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 95

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 95

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THOMAS MARTIN GREENWOOD, M. D., of Mineral Bluff, Fannin Co., was born at Morganton June 17, 1863. From 1864 to 1866 his family resided at Carnesville, in Franklin county. His father, who was a tanner by trade and who was employed in that capacity by the Confederate government, died in Union county November, 1866. The family returned to Morganton in the fall of 1866 and settled on a farm. There the doctor lived and attended school until he had attained his nineteenth year. The patrimony of the family, which was large previous to the war, depreciated and diminished with the retiring fortunes of the Confederacy, and Dr. Greenwood was raised and educated by the efforts of his mother and himself. The first labor he performed for hire was binding rye at twenty-five cents per day, receiving pay in rye, at seventy-five cents per bushel, which was used by the family. At the age of sixteen he contracted his services for two summers, for a mule colt of the value of $40. The profits of this bargain having been enhanced by the custom so prevalent among the inhabitants of the mountains of "swapping," he soon accumulated enough money to pay for his schooling ten months. He next taught school during two terms; and after four months more of study, he passed a rigid examination in the English branches. At the end of this term, having since his thirteenth year determined upon pre- paring himself for the practice of medicine, and being unable for want of adequate means to pursue his literary studies further, he delivered a farewell address to his class and commenced the study of medicine under the direction of Dr. T. T. Fain, of Fannin county, in the spring of 1886. On November 2 of that year he entered the Atlanta Medical college with $35 in his pocket and attired in a suit of homespun clothes. He pursued his studies for four months, when he returned to his home, without having paid for his tuition. He was the first person to engage in the culture of tobacco in Fannin county. He deposited a sample of the plant raised in the agricultural department, which was pronounced to be the finest of its kind ever raised in Georgia. At the request of Hon. Henry W. Grady, of the "Southern Cultivator," he wrote a paper on the cultivation of tobacco which was published in that journal. He was made the beneficiary of a scholarship for the years 1887-88 in the Atlanta Medical college, and in the fall of 1887 he returned to that institution. At the close of the fall term he passed an examination and stood at the head of his class. At the request of the dean, Dr. H. V. Miller, he selected for his thesis the subject of "Milk-sickness," a dis- ease peculiar to the mountain regions of north Georgia, which he wrote, and the substance of this thesis is embodied in the last edition of Flint's Practice. He

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graduated on March 4, 1888, and returned to his home without a dollar and immediately commenced the practice of his profession, having obtained the nec- essary supply of medicine as a premium on competition. In April, 1888, he located permanently at Mineral Bluff, where he has since resided and continued his practice with marked success. Dr. Greenwood gives especial attention to the diseases of women and children. He is a man of literary tastes and of very considerable information on subjects of medical literature. With Prof. J. M. Clement, Jr., he is joint author of a work entitled Quintessence of Physiology and Hygiene, a text-book for schools and academies. He is a member of the Georgia Medical association, and at its meeting in 1894 contributed a paper on "Pneu- monia," which was extensively read and commented on by the members and the profession generally. At the meeting of the association in Savannah in 1895 Dr. Greenwood read a paper on "Obstetrics" as practiced in the mountains of Georgia. This paper attracted attention all over the country and was copied in the leading medical journals of the United States and Canada. On April 24, 1887, Dr. Greenwood was married to Miss Hattie A. Cook, daughter of Barnard and Caroline Cook, of Fannin county. Dr. and Mrs. Greenwood have four children: Onah Blanche, born Jan. 30, 1888, at Atlanta; Hoke Smith, born April 25, 1890; Glenn McKenla, born Jan. 10, 1892; and Earle Clement, born Nov. 27, 1894. The wife of Dr. Greenwood was born March 20, 1863. His father, Martin A. Greenwood, a native of North Carolina, was born in 1816. The mother of Dr. Greenwood was Sarah Caroline Parks, born Aug. 15, 1830. She is living with him at Mineral Bluff.

