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 81

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 81

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JOHN D. STAFFORD, a prosperous farmer of Coweta county, is also of the pioneer stock of the state .. His grandparents, Anderson and Henrietta (Weath- erly) Stafford, were natives of Virginia, who after some years' residence in South Carolina, settled in Pike county, Ga., in 1826, and cleared up a farm in the midst of the forest wilderness, which was their home for the remainder of their lives. Mr. Stafford had been a soldier in the war of 1812. He and his wife were among the early Methodists of this section. It is difficult to realize the many privations endured by these early settlers, or the numerous economies they were forced to practice. Shoes in those days were so costly and difficult to procure that it was customary to go barefooted the greater part of the time, and even on the Sabbath the shoes were carried in the hands until the church was nearly reached, when

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they were put on and worn through service, and until at a little distance from the church, when they were taken off and carried home again. Ellis Stafford, the son of Anderson, was born in North Carolina in 1809, and accompanied his parents through the vicissitudes of their pioneer life, and at length married Miss Anna Lovejoy, who was the daughter of Eleazar and Mary (Pennington) Love- joy, natives of Virginia. Mr. Lovejoy was the son of Edward and Jemima (Mobley) Lovejoy, the former a native of Maryland. Eleazar was born in 1779, and about 1794 accompanied his parents to Georgia, where, after a few years' residence among the woods of Jackson county, they moved to Jasper county. In 1803 he married in what is now Jackson county, and served his country in the war of 1812. He and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. John D. Stafford, the son of Ellis, was born in 1842, and, having received a good common school education, in 1861 entered the state troops under Capt. Milton Tucker. After six months in this service he enlisted under Capt. Tucker, in Company K, Fifty-fifth Georgia regiment. He was not engaged in any of the regular battles of the war, but was in many skirmishes; he served to the end of the war, for fifteen months as guard at Andersonville. The war being ended, he returned to Coweta county, and in November, 1865, married Miss Lizzie Head. This lady was born in Morgan county, Ga., and is the daughter of James and Nancy (Jackson) Head, botlı natives of Georgia. Mr. Head was born in 1796, and spent his boyhood on the farm, and fought in the war of 1812. His parents, James and Elizabeth J. (Powell) Head, Virginians, had settled in Elbert county, Ga., about 1793, the former having fought in the revolutionary war. Mr. and Mrs. Stafford are both faithful and consistent members of the Methodist Epis- copal church. Their union has been blessed with eight children: Emma, Edwin (., Paul, Lamar, Fannie May, Louise, Anna L. and Claude. Mr. Stafford began life for himself empty-handed, but has made a success of his work, his farm being very valuable. He devotes some thirty acres to the culture of grapes, which he has made profitable. He is one of the best farmers and leading men of Coweta county.

WILLIAM T. STALLINGS, a prominent citizen of Coweta county, is the grandson of Pelasiah and Mary (Edwards) Stallings, natives of Virginia, who settled in the Georgia wilderness at an early day, and reducedl a part of it to cultivation. They had brought with them a little son, Malachi, born in 1805, who afterward married Miss Martha Crawley, and became the father of Willian T. The latter was born in Morgan county, Ga., in 1833, and grew up on the farm, making the best of such educational opportunities as were afforded him, albeit for some years only those to be found in a log school house, with dirt floor, mud and stick chimney and puncheon seats. After coming of age by hard work and close economy he saved enough money to pay his way at school four years. One year he attended school at Madison, Ga., one year in Fayetteville, Ga., and then at Bowdon college, Carroll county. After this he taught three years and a half, until the outbreak of the war, when, in 1861, he enlisted in Company D, Nine- teenth Georgia regiment, under Capt. J. D. Hunter. He went as orderly-sergeant, but was soon promoted to a lieutenancy, and before long was made first lieuten- ant, from which time he really commanded the regiment most of the time, as the captain was sick at home. Lieut. Stallings, was engaged in several very hard- fought battles, among them Occoquon, fourteen miles from the city of Washing- ton, the second battle of Manassas, and all the principal battles of the Virginia campaign. He was once wounded, being shot through the thigh on the Dec. 13, 1862, by which wound he was laid up some time. At the close of the war

