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 97

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 97

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torial district (comprising Bartow, Chattooga and Floyd counties) in the general assembly. It will be observed that he has been kept very busy by his appre- ciative fellow-citizens in filling very honorable and responsible positions-all of them promotive of the general good, and it may be truthfully remarked that he has proven equal to every emergency, faithful to every trust. Capt. Corput was married in Macon, Ga., in April, 1865, to Miss Mattie, daughter of the late John S. Hoge, of that city. To them three children-one son and two daughters-have been born: Joseph, died in 1867; Stella, wife of H. A. Dean, Rome, and Jessie, unmarried. He is a Knight of Pythias, of which he was grand chancellor in 1876; is a member of the I. O. O. F., and was noble grand of the United Brothers lodge No. 5, Macon, from 1869 to 1872. He is also a Knight Templar Mason, and in 1878 was eminent commander of the St. Omar commandery, Macon.

ALFRED CUMMING, brigadier-general Confederate States army, Rome, Floyd Co., was born in Augusta, Ga., in 1829. There he spent his boyhood days and early youth, and received his education preparatory to going to West Point. In 1845 he was appointed to a cadetship and graduated in 1849-two of his classmates being Gen. Quincy Gilmore, U. S. A., and Maj .- Gen. Charles Fields. After his graduation he entered the United States service, in 1855, was made a junior officer of the Tenth United States infantry, and in a few years rose to a captaincy. He was at his home in Augusta on furlough on Jan. 19, 1861, when Georgia seceded, and at once forwarded his resignation as an officer in the United States army, and on the same day he was elected lieutenant-colonel of the Augusta Volunteer battalion-five companies-and took charge of the arsenal at that city. Shortly afterward Georgia raised two regiments, and he was made major of the second regiment and assigned to the command at the arsenal, where he remained two months. At the end of that time he went to Richmond and asked for active service, when he was commissioned lieutenant-colonel of the Tenth regiment, regular army, and served as such until October, 1861, when he was promoted to a colonelcy, and served as such until September, 1862, when he was assigned to the command of an Alabama brigade, and led it in the battle of Antietam, where he was wounded and laid up for two months. In October, 1862, he was commissioned brigadier-general, and held the rank until the battle of Jonesboro, Aug. 31, 1864, where he was so severely wounded that he had to retire from the service. Gen. Cumming rendered effective and valuable service during the great struggle, participating among others of less importance in the following battles and sieges: Seven days' fight around Richmond, and was wounded at the final battle at Malvern Hill; Antietam, where he was again wounded; Edward's Station and siege of Vicksburg, Miss .; Missionary Ridge, where his command captured four colors; followed by the engagements in the Atlanta campaign under Gens. Johnston and Hood-his military career closing with the battle of Jonesboro, already mentioned. After the surrender he settled in Floyd county, where he engaged in farming, and in 1880 retired from active life on the farm and came to Rome, where he has since made his home. Gen. Cumming is a devout member of the Protestant Episcopal church, and is a vestryman of the local church.

WILLIAM HARRIS DABNEY, lawyer, Rome, Floyd Co., was born near Shady Dale, Jasper Co., Ga., in 1817. His father, Anderson Dabney, was born in Virginia about 1774, came to Georgia when a young man, and after living awhile in Greensboro, went to Jasper county, where he died about 1821. In 1829 his mother died also, and then he went to live with his uncle, Garland Dabney,

