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 84

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 84

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THOMAS JEFFERSON LUMPKIN, physician, New England city, is one of the distinguished family of that name in this state. He was born at Rome, Ga., Jan. 17, 1839. His father was William D. Lumpkin, a native of Spottsylvania county, Virginia, where he was born in 1810, the son of George Lumpkin, also a native of Virginia, and an extensive tobacco planter. George married Mary Ann Smith, and reared a family of four sons and two daughters: George W., who migrated to Chattooga county, Ga., while that county was Cherokee territory; William D., who settled with his father near Gainesville, and later in Floyd county, and died a resident of Walker county; Payton S., who settled in Mississippi; Bushrod, who moved to Chattooga county in 1856, and later to Texas; Martha, wife of Akion Ross, a Methodist minister, and afterward a bishop in Texas; and Keron H., wife of William Fain, and mother of J. C. Fain, judge of the superior court. Wm. D. Lumpkin married Esther Hudgins, of Hall county, daughter of Beverly Hudgins, and they had seven children: Wilson D .; Martha J., wife of B. D. McWorter; John H., Thomas J., Payton S., Charles F. and Hugh P. Hugh P. Lumpkin is at present a member of the Walker county bar, and is county judge of that county. Both Judge Lumpkin and his brother Charles saw active service in the late war. Charles died in the service at Knoxville. All are now deceased save Judge and Dr. Lumpkin. Dr. Lumpkin was reared in Walker county, and educated at La Fayette. About 1858 he commenced the study of medi- cine in Texas, to which state he migrated late in the fifties. Returning to Georgia he attended the Nashville medical college, and in 1860, the Atlanta medical college. Early in 1861, he enlisted in the Alabama state service, and soon afterward enlisted in the Confederate service in Company C, Seventh Alabama, and was ordered to Pensacola, where he saw service in the medical department of the army. He returned to Chattanooga and there, in connection with Dr. P. D. Ames, established the first hospital in that city. He was present at the battles of Fort Donelson and Shiloh, but was not engaged. His regiment having been dis- banded he returned home, and enlisted in Company H, Forty-eighth Alabama,

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and was ordered to the valley of Virginia, where his regiment was attached to Stonewall Jackson's brigade. He fought in all the principal battles of the war in Virginia, including Cedar mountain, Second Manassas, Georgetown, Harper's Ferry, Sharpsburg, Fredericksburg, Suffolk, Gettysburg, Port Royal, Chicka- mauga, Darby Town, Lookout mountain, Campbell station, Knoxville, Wilder- ness, Spottsylvania Court House, Cold Harbor, Fort Harrison, Williamsburg. He was also engaged in the seven days' fight around Richmond, in defense of the Confederate capital, at Chancellorsville, Malvern Hill, Drury's Bluff and Peters- burg, and was present at Appomattox when Lee surrendered his army on April 9, 1865. It is believed that the above record is unsurpassed by any soldier in the late war. He was made second lieutenant on enlisting in the Forty-eighth Ala- bama, and in November, 1862, he was promoted to the rank of captain, and during the greater part of his service commanded his regiment. He ranked high as a useful and courteous officer. At Sharpsburg he was severely wounded in the shoulder, and was shot in the arm and thigh at Chickamauga, and again at Freder- icksburg he was shot in the shoulder and side. He fought in every engagement in which his regiment participated from the time of its organization until April 9, 1865. Returning to his home he completed his medical studies at the university of Georgia, and graduated at that institution. He commenced the practice of his profession in Dade county, and so continued until 1871, when he became agent for the state of Georgia, in its relation with the Alabama & Great Southern rail- road. He studied law, was admitted to the bar, and since 1873 has practiced law in Dade county. He owns a valuable homestead in Lookout valley, near New Eng- land city, on which he resides. He has long been one of the active citizens of Dade county, and has filled various positions of trust in that county. In 1884 he became the candidate of his party for the office of representative in the legislature, and was elected, serving creditably during the sessions of 1884-85. He served on the special judiciary committee, on mine and mining, on enrollment, printing and banks and banking. He rendered efficient service both on the floor and in com- mittee and became known as a useful and industrious member. He is a member of the masonic fraternity, and since 1885 has been high priest of the Trenton chap- ter. In 1867 he married Miss W. M. Mckinney, daughter of William Mckinney, of Wilkes county, Ga. They have three children: Carra, Thomas H. and Vir- ginia E.