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Mr. Stallings came to Coweta county, and having but fifty cents with which to start life, began the labor of accumulation which has made him at the present time one of the largest land-holders and wealthiest citizens of his section. His first occupation was teaching, which he pursued for two years in Coweta county and one year in Fayetteville. After this he turned to farming, to which calling he has ever since devoted himself, and by prudence and industry has become the pro- prietor of a fine farm of 2,200 acres of good land, well improved, and with a pleasant home, a frame dwelling of two stories. Mr. Stallings was elected to the legislature in 1882, serving two years. In 1866 he married Miss Nancy S. Free- man, whose parents, Henry and Nancy (Moody) Freeman, were among the early settlers of Coweta county, where the daughter was born and reared. Mrs. Stall- ings is a member of the Baptist church. Eleven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Stallings, one of whom is dead: W. L. is a graduate of the university of Georgia, Athens, and is now a practicing attorney in Newnan. The next son is T. O. The daughters, Lillian and Mattie, the latter of whom is dead, were graduates of Wesleyan Female college at Macon. Another daughter, Inez, is now attending college at La Grange. The remaining children are Earnest L., Wade H., Pink, Charles R., Elgin and a babe unnamed. Mr. Stallings is one of the leading citizens of Coweta county, where he and his family are deservedly widely known and esteemed.

DR. J. P. TAYLOR, a prominent physician of Coweta county, is a South Caro- linian by birth, born in Lexington county, July 26, 1826. His father, William Taylor, also a South Carolinian, was a son of William and Catherine (Price) Tay- lor, the former a soldier of the revolution who served under Col. Washington and was badly wounded in the battle of Eutaw Springs; he was a Virginian who moved to South Carolina and afterward went to Tennessee. Dr. Taylor's mother, Rebecca (Corley) Taylor, was the daughter of Lawrence and Barbara (Derrick) Corley, natives of South Carolina, in which state she too was born. In 1839, William Taylor with his wife and family moved to Georgia and settled upon a farm. His son, now Dr. Taylor, passed here his later boyhood, receiving a part of his education in the old log cabin school house of the district, but afterward attended more advanced schools; having received a good general education, he applied himself to the study of medicine under Dr. Enlow, of Meriwether county; later he pursued his study of medicine in the Southern medical college, of Augusta, Ga., from which he received his degree in 1850. He at once located for the practice of his profession at Haralson, and has devoted himself to it with that assiduity that always brings success. His practice is very extensive and lucrative, as his fine education, long experience and his faithfulness and skill would naturally bring to pass; and he holds a high position in the regard of all who know him. He is a well-known member of the masonic fraternity. He married in 1853, his wife being Miss Rebecca Hodnett, born in Newton county in 1831, and reared at White Sulphur Springs. Her parents, John and Elizabeth (Tignor) Hednett, were among the pioneers of Newton county, and Mr. Hodnett was a soldier in the war of 1812. The union of Dr. Taylor and his wife was blessed with four children, the eldest, R. H., is following his father's honored example, and practicing the pro- fession of medicine. The other members of this well-known and esteemed family are William H., Mary R., and Sarah P. Mrs. Taylor died in March 17, 1890.

WILLIAM TAYLOR, one of Georgia's pioneers, was of German ancestry, his two grandfathers, William Taylor and Jacob Price, being both natives of that country; the latter came to America in his boyhood, and settled in South

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Carolina, where he died in 1804; he was in many ways a remarkable man- especially given to reading, and delighted in the study of the Scripture; his death was extremely sudden, and his last earthly action was the perusal of the sacred page-while reading which he suddenly fell forward upon the fire, and was so badly burned that death ensued. His grandson, William Taylor, had in his possession the Bible which the aged man had been reading at the moment of his sudden demise. Mr. Taylor's parents were William and Catherine (Price) Taylor; the father, who served in the war of the revolution in which he was severely wounded in the thigh, was born in Virginia but settled in South Carolina, after- ward removing to Tennessee. The youngest son, William, was born in South Carolina in 1801, and here spent the years of his youth and early manhood, with such privileges of education as the country schools of his day could afford. He was thirty-eight years of age when he removed to Georgia, where he remained during life, and lived to be one of the oldest and most respected citizens of Coweta county. He was a member of the masonic fraternity. In 1819, Mr. Taylor mar- ried Rebecca Corley, a daughter of Lawrence and Barbara (Derrick) Corley, of South Carolina, where Mrs. Taylor was born in 1800. Ten children were the off- spring of this union: Eliza (deceased); Louisa, Mrs. Sibley; Mary, Mrs. Hardi- son; Dr. J. P .; Julia, Mrs. Peary (deceased); Jane, Mrs. Hodnett (deceased); Dr. J. W .; Col. R. P., killed in the late war; Rebecca, Mrs. Franck; and W. L. Mrs. Taylor also died in 1863, and in 1864 Mr. Taylor married Miss Mary Hodnett, who was born in Troupe county, Ga., in 1832, and was a daughter of William and Caroline (Findley) Hodnett, Virginians, who caine to Georgia in the early days; Mr. Hodnett was a soldier in the war of 1812. This union was blessed with seven children: Thomas, George (deceased), Carrie, Benjamin, Henry, John and Louis. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor are members of the Lutheran church, and the family is one widely known and esteemed. Win. Taylor died March 31, 1895, wanting one week of being ninety-four years of age.

