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 88

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 88

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MEMOIRS OF GEORGIA.

county, and Samuel H. The father of these children died in middle age in 1840.

DAVID M. ROBERTS. The authentic history of this branch of the Roberts

family begins with the grandfather of the gentleman named above, whose name was Frederick, and who came to Georgia after participating in the revolu- tionary war under the leadership of Gen. Lincoln, and in which he lost a limb. He settled in middle Georgia, became a wealthy planter and reared a family of which Daniel, the father of Judge Roberts of Eastman, was one. Daniel Roberts was born in Burke county and at the age of twelve moved to Laurens county- in 1792, and in early life was captain of a steamboat on the Oconee river. Later he became a planter and was one of the wealthy and influential men of his sec- tion. In 1857 he removed to Thomas county, where he died in 1859. He married Elizabeth Carey and was the father of ten children, of whom Judge Roberts and Mrs. Elizabeth Cox of Eastman, are the only ones living. The mother was a woman of deep piety, and an active member of the Baptist church. She survived her husband some eleven years. David Montgomery Roberts was born June 15, 1837, in Laurens county, Ga. With a common-school education he read law in the office of Ex-Senator Hugh Moore of Dublin, and was ad- mitted to the bar in 1859 by Judge Peter E. Love, at Dublin. Telfair county, Ga., attracted the young attorney for a year, but he had scarcely begun to get a foot- hold when the guns of Ft. Sumter announced the advent of war. Returning to Dublin Judge Roberts enlisted in Company G of the Tenth Georgia at Hawkins- ville, Col. O. C. Horne commanding, and was mustered in at Richmond. Immediately after this event, however, he was prostrated by sickness and dis- charged for disability. On recovering he again enlisted, this time in Company G, Tenth regiment of Tennessee cavalry. In this company he saw continuous service to the very end of the war, laying down his arms after participating in the last battle, Bentonville, S. C. He was under some of the most noted cavalry generals, such as Scott, Morgan, Forrest and Joe Wheeler. His severest engage- ments were Chickamauga and the New Hope church, and on the Atlanta cam- paign, where he was under fire twenty-six days in succession. Judge Roberts took up the practice of his profession again in Appling county, where he resided eight years, a short period in Jesup, Ga., preceding his location in Eastman in 1877, where he has since resided. The matrimonial life of Judge Roberts began Dec. 22, 1875. He wedded Ursula, daughter of W. H. and Eliza Edwards of Tattnall county, and has three living children: James H., Fred A. and Paul. The legal career of Judge Roberts has been uniformly successful, and of such solid

merit as to bring him the judgeship of the Oconee circuit in 1889. He filled this place in a manner highly satisfactory to all concerned with his court, but resigned in 1893 on account of ill health. Politically the judge has served his party in various important conventions, but has never been an aspirant for political honors. He was in the convention which nominated Hancock in 1888. He is a Knight Templar of Macon commandery. A man of solid legal attainments, socially of great geniality, and a citizen of strength of character, Judge Roberts is a man of whom Dodge county and south Georgia may well be proud.

F MANUEL CURTIS SMITH, of Eastman, is a son of Emanuel Smith, a North Carolinian, who was born May 24, 1821. The family have for generations been people of education and wealth, and by marriage are connected with some of the most prominent families in the south. Emanuel Smith grew to manhood under most favorable environments, and became a man of influence and wealth. He

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married in 1844, Mary, daughter of Daniel G. Curtis, of Virginia, who was a man of political prominence in the "old dominion" in the several decades preceding the war. To the marriage were born Daniel, Emanuel C., Mary and James. Daniel and Mary are living on the old homestead in North Carolina, while! James is a lawyer of fine reputation and promise in Richmond, Va. The parents passed a long and useful life, the mother passing away in 1869, while the father survived until 1890, dying in his seventy-first year. Emanuel Curtis Smith was born Sept. 28, 1860, amid the mutterings and lowering clouds of the storm which was so soon to break with such relentless fury. But infancy recks not of scenes of blood and carnage, and ere he had grown to years of accountability the political elements had resumed their wonted calmness, and he was left undisturbed to pursue his educational training. He early became a matriculate at the university of Virginia, from which he graduated at the remarkably tender age of 13 years. He afterward came to Georgia, and in Savannah met and married Miss Eloise, daughter of Oscar Dun- ham, a wealthy citizen of that city. From there Mr. Smith came to Dodge county, where he is interested in agricultural pursuits. He favors democracy, and is a Baptist in religious belief.

DOOLY COUNTY.