ALBERT SIDNEY JOHNSON HALL, a rising member of the Fannin county bar, residing at Blue Ridge, is a native of Ducktown, Tenn., where he was born, March II, 1867. He was reared on a farm. He commenced the study of law in the office of James G. Parks, of Ducktown, and after two years of diligent study, he was admitted to the bar of Polk county, Tenn., in the year 1887. He comnienced the practice of his profession at Ducktown, and in 1890, he moved to Blue Ridge, in this state, where he is fast rising to prominence among the lawyers of the Blue Ridge circuit, and where he is exceedingly popular. In January, 1894, Mr. Hall was elected mayor of Blue Ridge, and he has continued to discharge the duties of his office to the entire satisfaction of the people. On May 3, 1888, he was married to Miss Naomi Jane Swaim, daughter of A. W. and Margaret Swaim, of Ducktown, Tenn. They have two children: Ethel, born Jan. 3, 1889, and De May, born Feb. 21, 1893. The father of Mr. Hall is Jonathan Hampton Hall, born in Macon county, N. C., March 25, 1823. In his youth he settled in Fannin county and engaged in farming. About 1846 he married Miss Zilpha M. McCord. She was the daughter of William and Melissa McCord, both of whom were natives of Scotland, who emigrated to Macon county, N. C., and later settled in Fannin county, Ga. The parents of Mr. Hall settled on a farm near Ducktown, Tenn., soon after the late war, where they still reside. The father of Mr. Hall was a pronounced Union man at the commence- ment of the war. He entered the Federal service as captain of Company H, Tenth Tennessee cavalry, and served four years, when he was honorably discharged. The subject of this sketch is the representative of a class rapidly pushing to the front in Georgia affairs, and it is well that the future welfare of the state should be cared for by such hands.

THOMAS SILVEY M'KINNEY, of Blue Ridge, a rising young newspaper man of Fannin county, was born at Chestnut Gap, in that county, on Aug. 29, 1873. He was educated at Ellijay seminary, where he completed his studies in

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1891. He entered the office of the "Blue Ridge Post" as an apprentice, and assisted in issuing the first edition of that paper. He was afterward engaged in newspaper work on the "Atlanta Press," and for a time was associate editor of the "Cherokee Scout," at Murphy, N. C. On Jan. 1, 1893, Mr. Mckinney became the editor and proprietor of the "Blue Ridge Post," the official organ of Fannin county, since which time he has continued to edit and publish that newspaper. The "Post" is a bright and newsy paper, and has a very extensive circulation in North Georgia. Mr. Mckinney conducts a job department in connection with the publication of the "Post," and turns out a large variety of work in this line annually. On Jan. 10, 1894, Mr. Mckinney was married to Miss Ida Belle Davis, the accom- plished daughter of W. H. and Margaret Davis, of Eve Mills, Tenn. Mrs. McKin- ney is an accomplished musician and a teacher of vocal and instrumental music. Mr. Mckinney is an active member of the Methodist church, south, and his wife is a member of the Lutheran church. Mr. Mckinney is a young man of fine talents, agreeable manners, and pleasing address. His aim is to furnish the people of North Georgia a good newspaper, the object of which will be to advance the material interests of that portion of the state, already too long neglected. The father of Mr. Mckinney is Michael McKinney, born in Monroe county, Tenn., on Oct. 18, 1840. He served one year in the Confederate army during the late war. For fourteen years he was connected with the Marietta & North Georgia railroad, a portion of which he built. He is at present engaged in the real estate and lumber business at Blue Ridge. The mother of Mr. Mckinney is Harriet Adaline, daughter of R. J. McClure, of Fannin county, where she was born. Mr. Mckinney has five brothers and five sisters living: James Robert, born April II, 1862; Mollie, Mrs. W. M. Wilson, Blue Ridge, born June 26, 1863; Joseph B., born Dec. 9, 1864; John M., born April 10, 1867; Solomon L., born Oct. 7, 1869; Laura Adeline, Mrs. Mark Crawford, born June 29, 1871; Sallie, Mrs. Edgar W. Butt; Florence N., Michael K., and Lilly Gustava.