Y H. THOMPSON, a leading citizen and prominent merchant of Newnan, Coweta county, is a native of Georgia, and was born September 13, 1833. He is the son of Thomas and Rebecca (Smith) Thompson, who were also natives of the state, and is grandson of Charles Thompson, a South Carolinian, who, during the revolutionary war was with Gen. Francis Marion, the intrepid hero known as the "Swamp Fox." At an early period, with the courage born of that heroic age, Charles Thompson came to the wilds of Georgia, and settled in the woods among the Indians and cleared up a farm. Here, in 1809, his son Thomas was born, who also endured all the hardships and privations attendant upon a pioneer life, from which he was removed by death at the early age of twenty-seven, at which time his son, Y. H. Thompson, was but three years old. When the boy was but thirteen his mother also die'd, and he was left to carve out for himself a name and a fortune. He had attended school but very little, and now entered the shop of a cabinet- maker to learn the trade, working there about six years, attending school about six months of that time; but the fact is that by assiduous effort he learned more out of school than ever in school. In 1854 he came to Newnan and worked at his trade until the opening of the war, when he enlisted, in 1861, in Company A, First regiment, Georgia volunteers, his company being mustered into service March 18, 1861. This was the only regiment ever mustered out of the service of the southern Confederacy, being mustered out but a few days before the Conscript Act took effect. It, however, at once formed the Twelfth battalion, Georgia artillery, and in this arm of the service Mr. Thompson served with signal bravery until the sur- render at Appomattox, being engaged in many hard-fought battles. In the battle

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of Monocacy, when Gen. Evans was shot, Y. H. Thompson, with his brother James and two others carried the wounded general across the Monocacy river. On enter- ing the army, Mr. Thompson was chosen band-leader, but although he performed this duty with enthusiasm all through the war he was always ready to fight when the time came. Mr. Thompson returned to Newnan at the close of the war, and began to work at his trade, but the country here as elsewhere was in such an unset- tled condition that he and his brother James went twelve miles away to help build a mill, and were obliged to take their wages in something to eat. They received plenty of meat and cornmeal and so were more fortunate than many in those hard times. In 1866, the brothers engaged in a small way in the furniture business until now they have an extensive and profitable trade in furniture and undertakers' goods, of which they carry a large stock. They are regarded as among the best citizens, and are universally esteemed. Mr. Y. H. Thompson is a Mason of the council degree, now high priest, an Odd Fellow, having passed through the chairs, and also a member of the Red Men. He has served as an alderman of Newnan, where he is highly respected as a man of earnest purpose and strict integrity. He and his wife are faithful and beloved members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mrs. Thompson was Miss Martha Edwards, daughter of Lemuel and Susan (Cole) Edwards, and is a native and life-long resident of Coweta county. They were married in 1859, and have one child, Thomas M. Thompson. James Thompson is a brother of Y. H. Thompson and his partner in the furniture business. He was born in Clarke county, Ga., in 1831, and owing to early orphanage was denied the privilege of more than a very limited education. His history to a great extent is identical with that of his brother. His apprentice- ship in Decatur, Ga., began in 1845, a year before that of his brother, and lasted seven years. He also enlisted in Company A of the First Georgia regiment, and served with his brother throughout the war. Since then their business interests have been united. Mr. Thompson is a royal arch Mason. For two years he served on the city board of aldermen, and for four years on the board of education, and is highly regarded as one of the most influential citizens of the county. His marriage occurred in 1852, his wife, Miss Lucinda Shumate, being the daughter of Barryman and Thirza (Farrer) Shumate. They have six children: Barryman, Emma, Young, Effie, Jimmie L., and Birdie. Mr. Thompson and his family are all devoted and worthy members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

CHESTER THOMPSON, JR., an honest and industrious young farmer of Coweta county, was born in Henry county, Ga., in 1851. His father, Chester Thompson, was the son of a revolutionary soldier, and was born in Jasper county, Ga., and himself volunteered in the late war, but was rejected. This man married Miss Mary Ann Hudgens, daughter of William and Martha Hudgens, Virginians by birth, the father being a soldier of the revolution. The young Chester Thomp- son was reared in Heard county, and had no school privileges, his parents need- ing his care and support, and his life has been full of arduous toil. In 1880 he married Melissa Story, who was born and reared in Pike county, and whose parents, James and Martha Story, are also Georgians by birth. Mrs. Thompson is a faithful member of the Baptist church. To her and her husband three children have been given, of whom but two are living: Mattie Pearl and Jessie.