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in De Kalb county, Ga. He received his primary education at the "old-field" school, and in 1833 went to Decatur and entered the academy, where he remained three years preparing for college. Four years later he entered Franklin college (now the university of Georgia), at Athens, from which he graduated in 1839. During this period (in 1836) he served in the Creek Indian war three months. Returning to Decatur after his graduation he studied law under the direction of his brother-in-law, Hon. James M. Calhoun-afterward the war mayor of At- lanta-and in the spring of 1840 was admitted to the bar at Greene county superior court. Entering into partnership with Col. Calhoun, he practiced in De Kalb county until 1850, when he moved to Calhoun, Gordon Co., Ga. He remained and practiced law there with the exception of the last two or three years of the civil war until 1873, when he moved to Rome, where he has since made his home and practiced his profession. He was prevented by ill health from entering the Confederate service. In 1854 he was elected senator from Gordon county to the general assembly, and in 1860 was elected to represent the county in the convention which passed the ordinance of secession the January following -- for which he voted. Mr. Dabney was admitted to practice in the federal courts both before and after the war. He confined himself to the practice of law and never cared for or sought office, though no citizen, by intellectual endowments, legal training and public spirit, was better qualified for it. At the bar he has been the peer of any, and in private life the embodiment of the true old-time southern gentleman. Mr. Dabney was married in Decatur, Ga., in December, 1842, to Miss Martha B., daughter of Ami Williams, one of the oldest settlers of De Kalb county. Of the children born to them four survive: William A., a Presbyterian minister; Tyree J., at Decatur, Ga; Frank B., civil engineer, and a member of the international commissioners appointed by the United States and Mexico to settle boundary lines, and Mary V., unmarried. His wife died in 1885. Mr. Dabney is a master Mason, and although not a member, affiliates with the Presbyterian church.

RICHARD ALDEN DENNY, lawyer, Rome, Floyd Co .. Ga., son of J. A. and

Rebekah (Bonham) Denny, was born in Talbot county, Md., Jan. 15, 1856. His father was of Scotch lineage, and was a civil engineer in the employ of the United States government. His mother was of English ancestry, whose family emigrated to this country in the early days of its settlement. Mr. Denny was principally educated at York, Pa., where, when seventeen years of age, he began the study of law under Levi Maish, a prominent lawyer of that city. When eighteen years old he came to Romc, Ga., and finished his legal studies under Hons. Alexander and Wright; and in 1875 was admitted to the bar in Floyd county superior court. He has since devoted himself exclusively to his practice, establishing an excellent reputation, and a practice which is constantly increasing. He has been a member of the city council, and in 1886 was elected to represent Floyd county in the general assembly, where he rendered efficient and valuable service for his constituents. In 1884 he formed a partnership with John H. Reece, an eminent lawyer, under the firm name of Reece & Denny, which still con- tintes. Mr. Denny was married in 1880 to Miss Theo Scott, daughter of Capt. Dunlap Scott, one of the most distinguished citizens of Georgia in his day. She was born and brought up in Athens, Clarke Co., Ga. To them one child, Mary A., has been born. In politics, Mr. Denny is uncompromisingly democratic.

CHARLES N. FEATHERSTON, lawyer, Rome, Floyd Co., Ga., son of Lucius H. and Maria (Tompkins) Featherston, was born in Heard county, Ga., Oct. 25, 1839. The Featherstons emigrated from England and settled in Virginia. His

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father was a lawyer of distinction, and at one time was a judge of the superior court. His mother's family was also of English origin, and settled in Georgia at an early date in the state's history. Mr. Featherston was the second born of eight children, was raised in Heard county, and was given the best education the schools of the county afforded. He then entered Emory college, Oxford, Ga., from which he graduated with the degree of A. B., and soon afterward enlisted as a private in the Seventh Georgia regiment; but after the first twelve months was on staff duty. He served until the close of the war, and was in every engagement in which his command bore a part after his enlistment; the first two years in the western depart- ment, and was paroled in Mississippi. He came to Rome in 1866 and entered into partnership with Judge A. R. Wright (now deceased), which continued twelve years. Since that time he has practiced by himself with satisfactory results as to . increase and value of his clientage and his success with causes represented. Although no politician, in the common acceptance of the term, he was elected in 1886 to represent Floyd county in the general assembly, faithfully and efficiently representing his constituents. For the past two years he has given considerable attention to farming, and has a fine and well-equipped farm about six miles from Rome. Mr. Featherston was married in June, 1886, to Miss Sallie Jones, born in Alabama and reared and educated in Selma, that state, by whom he has had one child-Lucius H. He is a prominent member of the Methodist church-with which he has been connected a long time.