D. SPENCER MIDDLETON, a rising and successful physician, residing at Rising Fawn, was born in Sumner county, Miss. He is a son of Z. L. Mid- dleton, a planter in that state, who was born in Tuscaloosa county, Ala., in 1828. Z. L. Middleton has always resided in Mississippi and engaged in the pursuit of agriculture. At the commencement of the late war he entered the Confederate service, enlisting in the Fifteenth Mississippi regiment, and served through the long contest which followed. He participated in some of the leading battles and campaigns, including the siege of Vicksburg. At the close of hostilities between the states he returned to his home, having performed without a murmur the thank- less duties of a Confederate soldier. He married Miss Mary Savage of Mississippi, daughter of Benjamin Savage, and to them have been born ten children: Mary Jane, wife of Maranda Shumake; John C., Albert B., Annie E., wife of T. F. Gordon; William J., Georgia E., wife of Joseph Parker; Dr. D. Spencer, Robert Luther, Minnie A. and Lucy S., all residing in Mississippi save Dr. Middleton. Dr. Middleton was educated in Webster county, Miss., and completed his literary study at Bellefontaine high school. He began the study of medicine first under Dr. W. A. D. James, of Alva, Miss., and later desiring to complete his medical

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education, he entered, in 1892, the Chattanooga Medical college, and there, under the care of Dr. G. Manning Ellis, a professor of that institution, pursued a course of study in medicine and surgical science until 1894, when he graduated. He . commenced the practice of his profession at Rising Fawn and rapidly acquired a good practice. He has given particular study to diseases of the eye, ear and throat. He is a well educated and reliable physician and has already won the confidence of the public in Dade county. In his practice he is governed by the ethics of his profession. On Dec. 19, 1894, Dr. Middleton married Miss Dolly Virginia Chad- wick, daughter of John Chadwick, of De Kalb county, Ala. The paternal grand- father of Dr. Middleton was Parks Middleton, of Alabama. The Middleton family came from South Carolina and are of English extraction. One of the name was Hon. Arthur Middleton of South Carolina, and formerly a member of congress from that state. Dr. Middleton is an active member of the Missionary Baptist church.

COL. JAMES COOPER NISBET belongs to one of the distinguished and well- known families of Georgia. He was born in Macon, Sept. 26, 1839, and was the son of Hon. James A. Nisbet, also a native of this state, born in Greene county. James A. Nisbet was educated at the university of Georgia, and was a graduate of that institution. He read law at the Litchfield law school in Con- necticut, and was admitted to the bar about 1833. He commenced the practice of his profession at Macon, first under the firm name of Poe & Nisbet, and later Nisbet & Nisbet. After the war the firm was composed of Howell Cobb, Judge Jackson and Messrs. James A. and E. A. Nisbet, under the firm name of Nisbets, Cobb & Jackson, and long continued among the ablest law firms in the state. Mr. Nisbet early rose to prominence in Bibb county, and was elected mayor of Macon. For several terms he represented Bibb county in the legislature with distinguished ability, and when that body was composed of some of the greatest men whom Georgia has produced. In 1860 he supported the Douglas and John- son presidential ticket. With Stephens and others he was a strong Union man, and when Georgia seceded he gave his support to the Confederate movement with all the vigor he possessed until the close of the war. He died in Macon in 1871, full of years and honors, after a long, brilliant and successful career as a lawyer and citizen. His father was Dr. James Nisbet, born in Iredell county, N. C., who settled in Georgia in 1791. He married a Miss Cooper, an aunt of Hon. Mark A. Cooper, the distinguished pioneer iron manufacturer of Georgia. To them were born eight children. Of these was Eugenius A., an eminent lawyer, statesman and a man of excellent literary attainments, who graduated at Franklin college in 1821 with the highest honors of his class. He read law at the Litchfield law school, New Haven, Conn, and was admitted to the bar. He served several terms in both upper and lower branches of the general assembly. In 1838 he was elected to congress, and in 1840 was re-elected, but resigned before the close of his term. In 1845 he was elected associate justice of the supreme court at its formation, and was several times re-elected to that position, in which he served continuously until the commencement of the war, his decisions being still quoted as good authority in all the states. In 1861 he was elected to the Confederate congress and served in that body with distinction during four years. Another was Milas Nisbet, a wealthy planter in Morgan county, who died, leaving one son, who married Miss Trabue, of Kentucky, sister of a congressman from that state. Others were John T. Nisbet, a member of the Bibb county bar; Sarah, wife of Dr. William Le Conte, of Liberty county, a large rice planter, and Mary, who died without issue. The father of James C. Nisbet married Frances Rebecca,