THOMAS N. BAKER, M. D., of Cordele, Dooly Co., Ga., was born in Wilkinson county, Ga., Aug. 20, 1866, and is the son of Rev. Wm. S. Baker, a prominent citizen and county school commissioner of Wilkinson county. The family is of Scotch-Irish ancestry, but came to Georgia from Virginia. Thomas N. Baker was educated at Talmadge institute, Irwinton, taking a collegiate course to the close of the junior year. After this he taught school at Tennille and Sandersville, and for some time was principal at Snow Springs, Dooly Co. In 1888 he entered the Physicians' and Surgeons' college, Baltimore, graduating in 1890. He had pre- viously read medicine for three years under different preceptors. Dr. Baker, after receiving his diploma, located in Cordele, where he enjoys the best practice in the city. As a change of labor-the truest recreation-he carries on a farm in the adjacent county. He is an efficient member of the county board of education, and a member of the Southwest Georgia Medical association. He belongs also to Cordele lodge, Knights of Pythias, being a past chancellor and grand represen- tative. The wife of Dr. Baker is Georgia, the daughter of Rev. John W. Brock, a M. E. preacher, of Lexington, Ky. They have two children, Elizabeth, born April 27, 1893; and Thomas Newton, Jr., born May 7, 1895. One of the doctor's brothers, Wm. A. Baker, is a dry goods merchant of Vienna, Dooly Co., Ga.

RICHMOND A. BEDGOOD, an enterprising business man of Arabi, was born Aug. 3, 1847, in Washington county, Ga. He was the son of a farmer, Henry Bedgood, from whom he was separated by death in 1856. The boy re- ceived but a very limited education, enlisting in the Seventh Georgia militia in 1864, when he had scarcely completed his seventeenth year. Since the war closed Mr. Bedgood has been engaged in farming, and has also carried on a large sawmill and a successful mercantile business in Arabi. He is a respected member of the masonic fraternity. The first wife of Mr. Bedgood was Elizabeth Brown, whose father was the well-known Maj. Brown, of Cordele. Mr. Bedgood's second wife

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was Susan Clemons, daughter of J. J. Clemons, of Dooly county. He is the father of four sons and five daughters, one of his sons, John H., being his father's partner in business.

JAMES H. DOROUGH. The father of J. H. Dorough was Nathan S. Dorough, a farmer of Lexington, Oglethorpe Co., Ga., who was for twenty years justice of the peace; he was also a member of the militia, and was killed in the fight around Atlanta. In Lexington, Oglethorpe Co., James H. first saw the light on Oct. 5, 1842. He had received a good common school education, and when the war broke out, he hastened to join the First regiment of Georgia Volunteers, serving as second sergeant of Company E. The youthful soldier was noted for his bravery, taking part in every battle of the war in which his company was engaged. In the battle of Ocean Pond he brought the colors of his regiment safely out of a charge, in which the color sergeant had been slain. The war being over, he located in Dooly county, near the site of the present town of Cordele, where he successfully conducts the affairs of a large plantation. Mr. Dorough is a member of the Baptist church, a thorough Democrat, and just now a prominent member of the legislature. His wife, whom he married Oct. 22, 1866, was Miss Sarah E. Powell, the daughter of Isaiah Powell, a well-known planter of Dooly county. They have five children: William D., born November, 1867, married Miss Alice Murray, of Vienna, and carries on a farm near his father; John C., born Nov. 17, 1868, married Anna, a sister of his brother's wife; Nannie, born 1869, married Joseph E. Brown, a farmer of Dooly county ; Leanna, born October, 1871; and Mattie, born March, 1873, is married to Hiram Wheeler, of Cordele.

DAVID T. DOUGHTRY is the son of Thomas Doughtry, a planter of Screven county, Ga., who, after the war, went into the lumber trade, and who died in 1884. David was born May 4, 1849, and was educated in the common schools, and at the university of Georgia, at Athens. From the time of leaving college, 1871, until 1878, he engaged in the pursuit of agriculture, then for nearly two years in that of lumbering in Burke county, Ga., after which for a short time he worked for R. B. Rippard & Co., of Pierce county. In 1880 he engaged with the Amoskeag Lumber company, of Eastman, Ga., and remained with it six years. He then went into business for himself in the manufacture of naval stores, in which he has be- come one of the largest operators in the state. Having some years before bought an interest in the turpentine business, in 1889 he established a manufactory at Cor- dele, which he still operates, being now interested in four stills. He carries on, besides, a good farm in Dooly county. Mr. Doughtry is a member of the masonic fraternity (a chapter mason), also of the A. O. U. W., and of the Wood- men of the World. He has been for two years a member of the board of educa- tion, is president board of trustees of Cordele college, and president of Cordele Naval Stores association. He married Laura J., daughter of Thomas S. Barbour, a planter, of Screven county, and has four children: William T., born May 20, 1872, who in early childhood, as a result of a severe fever, lost both speech and hearing. After ten years at a deaf and dumb school, the young man, who is very bright, took a business course at Sullivan & Crichton college, at Atlanta, and is the only deaf mute in the south holding a business diploma. He is now cashier and bookkeeper for the Naval Store and Lumberman's bank at Cordele. August, 1893, he married Miss Nealie Bene, of Atlanta, who is as the result of accident, semi- mute. Mr. Doughtry's second son, Lowell Mason, born July 9, 1873, is a graduate of Alabama and Georgia Business college, at Macon, and is now senior member of the firm of L. M. Doughtry & Co., naval stores and general merchan-