JAMES B. WALKER is the grandson of Solomon Walker, a North Carolinian, and the son of Samuel Walker, who was born in South Carolina, as was also his wife, Mary Carmichael, whom he married in that state. In 1832 he, Samuel Walker, came on horseback to Coweta county to select a site for a home, and

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in 1835 he brought his family and settled in district No. 2. Here he opened up a farm and devoted himself to its cultivation. He had in the beginning but little substance save pluck and indomitable courage and persistence, but these were quite sufficient to conquer the difficulties of his lot and to render him a man of standing and considerable property. He was a worthy member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and attained the age of seventy-five years. His wife was the daughter of Arthur and Fannie (Bell) Carmichael, both natives of South Carolina, and the granddaughter of William Carmichael, who came to this country from Ireland and served during the revolutionary war, in which he was wounded. James B. Walker was born in Coweta county in 1845 and reared upon the wood- land farm, with the limited educational facilities of that time and place. In 1861 he enlisted under Capt. Sanders Lee, in Company A, Seventh Georgia regiment. He had enlisted for a year, but when the time expired and his discharge was received he immediately re-enlisted, this time in Company K, of the First Georgia cavalry. He was in the battles of Yorktown, the seven days' fight at Richmond, Va., and he was wounded at the battle of Sunshine church, Ga., at the time his brigade captured Gen. Stoneman. This necessitated a stay of three months in the hospital. After having recovered he returned to his company and remained to the end of the war, holding the office of first sergeant, and at times com- manding the company, which was among the forces under Gen. Johnston. Upon his return home he found his father so affected in mind by the loss of all his slaves as the result of the war, and the great depreciation of his property, that the young man was compelled to take charge of his estate. In his management of this, as of all affairs which came into his hands, his diligence in the discharge of duty, his faithfulness to every trust were constantly manifested. He has won for himself valuable property and an assured position in society. In 1866 he married Miss Almeta P. Shell, who was born and reared in Coweta county, and whose parents, William B. and Nancy (Nance) Shell, were natives of South Car- olina, and about 1836 came to settle in Coweta county. Mr. Shell was a delegate to the secession convention, and has retained the pen with which he signed those declarations. Mr. and Mrs. Walker have been blessed with seven children: Agnes May, John R., Wilbur M., Kate M., Lizzie S., Roland B., and William C. The parents are faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and hold an honorable position in the community.

CALOWAY M. WEBB, one of the prosperous farmers of this county, belongs to one of the pioneer families of the state, to which his grandparents, Burrell J. and Lou J. (Spear) Webb, natives of Virginia, came before the opening of the century. Mr. Webb was a soldier in the war of 1812. His son and namesake, Burrell J. Webb, Jr., was born in Elbert county, Ga., in 1804. On reaching man- hood he married his cousin, Miss Mary E. Webb, and set out with his possessions in a little ox-cart to found a home for himself. He settled near Newnan, Coweta Co., and cleared up a farm, living in a tent while he built his little log cabin home. Here, Nov. 12, 1835, the son Caloway M., was born, and here he passed his early years with such opportunities for education as he could obtain. His first teacher, in the little log hut with its bare interior which served as a school- house, was William Porch, the second Mamie Barnes, and the third William Allen. In 1861 Mr. Webb enlisted, serving through the war, being engaged in various hard battles and many skirmishes, among the former being the battles of Chickamauga and the siege of Atlanta. On returning from the war he found himself penniless and with a family of young children dependent on him. Mr. Webb was not dismayed, however, but with courage and vigor has pushed his

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way, gaining year by year, adding not to his riches alone, but to his influence. He has a fine farm of 550 acres, and his children have all been well educated. He has six of these: Fannie, Mary, Nancy, Sophronia I., Leander B. and Reuben. His son Leander has taken the degree of M. D. and is now in successful practice at Corinth. Mr. Webb's wife, whom he married in 1854, was Miss Sophia Evans, the daughter of William and Rachel (Cotton) Evans. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Webb is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and is one of the best and most worthy citizens of Coweta county.