ROBERT LEE SMITH, a prominent young newspaper man, of Morganton, Fannin Co., was born in that county Nov. 23, 1870. He was educated in the common schools and acquired a practical knowledge of printing. In September, 1893, Mr. Smith became editor and proprietor of the "Morganton News," a bright and progressive weekly published at Morganton. This paper has a general circu- lation throughout North Georgia. Its editor is aggressive in advancing the interests of his county, in developing its resources, and in promoting in a general and fitting manner the public welfare. Mr. Smith has four brothers and three sisters living in Fannin county: Benton Latain, Gustavus Braselton, Cora May, Clifford Anderson, Carter Tate, Siddie May, and Minnie Eveline. The father of Mr. Smith is William Dallas Smith. He is a well-known character in Fannin county, where he has filled several official positions creditably and to the advantage of the public. In 1892 he was elected senator from the forty-first senatorial district of Georgia as a democrat. The mother of Mr. Smith, the subject of this sketch, is Emily, daughter of the late Hon. Elijah W. Chastain, who was a well-known mem- ber of congress from Georgia in antebellum days. She is still living.

GABRIEL LEONIDAS THOMAS, farmer, Blue Ridge, Fannin Co., was born near Blue Ridge on Oct. 3, 1846. He was raised on a farm and received a common school education. In 1861, he entered the service of the state of Georgia, enlisting in Col. E. W. Chastain's regiment, and saw active service at Savannah, and on the eastern coast. Later, he entered the Sixth Georgia cavalry, commanded by Col. John R. Hart, and continued in the service until captured at

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Charleston, Tenn., in August, 1864. About six months later he was released on condition that he remain within the Federal lines, and he continued to live in Tennessee during the remainder of the war. At its close he returned to his home and gave his attention to agricultural pursuits, in which occupation he has been engaged ever since. In January, 1893, he was elected sheriff of Fannin county, as a democrat, although that county was strongly republican, and was re-elected in January, 1895. Mr. Thomas brought to his aid in the discharge of his official duties as sheriff, a sound judgment, and a mind stored with practical common sense. In the discharge of his office duties he has given universal satisfaction to the people of his county, and as a citizen and official, he is highly respected. On Aug. 21, 1864, Mr. Thomas was married to Miss Nancy Caroline Brindle, daughter of Rev. Henry Brindle, of Fannin county. They have nine children, five boys and four girls: Rachel Elizabeth, wife of John N. Fite, of Alabama; John Clayton, Ga- briel Leonidas, Martha Jane, wife of G. H. Bramblet, of Alabama; Mary Melindi, William Henry, Sarah Lucree, Joseph, George Lester and Napoleon Roscoe. The father of Mr. Thomas, William Thomas, was a native of South Carolina. He was one of the first settlers of what is now Fannin county, where he died in 1875. The mother of Mr. Thomas was Elizabeth Fain, daughter of David and Rebecca Fain, of Tennessee. She died in Fannin county in 1879. Mr. Thomas is the seventh child of a large family of children: William Marrian, who died in Murray county, Ga., in 1863; Charles Newton, who died in Fannin county about 1858; Sarah E., now living at Blue Ridge; Rebecca, who married Bartly Kirbow, and died Feb. 8, 1892, in Fannin county; Ebenezer Holland, Fannin county; Rachel C., married John W. Godfrey, of Fannin county, and died April 8, 1892, and John M., Fannin county.

FAYETTE COUNTY.