[ D. GAILLARD, planter, Rome, Floyd Co., Ga., was born in Fairfield district, S. C., May 4, 1843. He received his primary education at the old Mt. Zion institute, which he attended until he was fourteen years old, when he went to the military institute at Hillsboro, N. C. In December, 1860, he returned home and studied under private tutor until April, 1861, when he enlisted in the Sixth South Carolina regiment as a private. After eighteen months' service he was promoted to junior second licutenant; and at the close of the war was holding the rank of first lieutenant of Company G, Sixth South Carolina regiment. He was in numer- ous engagements -- many of them bloody and important battles, of which some were: Drainesville, Seven Pines, Second Manassas, Crampton's Gap, Sharpsburg -where he was slightly wounded by a piece of shell; Shepherdstown, Fredericks- burg, Yorktown, Williamsburg, Suffolk, Thoroughfare Gap, Warrenton, Spott- sylvania Court House, Gettysburg, Chickamauga, Knoxville, Wilderness-where he was wounded by a piece of shell, Cold Harbor, Hanover junction, Deep Bot- tom, Petersburg, Fort Harrison, Feury's Mill, fight on nine-mile road, on Wil- liamsburg road, Gordonsville, then on the retreat from Richmond to the surrender at Appomattox. Returning from this arduous and faithful service to his home in Abbeville district, he engaged in planting; and after pursuing it there five years he came to Floyd county and bought an excellent 300-acre plantation where he has since been content with the quiet life of a successful planter. Mr. Gaillard was married in 1865 to Miss Kate Watson, of South Carolina-but they have no children. He is a member of the Protestant Episcopal church.

THOMAS RICHARD GARLINGTON, physician and surgeon, Rome, Floyd Co., Ga., son of W. H. and Eliza J. (Speight) Garlington, was born in Blakely, Early Co., Ga., Nov. 23, 1859. The Garlingtons were of Scotch-Irish ancestry, and settled, some in Virginia, where by marriage, they became related to Wash- ington, and some in South Carolina. For generations the name has been promi- nent in the professions of law and medicine. The doctor's grandfather Garlington was a wealthy slave owner in Laurens district, S. C., and there his father was born

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and educated, and prepared for the practice of medicine. His mother's family was of Scotch descent, and were among the early settlers of Georgia. His maternal grandfather was a very active and influential politician, and represented his county a number of terms in the general assembly. Two of his uncles served through the late civil war as colonels in the Confederate army. Dr. Garlington was raised at Blakely, where he worked on the farm and attended the district school, and, a part of the time, the high school at Columbia, Ala. He then engaged as clerk in a drug store at Gadsden, Ala., where he remained about eight years. Leaving there he took a course at Roanoke college, Salem, Va., where he remained one year. Following this he traveled for several large drug houses a number of years, acquainting himself with business methods and with remedial agents and the details of the drug trade. Retiring from this pursuit, he entered the office of his half-brother, at Rome, Dr. J. B. S. Holmes (now of Atlanta), and began the study of medicine. He entered Vanderbilt university, Nashville, Tenn., in 1887-88, where he took his first course of lectures; and in 1889-90 he attended lectures at Jefferson medical college, Philadelphia, from which he graduated in the spring of 1890. Returning to Rome he practiced two years by himself, and then became associated with Dr. Holmes. Although doing a general practice he gave especial study and attention to diseases peculiar to women. In furtherance of his desire to attain the highest excellence, he attended the famed New York polyclinic during the winter of 1892-93, taking a degree. Dr. Holmes moved to Atlanta in 1894, when Dr. Garlington formed a partnership, for general practice, with Dr. Harbin, which partnership expired one year later by limitation. He is local surgeon for the Southern railway, also for the Chattanooga, Rome & Colum- bus railway. He is a member of Rome medical society, of the State medical asso- ciation, and of the American medical and National association of railroad sur- geons. While giving prompt and conscientious attention to a general practice, he has of late given special attention to general surgery. Dr. Garlington has worked his way steadily, quietly, persistently to his present position in the pro- fession, and is emphatically a self-made man. Being now only at the prime of a vigorous and ambitious young manhood, the promise of a life of exceptional use- fulness and an enviable reputation is before him. Dr. Garlington was married on May 15, 1895, to Miss Flora, daughter of Capt. J. A. Pcek, of Ccdartown, Ga.

