georgia, was born June 2, 1830. His father, John W. Stacy, was a son of John Stacy, who was a native of Wales, and joined the Puritan colony which came to Georgia from South Carolina, and was united in marriage to a Puritan girl. Rev. Dr. James Stacy was reared in Liberty county and received his first religious instructions at the old Midway church, which is supposed to be one of the oldest churches in Georgia. In this church John Stacy, Rev. Stacy's grandfather, was a deacon in 1809, and Ezra Stacy, an uncle, was deacon in 1838. This church has a great history. The first church was organized in 1754, but the building was destroyed by fire in 1778 by a body of men under Col. Prevost. At the close of the revolution it was rebuilt on the same site, and in 1785 was enlarged and so stood until 1792, when the present church was erected. Rev. Stacy had the preliminary advantage of a good common-school education, and at the age of seventeen entered Oglethorpe university, near Milledgeville, where he was graduated two years later. He then entered the Theological sem- inary at Columbia, S. C., and graduated in three years, having had conferred upon him the degree of LL. D. He immediately entered upon his work, devoting his entire time and energy to it, until now he is one of the leading ministers of the state, and, strange to say, he is the only one of the Stacy name to enter the ministry, although the whole family were devoted Christians. He has been stated clerk of the presbytery since 1866, and stated clerk of the synod of Georgia since 1876, succeeding the venerable John W. Wilson, D. D. In 1877 a $200 prize, which was offered by William A. Moore, of Atlanta, for the best essay on the holy Sabbath, was gained by Rev. Stacy, although there were over 200 contestants. He has been married twice. His first wife lived only a few years, and in 1867 he married Mrs. Kendrick, widow of Maj. Kendrick. She is a daughter of Thomas M. Jones of Newnan. Rev. Stacy is reputed to be the best educated man in this part of Georgia, and is held in the highest regard by all who know him. He has now been in charge of the Newnan church for thirty-seven years.

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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 80

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