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daughter of Dr. John Wingfield, of Morgan County. Dr. Wingfield was the son of John Wingfield and Rebecca Nelson, of New Kent county, Va. The common ancestor of the Wingfields was Edmund M. Wingfield, first deputy governor of Virginia under Sir John Smith. By this marriage James A. Nisbet reared five children: Irene, wife of Col. George H. Hazelhurst, a distinguished civil engineer; John W., a graduate of Oglethorpe university, and the major of the Twenty-sixth Georgia infantry-he served in the army of Northern Virginia until 1863, and in the western army during the remainder of the war and died in Dade county in 1885; James Cooper, Anna, who married Marshall De Graffenread, a member of the Atlanta bar; Mary Amanda, deceased, and Frank, who died in infancy. Col. James Cooper Nisbet grew to manhood in Macon, and received a classical education at Oglethorpe university, where he graduated in 1858. He removed to Lookout Valley, in Dade county, in 1859, and settled on the Clover Dale stock farm. At the commencement of the war he raised a company in Dade county, and at his own expense uniformed and equipped it. This company he transported to Richmond, Va., and there it was attached to the Twenty-first Georgia, Trimbel's brigade, Ewell's division of Jackson's corps. He was commissioned captain of his company. He fought in all the battles in which Jackson's corps participated until after the fight at Fredericksburg, including the valley campaign, in which were fought the battles of Front Royal, Winchester, Strausburg, Cross Keys and Port Republic. He was also engaged in several of the seven days' fights around Richmond, including Cold Harbor, where he was wounded by a shell, but continued to command his regiment (Twenty-first Georgia), and fought at Savage Station, White Oak Swamp and Malvern Hill. During the seven days' fight he commanded his regiment as senior captain with signal ability and courage. He fought Pope at Cedar Run and was engaged in the second battle of Manassas, Chantilly, Harper's Ferry, Sharpsburg, where he was slightly wounded, and Fred- cricksburg, where he also commanded his regiment, and for gallantry displayed on the field under the eyes of Stonewall Jackson and Gen. D. H. Hill he was promoted to the rank of colonel. He next went to Richmond and held a personal interview with President Davis and the secretary of war, by whom he was ordered to Macon with instructions to recruit a regiment. He mustered into service four- teen companies, which were organized into the Sixty-sixth Georgia regiment and the Twenty-sixth Georgia battalion; of the latter his brother, John W. Nisbet, was made major, and the command of the regiment and battalion was given to Col. Nisbet. He proceeded with his command to Fort Cobb, in Florida, and later was ordered to Chickamauga, but did not reach the field until after the battle. He was placed in command of Walker's Georgia brigade and fought at the battle of Missionary Ridge, supporting the right wing under Cleburne. The army fell back to Dalton, and in May, 1864, began the celebrated Atlanta campaign. He fought at the battles of Resaca, New Hope Church, Kennesaw Mountain, Peach- tree Creek, and on July 22, where he was made prisoner of war, near Atlanta. He was confined at Johnson's island, Lake Erie, until September, 1865. After undergoing four years of hard and self-sacrificing service in support of the Con- federacy he returned to his home and again engaged in agricultural pursuits. He married Miss Mary E., daughter of Gen. John A. Young, of Charlotte, N. C. Miss Young was a relative of the historical families of Grahams, Davidsons, Bre- rards and Ewings, and of Mrs. Stonewall Jackson. To them were born three daughters and one son, two of whom survive: Irene and Malvine. His wife died and he was again married to Miss Louise Wingfield Bailey, daughter of Gen. Armstrong Bailey, of Columbus, Ga. They have two children, James Cooper and Frances Lloyd. His service was again called for by the public in 1868, when I-37

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he was elected to the house of representatives in the legislature, and served in that body during the sessions of 1869-70 and 1871. In 1877 he was elected secretary of the constitutional convention. He has since filled various positions of trust in his county and is a fitting representative of the progress and push of his age in North Georgia. Mrs. Nisbet is a lineal descendant of a revolutionary officer, being a granddaughter of Maj. Edward Lloyd, of Savannah. Maj. Lloyd entered the patriot army early in his youth, at the age of sixteen years. He was a lieutenant of artillery and lost an arm while in command of his company at the siege of Savannah in 1779, on the same day that the Count Pulaski was killed. He was afterward promoted to the rank of major. At the close of the war he organized an artillery company known as the Chatham artillery. This famous organization is still in existence, and was the first volunteer company organized in the United States after the war of the revolution. He married late in life, in 1810, at Athens, Ga., Mrs. Sarah Anderson Hatchett, a young, beautiful and bril- liant widow who was on a visit to Georgia from her native state of Virginia. They had one child, the late Mrs. Gen. Armstrong Bailey, of Columbus, Ga., the mother of Mrs. Nisbet. Maj. Lloyd died at his summer home in Lexington, Oglethorpe Co., this state, in 1814. The Nisbet family, with their connections, justly rank among the most distinguished and illustrious in Georgia and the south, and for upward of three-quarters of a century have taken an active and prominent part in shaping the conduct of public affairs in this state. The family is particu- larly noted for high intellectual attainments, honorable motives, and has at all times possessed a high character for patriotism toward American institutions. Maj. Lloyd was an officer in the order of the Society of Cincinnatus, which society was organized by Washington, membership being confined to officers of the revolution and to the oldest male descendants, an honor which now descends by right of inheritance to Cooper Nisbet, the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Cooper Nisbet.