JOHN B. WILCOXON, son of Levi and Lena (Griggs) Wilcoxon, was born in Hancock county, Ga., in 1823. His father was a native of South Carolina and came to Georgia in 1819, settling in Hancock county. Here he remained until 1830, when he came to Newnan, where he followed farming in connection with milling. He was elected judge of the inferior court of Coweta county eight or ten years. He and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. John B. Wilcoxon came with his grandparents to Coweta county one year before his parents' arrival. He attended school in a pine log schoolhouse with a dirt floor and a log cut out for a window and a large, old-fashioned fireplace, a stick chimney and puncheon seats. After he became a man he rode five miles every day from his father's home to Newnan and attended school. Then for two years he assisted his father, at the end of which time he came to Newnan and began the study of law with Charles Mckinley, and in 1848 was admitted to the bar. He kept his office open at Newnan and did a good practice until the war came on, when, in 1861, he made up a company known as the Coweta rangers, furnished horses for some of the men, and went to Camp McDonald. He was made captain of the company, which went from McDonald to Lynchburg, and from there to western Virginia. In 1861, before going into regular service, when the Phillips legion was formed, he was made a major of cavalry. He was taken sick after a short time in South Carolina, and was discharged in 1862 and came home, but after he regained his health he raised another regiment of ten com- panies, which was called "Joe Brown's pets," and served one year, the term of enlistment. He was a great help to the Confederacy during the war, after which his father-in-law helped him to start at farming; he was very prosperous from the start and now owns 2,900 acres of good land in Coweta county, which are well improved, with a brick dwelling within the corporate limits of Newnan. In 1852 he was elected as state senator of Coweta county and served one session. At the time when Tom Hardeman was speaker of the house he served one session of two years as representative of Coweta county and since that time has given his entire attention to farming. In 1850 he was married to Mary West, daughter of Rev. John Q. West, of Wilkes county, Ga., to which union four children were born, two of whom are living: John W. and Hattie (Mrs. J. P. Jones). Mrs. Wil- coxon died in 1857, and in 1861 Mr. Wilcoxon married Mary H. Cleveland, daugh- ter of Aaron Cleveland. To them two children have been born, one of whom is still living: Cleveland Wilcoxon, a prominent lawyer of Atlanta. Mrs. Wil- coxon is a member of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Wilcoxon is now one of Coweta county's best and wealthiest citizens.

ALBERT R. WOOD, the leading coal and wood merchant of Newnan, Coweta Co., Ga .; was born in 1843, his parents being William and Elizabeth (Brown) Wood. His father, son of John and Elizabeth (Nail) Wood, was born in Laurens district, S. C., removing to Georgia in the year 1833. He was a farmer and a harness-maker by trade. His father, the grandfather of A. R. Wood (son of Samuel

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Wood, a native of Ireland, who came to America at a very early date), was born in North Carolina. He lost his life while constructing a mill. He was carrying up one of the corners of it, when he lost his balance and fell. A. R. Wood was reared in Newnan from childhood, receiving a common school education. In 1861 he enlisted in Company A, First Georgia regiment, under Gen. Clement A. Evans, and was with this company, which has the honor of being the company which fired the first shot at Laurel Hill, in all its engagements. He was wounded in the thigh at Ream's station, which caused him to be at the hospital for about two months, during which time Gen. Kilpatrick very nearly captured Richmond; and before he was well he went out on the breastworks, and, being sergeant, and no commissioned officer being present, he took charge of the men and repulsed the attack. After serving out his first enlistment, he immediately re-enlisted in the Twelfth Georgia battalion, serving until the close of the war. He was at the surrender, but he and a friend, Sam Echols, succeeded in making their escape by taking possession of two horses, which were attached to an ambulance wagon and riding them down through South Carolina, avoiding the Yankees and finally reach- ing home in safety. After the war he began farming, which he continued a few years. In 1867 he was elected marshal of Newnan, serving one year. In 1869 he married Georgia Snelling, daughter of Robert J. and Mary (Canaday) Snelling, to whom were born nine children: Thomas, Willie R., Jennie L., Jessie, Andrew H., Nellie, Anna, Elizabeth, and Georgia C. Mrs. Wood was born and reared in Georgia, and both she and her husband are members of the M. E. church. After his marriage, Mr. Wood removed to Richmond, Ga., where he was engaged in mercantile business for three years, then he removed to Coweta county, where he continued in the same occupation one year. He then went back to his farm, where he remained until 1890, when he opened a large coal and wood yard. Mr. Wood is a member of the masonic fraternity.

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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 81

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