CHARLES POWELL DANIEL, merchant, Brooks Station, Fayette Co., Ga., son of Gen. Egbert Powell and Catharine Roland (Howe) Daniel, was born in Zebulon, Pike Co., Ga., Aug. 26, 1839. His father was born in what is now Jasper county, Ga., in August, 1800, and when a young man settled in Pike county, where he served as clerk of the superior court for seventeen years, and became one of the richest and most influential citizens of the county. He was major-general of militia, his division extending from Pike to Houston counties, inclusive. He was a member of the masonic fraternity, in which he held respon- sible positions. His mother was born in Crawford county in 1812. Col. Daniel lived in Zebulon until he was ten years old, when he went to Griffin, Spalding Co., where he was principally educated-being a pupil of Marshall college. When the war between the states began he enlisted as a private in the Griffin Light Guards, Capt. Samuel W. Manghum, which became Company B, Fifth Georgia regiment, Col. John K. Jackson. Ten months afterward, at Knoxville, Tenn., he was elected captain of the company; at Tupelo, Miss., in 1862, he was elected major, and subsequently was promoted colonel of the regiment, and gallantly served as such until the surrender. He was in the battles at Chickamauga and Missionary Ridge-where he was wounded three times, and thereby disabled from service for three months-and Kennesaw Mountain, where he was field officer of the day. In 1863 he was at Coosahatchie Station and Pocotaligo, S. C., for

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about three months. For a number of years after the war he held the office of notary public and ex-officio justice of the peace. In December, 1887, he located at Brooks Station and engaged in general merchandising, in which he has been eminently prosperous, secured a large trade, made money and friends, and interested himself so much in the county's development and made himself so useful, as to have become one of the most prominent and influential citizens of Fayette county. He has been a member of the board of county commissioners since November, 1892, and is chairman of the district board of education. He is wide- awake, progressive and energetic, and exercises an influence for good however and wherever situated. Col. Daniel was married Feb. 7, 1866, to Miss Annie Eliza-born Aug. 1, 1843-daughter of Hon. William Mckenzie and Julia (Thompson) Blanton, who were born in Georgia and descended from the earliest Scotch-Irish settlers of the state. He at one time represented Spalding county in the general assembly. This union has been blessed with children, as follows: Minnie, born May 31, 1868, deceased; Bertie Pope, born June 29, 1870, in business at Brooks Station; Willie Mills, born March 5, 1873, associated with his brother in business; Henry Carlton, born Dec. 24, 1875, teacher; Charles Roswell, born Dec. 24, 1877, attending school; Frederic Collins, born May 19, 1880, deceased, and Emory Jones, born Feb. 24, 1883. Col. Daniel is a member of the masonic fraternity, and himself and wife are active, working members of the Methodist church, of which he is a steward and trustee, and has been a Sunday-school superintendent for fifteen years.

JAMES LUTHER GABLE, physician and surgeon, Brooks Station, Fayette Co., Ga., son of Noah Wesley and Sally Arena (Wilson) Gable, was born in Fayette county Aug. I, 1860. His father was born in Lexington district, S. C., Jan. 20, 1831; came to Georgia and located as a physician in La Fayette in 1859. He was a surgeon in the army from 1861 to 1865, and after the war returned and resumed his practice in Fayette county, and died July 12, 1893, having practiced in the county, excepting the time he was in the army, thirty-four years. His mother was born in Coweta county, Ga., May 20, 1842, and is still living at the old homestead. Dr. Gable enjoyed very good educational advantages so far as common schools could supply them, and after studying medicine under his father attended lectures at Atlanta Medical college, from which he was graduated in March, 1883. He returned home and was associated in the practice with his father until July, 1893, when his brother became associated with him. He has attained to a wide and well-earned eminence in his profession, has a large and very valuable practice and being on the threshold of professional life may be regarded as having an exceptionally brilliant future before him. He has been an influential member of the county board of education for many years. Dr. Gable was married at Cresswell, Spalding Co., Ga., to Miss Viola Vivula Vaughn, born April 30, 1862, daughter of James William and Narcissa E. (Puckett) Vaughn. Her father was born in Jasper county, Ga., Sept. 21, 1818, and her mother was born in Virginia in 1823, and came to Jasper county with her parents when quite young. This union has been blessed with five children: Jane Odessa, born June 4, 1882; Fabian, born July 19, 1884; Vivian, born Aug. 31, 1886; Irma, born April 2, 1889, and Sallie Narcissa, born Jan. 26, 1891. Dr. Gable is a member of the Knights of Pythias, the Knights of Damon, the Im- proved Order of Red Men and of the masonic fraternity-being now worshipful master of the lodge and high priest of the chapter. He is a prominent member of the Lutheran church, and his wife a devoted member of the Baptist church.