DOOLY COUNTY SKETCHES.

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dise. David A., Mr. Doughtry's third son, born Dec. 5, 1875, has just graduated from the Cordele High school. The only daughter, Annie Laurie Etta, born Aug. 21, 1877, is attending the Georgia Female seminary at Gainesville.

PEARSON ELLIS, attorney at law, was born Nov. 17, 1859, near Old Brown Marsh church, in Bladen county, N. C., but from his early infancy his family lived in Whiteville, Columbus Co., N. C. His father was a lawyer-John W. Ellis, who was captain of Company H, Eighteenth North Carolina regiment, and was in Longstreet's corps during a part of the late war. Capt. Ellis was elected state senator from the fifteenth senatorial district of North Carolina, and served several terms. He died May 17, 1883, leaving five children, of whom Pearson is the eldest. The latter was educated at the university of North Carolina, and read law at the Dick & Dillard law school at Greensborough, N. C. Having been ad- mitted to the bar in October, 1886, he located at Whiteville, where he remained until 1890. He then removed to Georgia, practicing a year and a half in Bruns- wick, and was afterward bookkeeper for one year for A. Peacock, manufacturer of naval stores, in Wilcox county. He finally located in Dooly county, where he has built up a good practice, and, while in North Carolina, he was deputy sheriff for two years under V. V. Richardson, sheriff of Columbus county, and for three years was superintendent of public instruction for Columbus county. In Novem- ber, 1888, he married Miss Annie Toon, of Wilmington, N. C., a relative of Mr. J. J. Toon, of Atlanta. They have one child, Sarah Elizabeth, born Aug. 1, 1890.

PROF. JAMES M. KELLEY is the son of a farmer of Coweta county, Ga., Andrew W. Kelley, who died in 1880. The son was born Feb. 2, 1855, and well educated in the common schools, after which he taught for some time, then for two years engaged in mercantile business at Corinth, Ga. In 1882 he entered Mercer university, from which he was graduated in 1885, taking the degree of A. B. Mr. Kelley was now called to the presidency of Cochran college (New Ebenezer), which position he held for two years. In 1880, however, he had been ordained to the ministry of the Baptist church at Macon. Here he remained for six months, when he resigned to accept the charge of the Auburn institute at Jeffersonville, Twiggs Co. After two years of successful service here, in 1893 he removed to Cordele to take his present position as president of Frederick Shipp female college. In 1892 his alma mater conferred upon him the degree of A. M. Prof. Kelley in 1890 married Miss L. J. Fagin, daughter of Maj. J. M. Fagin of Midway, Ala. The young lady was educated in Virginia and in addition took a course at the conservatory of music, Cincinnati, O.

WILLIAM MADSON HASLAM, M. D., is the son of a farmer, George S. Haslam of Houston county, Ga., who died in 1884. The subject of this sketch was born March 15, 1841, and having received a common school education, at the early age of nineteen began the study of medicine under the tutelage of Dr. N. A. Rice. In 1861 he entered the Charleston Medical college, but remained five months only, leaving the pursuit of knowledge to join the Sixth regiment of Georgia volunteers. Here he first acted as brigade apothecary, then was appointed acting assistant surgeon. For ten years after the war he practiced medicine in Worth county, and then removed to Dooly county. Having built up a large practice, and being desirous of fitting himself more thoroughly for his work, Dr. Haslam took a finishing course at Atlanta Medical college, graduating in March, 1883. His home is in Pinehurst, where he has a very fine practice and is also engaged in the drug business. Dr. Haslam was married in 1866 to

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Miss Ellen M., daughter of Stephen Woodward, of Bibb county, Ga., and to them eight children have been born: Carrie, born in 1867, is married to George Lewis, Dooly county; George S., born in 1870, is a farmer, Dooly county; Minnie, born in 1872, is married to Augustus E. Johnson, Vienna, Dooly Co., Leila, born in 1874, is the wife of Walter T. Clements, naval stores manufacturer, near Pinehurst; Eva, Annie, Willie, and Johnnie. Dr. Haslam is a member of the masonic fraternity, and a member of Millwood lodge.