DAWSON COUNTY.

REUBEN S. ANDERSON, farmer, McKee, Dawson Co., Ga., son of Jordan and Lusena (Stone) Anderson, was born in what is now Dawson county, in 1843. His parents were of English descent and born in South Carolina. After their marriage they came to Georgia and "entered" the land now owned and occupied by the subject of this sketch, under government authority, and the prop- erty has remained in the family ever since. Mr. Anderson's mother died on the place in 1880 and his father Aug. 5, 1882. To them eight children were born: William, deceased; Robert, killed during the war in the army; Frances, wife of John Kelley; James P., in Alabama; Reuben S., the subject of this sketch; Emeline, wife of Andrew J. Hide; Jordan L., and Jackson R. Mr. Anderson was reared on the farm and received only the limited education obtainable in the common schools of the county. In 1863 he enlisted in the Union army, in Company A, Capt. Rogers, of Michigan, which was part of the First Georgia regi- ment, union troops, organized in Tennessee. He remained with this command until the surrender at Appomattox, when he returned to the old homestead and engaged in farming and stock raising, in which he has more than realized his most sanguine expectations. On his farm is a very fine water power, which he

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has made use of by building on it a fine corn and wheat mill. Besides he operates a cotton gin and a threshing machine. Upright and scrupulously honorable in all his dealings, he enjoys the respect and confidence of his fellow-citizens. Mr. Anderson was married Aug. 31, 1865, to Miss Melinda, daughter of John and Mary (Hill) Green, who were born and married in South Carolina, and early in life moved to Georgia and settled in Lumpkin county (now Dawson). To them nine children were born: Sarah; Carolina; Bishop, who died in the army; Jane; Monroe, who died in the army; Farlena; Melinda, wife of the subject of this sketch, and two who died in infancy. Of the children born to Mr. and Mrs. An- derson eight are living: John B., born June 5, 1866; Mary E., born Sept. 21, 1867, wife of Levi Pinyon; Sarah C., born Nov 21, 1871, wife of Doyle Burt; Samuel A., born Nov. 28, 1873; Lydia C., born Aug. 15, 1875, wife of Jasper Henry; Laura E., born July 13, 1878; Walter M., born Oct. 27, 1882, and Bishop N., born Feb. 21, 1885. Mr. Anderson is a stanch republican, and himself and wife are active members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

WILLIAM B. BURDINE, farmer, Yellow Creek, Dawson Co., Ga., son of James and Nancy (Bowen) Burdine, was born in Pickens district, S. C., March 31, 1836. His parents were natives of South Carolina, and his father, of Irish descent, was a blacksmith by trade, and also conducted a farm. They both died in South Carolina, having raised a family of six children: William B., the subject of this sketch; Jane, Martin, James, John, killed while in the army during the war, and Thomas, also killed while serving in the army. Mr. Burdine was reared on the farm and learned the trade of a blacksmith under his father. So necessary were his services on the farm and in the shop that he received but little educational advantages. When he became of age he worked at his trade, to which he added wagon-making. In 1870 he moved to Dawson county and located on his present farm, containing 800 acres, lying on the Etowah river, 150 acres of which are bottom land. This he has paid for and improved out of his surplus earnings. He has confined his energies and entire attention to the home- stead and his private affairs and is perfectly content with the results. Sur- rounded by an affectionate family and possessing the confidence and esteem of all who know him, he is spending the closing years of his life in quiet and comfort. Mr. Burdine was married in 1863 to Miss Lucinda Putnam, daughter of Abner and Hannah Putnam. To them the following children-all living-have been born: James A .; Hannah, wife of Lody Redd; Jane; William L .; Martin; Nancy, wife of John Roper; Isabella, wife of Wheeler Hill, sheriff of Dawson county; Martha, wife of Thomas Hubbard; William R., Thomas, Mary and Rebecca. He is a stanch democrat and a member of the I. O. O. F., and himself and wife are consistent and much appreciated members of the Baptist church. Eleven of the children are also members of the Baptist church.