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WILLIAM THORNTON GLOWER, farmer, Fayetteville, Fayette Co., Ga., son of Abel and Zada (Mercer) Glower, was born in Fayette county, June 20, 1831. His father was born in 1792 and died May 7, 1848, and his mother (of old North Carolina families) was born in North Carolina Aug. 10, 1809, and died April 24, 1894. Mr. Glower was raised on the farm, and his schooling was very meager. His father died when he was only seventeen years old and the care of the family devolving on him, his life-battle began early. But he was of the stuff men are made of, and nothing daunted he set about fulfilling his filial obligations and has made a record to be proud of. He worked hard, early and late, kept abreast of the times, saved money and judiciously invested it, ınain- tained his integrity and provided amply for his mother and sisters, and is now comparatively rich, enjoying the sweets of a quiet conscience, the consciousness of duty done, and the respect of his appreciative fellow-citizens. In May, 1862, he enlisted in Company C, of which he was made senior second lieutenant, Capt. Marshburn, Fifty-third Georgia regiment. With his command he was suc- cessively engaged in the following important, among other minor, battles during the civil war: Seven days' fight around Richmond, Fort Sanders, Tenn., Wilderness, Spottsylvania court house, second Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Fish- er's hill (or Strausburg) and Sailor's creek, where the entire command was captured and taken to Washington, where they were detained until June 17, 1865, when he was released. Lieut. Glower was elected captain of his company in March, 1865, which title he held at the time of the surrender. In 1856 he was elected justice of the peace, was re-elected when his term expired and was in office when he enlisted. In 1872 he was elected a member of the county school board and was continued on it until 1888. In 1876 he was elected county school com- missioner and held the office until 1892. When he assumed its duties there were twenty-one public schools in the county; when he retired there were forty-three in a flourishing condition, consequent upon his intelligent administration. At the close of the war he found himself about as poor as when a mere youth he started in life, and what he has has been accumulated since without recourse to trading or speculation. Capt. Glower was married Dec. 30, 1852, to Miss Nancy Simmons, daughter of James Edward and Margaret (Cartwright) Haisten, who were natives of Greene county, Ga. This union was blessed with the following children: Millo Cecillia, born Nov. 10, 1853, wife of John O. Stinchcomb, Fayette county ; Riller Callister, deceased, born April 19, 1856; Ludas Luron, born Aug. 30, 1858, deceased wife of Elias B. Adams, Fayette county; Gayson Guthrie, born Feb. 27, 1861, proprietor of steam bakery, Atlanta; Baynard Burling, deceased, born May 1, 1866; Esclodean, born Aug. 28, 1870, wife of Allen H. Jones, Fayette county. The mother of these died March 15, 1878, and Capt. Glower contracted a second marriage May 20, 1879, with Miss Mary Ann Lucretia, daughter of John W. and Alvira (Posten) Parrott, natives, respectively, of Greene county, Ga., and South Carolina. No children have blessed this mar- riage.