REDDING H. PATE, M. D., physician and surgeon at Unadilla, was born on a farm in Washington county, Ga., on June 6, 1834. When but four years old he was deprived by death of his father, Redding Pate, Sr. The young lad acquired his education in the common schools and the high school of Sanders- ville, later reading medicine under the guidance of Dr. J. M. O'Brien. The year 1856-57 he spent at Jefferson Medical college, Philadelphia, and the following year entered the medical department of the state university at Nashville, from which he graduated in 1859. The young physician located first in Dooly county, but after two years removed to Hawkinsville, where he remained until the war broke out; in 1862 he entered the army of Virginia as assistant surgeon. The war being at an end he practiced medicine, also carrying on a farm in Houston county for six years, then removing to Unadilla, Dooly Co., his present home, where he not only attends to an extensive practice, but successfully carries on a fine farm. Dr. Pate has also been prominent in the political affairs of his section, having been chairman of the democratic executive committee for four years, and at present representing his county in the legislature. Here he has been fitly appointed on the committee of hygiene and sanitation, also on the committees on railroads, libraries, and on lunatic asylums. The doctor is also a Mason, being a member of the Vienna lodge and chapter. In 1862, about the time of his entering the army, Dr. Pate was married to Miss Z. E. Laidler, the daughter of Dr. John Laidler, of Hawkinsville, Ga. He is the father of three sons and three daughters. His oldest daughter, Elizabeth, born in 1868, is the wife of J. H. Wimberly of Henderson, Ga. His oldest son, and namesake, was born in 1872. Besides these there are: Z. Eugenia, born 1876; Anthony C., 1878; Miller F. B., 1880; Laura K., 1883.

JOSEPH B. SCOTT is the son of a planter who died in 1868, and is a native of Social Circle, Walton Co., Ga., born March 16, 1838. He had received an excellent academic education, and was prepared to enter college in the junior class when the war broke out, and he instead entered the army, joining the Allen S. Cutts battalion of Georgia artillery, which formed a part of the army in northern Virginia. Though three times slightly wounded the young man per- sisted to the end of the war, when he returned to Georgia. He married Miss Maggie J. Bagley, the daughter of Dr. David Bagley of Sumter county, where Mr. Scott located, remaining until 1889, when he removed to Cordele, still, however, retaining his farming interest in his former home, while engaged in the same work in his new place of abode. Moreover he erected an ice factory and a guano factory as well as a coix, or Job's-tears plant at Cordele, and thus he aided much in the commercial advancement of the city of his adoption. His integrity and enterprise were duly recognized by his fellow-townsmen, by whom he was elected mayor, which office he has held during almost the whole time of his residence in Cordele, in addition to that of justice of the peace. Mr. Scott was also a member of the constitutional convention of 1877, is a strict democrat, and at present democratic nominee for tax collector. He is a prominent member

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of the Knights of Pythias, having held various offices in Cordele lodge, No. 44, in which he is now chancellor commander. Of the thirteen children who have. been born to him nine are now living: Zuleika J., aged 26, wife of F. E. Vansadvi, a planter of Vienna; W. D. Scott, aged 24, in Florida; Ivy M., wife of Joel A. Perry, of Cordele, in the warehouse and insurance business; Jennie R., Maggie E., Joseph B., Jr., Thurber T., Cordelia, and Lucile.

FUGENE F. STROZIER, a well known lawyer of Cordele, was born June 8, 1866, at Greeneville, Meriwether Co., Ga., where his father, J. L. Strozier, is a planter. After receiving a good common school education Mr. Strozier studied law in Greenville under the supervision of Col. Warner Hill. In the year 1887 he was admitted to the bar, and the following spring located at Cordele. Here by his energy and faithfulness he has built up for himself a large practice, and is attorney for several corporations. In 1893 he was one of the rival candidates for mayor, and after a very close and exciting contest was elected, but ousted by contest, unjustly, it is thought by many of his warm adherents. He is now a leading candidate for legislative honors. Mr. Strozier, too, is a Knight of Pythias and a member of Cordele lodge, of which he is past chancellor.