DAVID BLOUNT HAMILTON was born in the town of Hamilton, Harris Co., Ga., July 30, 1834. His parents moved, when he was an infant, to Cass (now Bartow) county. His father owned the land where the city of Cartersville is now built and a plantation on the Etowah river. His father was born in Wilkes county, Ga., and his mother, before her marriage, was Miss Sarah Twiggs Blount, the daughter of the distinguished Thomas Blount, of Jones county, orig- inally of Virginia. His grandfather, George Hamilton, married Miss Agnes Coop- er. His father, Joseph J. Hamilton, Hon. Mark A. Cooper, Pleasant Stovall of Augusta, and Judge Eugenius A. Nesbit of the supreme court were first cousins. The Hamilton family came from Scotland (originally English) and settled in Maryland. The crest in the family is a tree, with a saw upon it, and the word "through" for a motto, rising from a golden crown. His paternal and maternal ancestors were distinguished in the revolutionary war. Col. Hamilton graduated at the state university with distinction, was admitted to the bar and practiced law in Rome. In 1856 he married the lovely Miss Martha Harper, the niece and adopted daughter of Col. Alfred Shorter, of Rome. To them six sons were added to the cheerfulness and delights of a happy home. The oldest son, Alfred Shorter Ham- ilton, married Miss Margaret Allgood. He is the senior member of the large

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grocery and cotton factor's business of Hamilton & Co. He is also president of the Trion Cotton Manufacturing company. D. B. Hamilton, Jr., the second son, married Miss Annie Sparks. He is the junior member of the firm of Hamilton & Co., and now manages the business. Harper Hamilton, the third son, married Miss Lena Hiles. He attended the state university, graduated at the law school of Georgetown university of Washington city with distinction. He is now practicing law in Rome, Ga. Alexander Hamilton, the fourth son, is not married. He went to Erskine college, South Carolina. He is the general man- ager of the Etna Furnace company. The fifth son, Joseph J. Hamilton, went to Bingham Military school, North Carolina, then graduated at Mercer university, and then graduated at the Columbia school of mines of the university of New York. He is the cashier of the Etna Furnace company; has charge of the lab- oratory, is recognized as authority as a chemist. He married Miss Leila Guerry, daughter of Judge Guerry of the supreme court of Colorado, now of Washington City. George Hamilton, the sixth and youngest son, died when fourteen months old. Col. D. B. Hamilton was a member of the whig party, was opposed to secession, but after his state went out of the union his opposition ceased. Although exempted from military duty, he entered the service in Yeiser's legion. On account of exposure he contracted severe tonsilitis and was discharged from the service. Two terms he served in the general assembly of Georgia, 1875 and 1876. Was a member of the constitutional convention of 1877, in which he took a promi- nent part. He does not speak often, but when he does he speaks to the point, clear, forcible and logical and always commands attention. He takes great in- terest in all educational interests of the state. He has been a trustee of the state university for ten years, and is again reappointed, and his term does not expire until 1901. He is president of the board of trustees of the flourishing and well- endowed Shorter college, of Rome. He has been engaged in many successful business enterprises, was a director of the Rome and C. R. & C. railroads. When the Rome Land company sold out all its interests he was elected presi- dent of the company to wind up its business. He has been president of the Etna Furnace company for a long time and the attorney of the company. Personally he is tall and graceful, a gentleman of fine address, his conversation evidencing a well-cultivated mind.