WILLIAM N. T. HARP, farmer, Inman, Fayette Co., Ga., son of Mozee and Sarah (Hill) Harp, was born in Fayette county, Dec. 25, 1849. His paternal grandparents were natives of Virginia; came to Georgia early in life and settled on land included in Henry county when laid off, and now in Spalding county. Here Mr. Harp's father was born in 1819 and raised a farmer. He was a local Methodist preacher and was widely-known as a good and useful man throughout the counties of Henry, Fayette, Spalding and Clayton. He died in 1875. His mother was descended from early settlers of South Carolina, where she was born

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FAYETTE COUNTY SKETCHES.

in 1820. When she was five years old her parents came to Georgia, lived a year in Jasper county and then moved in 1826 to and settled in Henry (now Clayton) county. She is still living. Mr. Harp remained with his parents, attending the common schools while growing up, until he attained to manhood, when he com- menced to farm for himself. By close attention, industry and good management he has accumulated a large and valuable property, is a leading farmer and one of the really substantial citizens of the county. He was a member of the board of county commissioners from 1886 to 1890. In 1890 he moved to Seville, Wilcox Co., Ga., where he owned and operated a saw-mill. While there he served as mayor for a period. After about four years' experience he sold out and returned December, 1893, to Fayette county, and is now a member of the board of county registers. Mr. Harp was married Dec. 16, 1876, to Miss Mary Ida, daughter of Edward O. and Sophronia (Glass) North, natives of what is now Clayton county, Ga. To them the following children were born: William E. M., born Oct. 3, 1877; James, deceased, born Aug. 3, 1879: John Pearl, deceased, born Oct. 15, 1881 ; Harry, born Nov. 7, 1884; Andrew Russell, born Nov. 11, 1886; May Ida, born Jan. 25, 1889; Roy, born May 9, 1891; Hugh, born Nov. 16, 1893.

ROBERT HILLARY HENDERSON, merchant, Brooks Station, Fayette Co., Ga., son of Thomas and Martha (Brooks) Henderson, was born in Fayette county Dec. 1, 1857. Both parents were born in Henry county, Ga., and early in life settled in Fayette county. They had four children: Frank, a farmer in Fayette county; Nannie, wife of B. Mitchell, farmer, Fayette county; Tommy, deceased, and Robert Hillary, the subject of this sketch. His maternal grand- parents were Hillary and Nancy (Anderson) Brooks, early settlers. He became a large land-holder and very prominent, and founded and gave the name to Brooks Station. Mr. Henderson remained on the family farm and accepted such education as the common schools of the time and locality afforded until he was twenty-five years old. He then engaged with a merchant as a clerk, and worked as such for seven years. Later, for a number of years, he clerked for others and then embarked in business for himself. Such was his popularity as a business man and the confidence in his probity of character and general business ability, that he was successful from the start and is regarded as one of the most reliable young business men in the county. He is now on the high way to commercial prominence, and starting as he did, a poor boy, and working patiently and as hard as he has, is entitled to all the credit due to well-directed, honest labor. Mr. Henderson was married Dec. 24, 1889, to Miss Nannie Lee, born in Fayette county in 1867, daughter of Dr. Noah W. and Sallie A. (Wilson) Gable, and to them children have been born as follows: Mabel, born Oct. 2, 1890: Tommy Lee, born July 17, 1892, and Sallie Mattie, born March 17, 1894. He is a master Mason and secretary of the local lodge, and is a member of the Baptist church. His wife belongs to the Lutheran church.

JAMES THOMAS LEWIS, merchant, Woolsey, Fayette Co., Ga., son of George Reed and Euzebe Neville (Rosser) Lewis, was born in Henry county, Ga., Jan. 8, 1852. His grandparents were descendants of early settlers in South Carolina, and came to Georgia in the first quarter of the present century. His father was born in Butts county, Ga., in 1822, served as a soldier during the late civil war, and is a prosperous farmer. His mother was also born in Butts county Jan. 26, 1826. Both parents are living in Fayette county. Mr. Lewis remained on the farm and attended the near-by country schools until sixteen years old, when he engaged as a clerk two years. Then, in 1871, he went

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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 95

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