BALAAM HARBAN, county ordinary, Dawsonville, Dawson Co., Ga., son of Nathaniel and Barbara (Maldan) Harban, was born in South Carolina Feb. 25, 1828. His great-great-grandfather on his father's side emigrated from England to this country, and his grandfather, Samuel Harban, was a native of South Carolina. Mr. Harban's father was also born in that state, came to Georgia in 1828 and settled among the Indians. While he made farming his chief reliance for a livelihood, he was an expert blacksmith, which trade he worked at and repaired guns for the Indians. His mother was born in South Carolina, and was descended from early Scotch settlers. They raised ten children to become heads of families. The chil- dren born to them were: Samuel; James; Susan, wife of A. J. Spriggs; John, died

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with fever during the war; Tyra; Balaam, the subject of this sketch; Nathaniel W .;. Benjamin; Jesse, and Lucinda E., wife of James P. Howard. His father died in February, 1865, and his mother in 1874. Mr. Harban was reared on the farm and educated at the near-by country schools. Ambitious of adventure, and to secure wealth, he left his home, January, 1852, for California. Going by way of Cuba-he spent eight days on the island-he landed in San Francisco forty days after leaving home. Leaving that city he went to Sacramento, and thence via Colona and Georgetown to Nevada, and stopped at Alpha, Nevada Co., where he remained about five years. During the greater part of this time he worked a mine of his. own, and the remainer of the time he worked at the carpenter's trade. In December, 1860, he returned home and commenced farming, which he pursued until 1862, when he enlisted in Capt. Pierce's company, Sixty-fifth Georgia regiment. The regiment first went to Cartersville, then to Chattanooga and Loudon, Tenn., whence it went into Kentucky, and back to Cumberland gap; skirmishing and fighting more or less throughout the campaign. He was taken sick at the "Gap" and was sent home. At the end of thirty days, however, he returned to his command, which was at Loudon, Tenn. He continued with the army, faithfully discharging his duties as a soldier until the army went under Gen. Hood into Tennessee; was taken prisoner at Franklin and sent to Camp Chase, Ohio, where he was held until the surrender. Coming home he engaged in farming, and in addition has worked at blacksmithing and carpentering. His fellow-citizens expressed their appreciation of his integrity and capabilities by electing him ordinary of the county in 1892, the responsible duties of which he discharged acceptably and with conscientious fidelity. Mr. Harban was married March 10, 1861, to Miss Mary Anne, daughter of Joseph and Matilda Grogan, by whom he had the following children: Mary W., wife of William H. Bird; Samuel J .; Martha, deceased; Susan, wife of W. J. Turner, and . Joseph N. The mother of these died in 1873, and the following year he married Mohala M., a sister of his first wife, who has borne him five children: Jesse- B., Andrew C., Minnie M., Barbara M., and George W. In politics Mr. Harban is- a democrat. Himself and wife are devout members of the Baptist church.

HENRY HOUSER, hotel man, Dawsonville, Dawson Co., Ga., son of David and Jane (Dickson) Houser, was born in Yorkville district, S. C., in 1820. His- paternal grandfather, Henry Houser, was a native of Germany, and emigrated to America before the revolutionary war. He lived a short time in Boston, Mass., and then went to Pittsburg, Pa. He was a furnace builder by trade, and built the first sixteen furnaces in that state. Subsequently, he moved to Yorkville, S. C., where he continued to work at his trade, and finally settled on King creek, where he died. Mr. Houser's father was born in Pennsylvania, and followed farm- ing and gold-mining through life. His maternal grandfather, Dickson, was born in Dublin, Ireland, and came to this country when quite young with his parents, who settled in New Jersey. Here the mother of the subject of this sketch was born. Seven children were born to Mr. Houser's parents: Henry, the subject of this sketch; Sarah, deceased; David; Elizabeth; Robert, killed during the late war; Johnson, killed at Seven Pines, and Thomas. Mr. Houser remained at home until he was seventeen years old, when he engaged to work with a millwright, to learn the trade. After that he entered upon a general trading life, in which he was phenomenally successful, and soon became the largest slave dealer in North Georgia. In 1861 he enlisted in Company K, Capt. N. D. Tabor, Eleventh Georgia cavalry. He participated in every battle in which his regiment was engaged, per- forming arduous and efficient service, and remained in the army until the sur- render. In 1887 he built a fine, large hotel in Dawsonville, and to the management of that he has devoted his time and attention since that time. Mr. Houser was.

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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 84

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