W M. S. THOMSON, an attorney-at-law, Cordele, is the son of W. H. Thom- son, a prominent farmer of Sampson county, N. C., who is well known and esteemed, and who during the late war was captain of a company of infantry. Mr. Thomson was born Jan. 19, 1866, and when he had completed his education at Wake Forest college began the study of law, graduating from the law depart- ment of the state university in 1887. He practiced his profession in Clinton, N. C., until January, 1891, when he removed to Cordele, Ga., where he formed a partnership with Z. A. Littlejohn. The firm has the leading practice of the city, and they are the local attorneys for the S. A. & M. railroad, and for several local corporations. Mr. Thomson is also the solicitor for the Dooly county court. He is a member of several of the fraternal orders-the masonic, the Odd Fellows, and the Knights of Pythias. In September, 1891, Miss Apphia Williams became his wife; she is the daughter of C. J. Williams, a planter of Sampson county, N. C. They have two daughters, Louise, born June 20, 1892, and Elizabeth, born Jan. 8, 1894.

ALEXANDER F. WARE, son of Rev. Nicholas C. Ware, a well known Meth- odist Episcopal minister who died in 1889, was born in Wilkes county, Ga., Aug. 16, 1855. His educational advantages consisted in several years' attendance at the common schools, and a year at Middle Georgia college, under Prof. Geo. C. Looney. Ever since he was eighteen Mr. Ware has devoted himself to the education of youth. During the years 1880-81 he had charge of the Raytown high school, at the same time being county surveyor. For six years, 1882-88, he was principal of Warrenton academy, and for the four succeeding years had charge of the Augusta orphan asylum. In 1892 he removed to Arabi, where he founded the Arabi institute, the best school in the county, and one of the best and most successful in the wire grass country. His wife, Rosa, is the daughter of Judge W. H. Edwards, of Warrenton, to whom he was married in 1877. They have four children: Clive Looney, born Nov. 10, 1878; Eva, Aug. 23, 1882; Mabel, Feb. 16, 1886; Alexander Ford, July 29, 1889. Prof. Ware is a member of Arabi lodge, F. & A. M., and also belongs to the Royal Arcanum at Warrenton. The Ware family to which Mr. Ware belongs is of Welsh origin, and has been prominent in the state for several generations. Ware county was

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so named in honor of one of Mr. Ware's ancestors, United States senator Nicholas Ware. His immediate family are remarkable for their devotedness to work of a religious and educational character. Eight of his uncles as well as his father have been engaged in the ministry of the M. E. church, while three of his brothers, like himself, are faithful teachers. One brother, 'N. E. Ware, is in charge of the public schools at Hawkinsville. Mr. Ware organized the Cordele high school in 1895 and is its present principal.

JAHIEL J. WEST, born April 3, 1856, at Chemung, Chemung Co. N. Y., is one of a family of eleven children, all living and having families of their own. His father, a farmer, Geo. P. West, now lives at Waverly, N. Y. Jahiel received a fair common-school education, and at the age of eighteen took a thorough busi- ness course at Wyoming Seminary and Commercial college, graduating under Prof. L. L. Sprague. He then went into the milling business at Chemung, re- maining there two years, and next engaged in the cider, vinegar and lumber trade at Waverly, where he also established what was afterward called the Herdic Coach line. In 1886 he accepted a position in Gresston, Ga., with the Gress Lumber company, but after eight months, during which he was promoted to the superintendency, he went to Atlanta and established the Georgia Pine and Lumber company, with which he remained two years. He had formed a part- nership with Mr. I. X. Cheevcs in lumbering, and they now sold out the (Atlanta) business to A. A. Fletcher and G. V. Gress, while Messrs. Cheeves & West assumed entire control of the Gress Lumber company, the former as secretary and treasurer, the latter as general manager. From its very beginning the enter- prise so prospered that at the end of nine months its managers inaugurated a new undertaking, founding the Parrot Lumber company at Richmond, Ga., with G. W. Parrot as president, the other two members of the firm holding the same offices as in the Gress company. The capacity of the mills is 100,000 feet per day, and in connection with it they carry on a general store and operate a railroad. The latter is fourteen miles in length and requires a force of 250 men, ninety mules, fourteen stationary engines and three locomotives. Mr. West has been in charge of the post-office at Richwood ever since it was established. His wife, whom he married in 1884, was Miss Annie Voris of Waverly, N. Y. He is the proud father of three sons: Herbert, aged nine; Stephen, seven, and George, two years of age. In June, 1895, he sold his interest in the Parrot Lumber company, moved to Atlanta, where he can better educate his boys, and established the West Lumber company at 244 West Petters street. At the same time he bought a nice house at 55 East Georgia avenue, which place he expects to make his perma- nent residence.

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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 88

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