[ EVI PIERCE HAMMOND, physician and surgeon, Rome, Floyd Co., Ga., son of Hiram and Emily (Thomas) Hammond, was born in Floyd county, July 28, 1856. The Hammonds are of Irish ancestry, and members of the family who emigrated to this country settled in South Carolina and Georgia. The great- grandfather of Dr. Hammond settled in Eastern Georgia, whence his descendants scattered westwardly. They were principally agriculturists, staid and solid, free from intemperance in its most comprehensive sense, self-respectful, avoiding everything disreputable. Dr. Hammond's father was born in Hall county, where he was raised a farmer, which he made a life-pursuit. His mother was born in Forsyth county, Ga., and was from a family whose name is suggestive of the highest type of American manhood. They reared two children, the subject of this sketch and a brother, both of whom are living. Dr. Hammond received his primary education at the common schools of the county, attended them until he was eighteen years of age, when he entered the North Georgia Agricultural college, at Dahlonega, Ga., a branch of the university of Georgia, where he remained between two and three years, finished his literary course, and studied in the higher mathematics and Latin. Coming to Rome, he engaged with R. V. Mitchell, druggist. as clerk and began the study of medicine under the pre-

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ceptorship of Dr. J. M. Gregory, of Rome. At the end of a year he went to New York and attended the medical lectures at the university of New York, from which he graduated in February, 1880. The following May he located in Rome, where he at once secured a very good practice, and remained four years. He then moved to the country and practiced five years, after which he returned to Rome, which has since been his home. Of late years he has made some- thing of a specialty of surgery. He is very active, zealous, really enthusiastic as a practitioner, and is wedded to his profession. He is a member and presi- dent of the Rome Medical society. Dr. Hammond was married Aug. 28, 1883, to Miss Willie Underwood, of De Kalb county, a granddaughter of Judge Under- wood, one of the best and most favorably known, as well as one of the most distinguished jurists that ever served as a judge of the superior court in Georgia. Miss Underwood was born and reared in Meriwether county. To this union six children have been born: Wallace Howard, Helen Nevin, Lucille Marie, Henry Battey, Willie Bertie and Rosa Underwood. The doctor is yet young, has already acquired an enviable reputation for skill, and undoubtedly has before him a career of usefulness and distinction.

JUDGE WILLIAM MADISON HENRY, of Rome, Floyd Co., Ga., the second son of William Warren Henry and Mary (Hemphill) Henry, was born in Walker county, Ga., Feb. 10, 1853. His father's great-grandfather, William Henry, a Scotch-Irishman, immigrated from County Down, Ireland, in the early part of the eighteenth century, settling first on the eastern shore of Maryland, and afterward removing, before the revolutionary period, to the northern part of Soutlı Carolina. Judge Henry's father was reared in York district in that state, and when about twenty-five years of age, came to north Georgia, where he became a farmer and schoolmaster. After 1862 he never taught school. Judge Henry's mother, whose maiden name was Cleghorn, was likewise of Scotch-Irish descent. Judge Henry was brought up on his father's farm. His boyhood was passed dur- ing the war period, and in a locality much disturbed by war-like movements, so that his early educational advantages were very limited, he having gone to school very little until 1867. In 1870 he attended the academy at La Fayette, the county seat of Walker county, under the instruction of Capt. John Y. Wood. In 1871 and 1872 he taught school, and in 1873 attended school and taught school. In 1874 he attended the high school at Dalton, Ga., and, under the instruction of Dr. W. C. Wilkes, finished his preparation for college. In October of that year he entered the university of Georgia, at Athens, where he bcame a member of the Demosthenian literary society, and of the S. A. E. fraternity. He graduated with distinction in 1876, being at the commencement both a senior speaker on account of scholarship, and a representative of his society in the champion debate between the Demosthenian and Phi Kappa societies. He then studied law under Hon. Judson C. Clements, at La Fayette, and was admitted to the bar in 1877. In 1878 he located at Summerville, Chattooga Co., Ga. He grew rapidly in the public estimation, and his clientage steadily increased in volume and value. In 1879 he served as mayor of Summerville, and afterward served several years as county school commissioner. In 1886 and 1887 he represented his county in the general assembly. As a legislator he ranked with the leading men of the assembly. Studious, well instructed in the history of the government and political science, logical and oftentimes eloquent in speech, he always commanded the attention and respect of the body. In August, 1892, upon the resignation of Judge John W. Maddox, who had become the democratic nominee for congress for the Seventh district, he was appointed by Gov. Northen to succeed Judge Maddox as judge of

T. F. HOWEL.

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the Rome judicial circuit. Fearless in the discharge of the duties of his office, guided alone by his construction of the law, courteous and affable in his treatment of the bar, yet maintaining at all times the dignity of the court, his character as a fearless, just and wise judge, was established. In August, 1894, he removed to Rome, Ga., and, upon retiring from the bench on Jan. 1, 1895, he resumed the practice of law at that point, in partnership with Hon. Seaborn Wright. In poli- tics Judge Henry has always been an earnest democrat, having frequently taken part in the party's counsels-county, district and state. In 1881, Judge Henry was married to Miss Dora Rudicil, the only daughter of Dr. Robert Y. Rudicil, of Chattooga county, one of the most eminent physicians of his section, who is descended from a Prussian family which came to South Carolina during, or just before, the American revolution. They have five children: William Rudicil, Charles Robert, Clara, Roy Oscar, and Evelyn. Their eldest child, Mary Eliza, a bright and beautiful girl, died at four years of age. This sad bereavement brought the one great sorrow of their singularly happy married life.

JAMES H. HOSKINSON, lawyer, Rome, Floyd Co., Ga., was born in Floyd county, Nov. 19, 1852. He was reared and educated in the county, excepting some considerable time during the civil war, when he attended school at White Sulphur Springs, Meriwether Co., Ga. In 1866-68 he went to school at Cave Spring, Floyd Co., and then he was with the engineering corps under Col. C. M. Penington surveying the (then) Memphis branch railway about five months. After that he came to Rome and obtained a situation in the postoffice, which he held eighteen months. Then in 1872, having determined to study law, he entered the sophomore class at the university of Georgia, Athens, and pursued the regular course until half way through the senior year, when he dropped Greek. and took the law course instead, and graduated in 1875. He soon afterward located in Rome, and after practicing alone for eighteen months formed a partner- ship with the late C. D. Forsyth, one of the foremost members of the bar in north- west Georgia. This partnership, which secured a fine practice and a large and influential clientage, lasted twelve years. Mr. Hoskinson then practiced alone until 1892, when he formed a partnership with Nathan Harris-the style being Hoskinson & Harris-which still continues. The only public office he ever held was that of mayor of South Rome, two terms in the 80's. In 1880, however, he was a candidate for solicitor-general of the Rome circuit, but was defeated. In 1885 hc was appointed attorney for the Gcorgia loan and trust company for north Georgia and still retains the appointment. The late D. S. Printup and himself were attor- neys for the Selma, Rome & Dalton, and the Georgia Southern railways for sev- cral years; and his present firm, Hoskinson & Harris, is local counsel for the East Tennessee, Virginia & Gcorgia railway, now a part of the newly-organized Southern railway. He is not outranked at the local bar as to reputation or suc- cess and stands high with the profession and the people in his circuit. Mr. Hos- kinson has been twice married. His first wife was Miss Georgia Davis, of Cave Spring, whom he married in November, 1880, and who died in September, 1886, leaving three children: Maude; Henry Warner, who died in December, 1888: and Georgia D. His second wife was Miss Lizzie Dean, of Gadsden, Ala., by whom he has had two children: Dean and Louis D. He is a Knight Templar Mason, and a member of the Presbyterian church.

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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 97

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