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 98

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 98

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THEODORE FRELINGHUYSEN HOWEL, born March 18, 1845, in Chero- T kee county, Ala., educated himself, served for three years in the Confederate army-Loring's command, Stuart's division-entered business as a clerk in Rome,

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Ga., in 1868, became a cotton factor in 1873; in 1876 a cotton shipper; in 1880 married Mary Park, of Knoxville, and on March 18, 1895-his fiftieth birthday -- died in the full esteem of his contemporaries-a model citizen and a recognized founder and controller of one of the largest cotton houses in the world. To many lives-yea, to most of them-the brief epitome is a chant, covering manifold errors, and pointing scant achievement, with the saving grace of brevity. But it would be an injustice to dismiss the brave, sweet years of this loyal life with such terse acknowledgment. The world is better for his living, and should be better for the story of his life. Born in the country, and reaching his majority among its associations, this nature, naturally strong and self-reliant, increased these qualities in its environment, and gathered simplicity and honesty and purity from a pious parentage of the Presbyterian faith. Of a devout temperament, his boyhood and youth were spent in prayer and study far into the nights that fol- lowed on busy days at the cross-roads store. This was his education, and these were his surroundings. It is not strange that such a youth should have merged into the loyal and dutiful soldier, making up in steadiness and solemn courage what he lacked in dash and bravado. Although he followed the cavalier Stuart in the three years of his service, he ought, by temper and affiliation, to have marched in the columns of the devout and puritan Jackson. From the day that he entered as a drug clerk in Rome in 1868, the career of this strong, sturdy young puritan was one steady progress to the highest success. The foundations were well laid, the principles were deep-planted as his veins. The convictions of right and honesty were a part of his life. And with industry and determined intelligence added to the equipment the upward march was as logically sure as cause and effect. Five years later he linked himself in a life union with the south's great staple. From this time until the day of his death King Cotton had no abler friend and champion. He was first a cotton factor in 1873; then in 1876, after the progressive fashion of his life, he broadened the sphere of his operations and became a shipper. Every year added to the magnitude of his operations. His courage dared, his industry prospered, and his integrity never wavered. He was a born organizer. His genius of combination was superb. His executive ability was of the highest order. His judgment seemed infallible, and his stock of common sense without limit. Few business men in Georgia have more clearly vindicated the title to extraordinary ability. Every year added to the scope and the repute of his business. The name of his house grew great. The earnest country lad had become the princely merchant, and out of the small scope of its beginning the Howel Cotton company had expanded until its mighty branches had compassed Texas and Tennessee and Arkansas and Alabama, and with head- quarters in Georgia, held its eastern station in stately offices in Boston. It will readily be seen that the founder and head of this great establishment was a distin- guished and important factor in the commercial life of the times in which he lived. If Mr. Howel had not been a cotton king he would have been an iron master. The development of southern iron had a fascination and an inspiration for him. He watched every step in its triumphal march with keen and thrilling interest, and gave it more than one material impetus from the vantage ground of his own powerful position. He had a reverential and almost tender admiration for Samuel Noble, of Anniston, the great iron man of the south, and this regardful admiration was duly and deeply reciprocated. These two were kindred spirits in the great recuperative battles of the south, and the result of their labors are conspicuous in the aggregate of the marvelous status of today. Chief among the personal influences which pointed this valuable life must be reckoned the wife who sur- vived him. Perhaps no one ever knew Howel as did the brilliant mother of his

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children. And to her who knew him best, nothing in his character so emphasized it and distinguished it from others as a certain sweet independence shown in every phase of his life. "Emerson," she wrote a friend, "must have had my husband in mind when he said, 'It is easy in the world to live after the world's opinion, it is easy in solitude to live after our own; but the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude.'" Again, of his mental gifts, she wrote: "He solves the problem of life with a serene and keen intellect, which is competent to get at the heart of things without be- coming entangled, and is capable of taking a comprehensive survey of a situa- tion without getting confused-one of those rare men with whom conscience in everything is a prime necessity, and whose greatest pleasure and recompense lic in the laborious pursuit of good and in the absolute discharge of duty." For the rest Theodore Frelinghuysen Howel was the champion of every right cause and the friend of humanity. "To him right was right and wrong was wrong forever. The devil could not invent excuses or make mitigating circumstances to serve him in the least." Once fixed in an opinion he was as immovable as the rock of Gibraltar. He was the intimate friend of many of the greatest de- velopers and reformers of his day. His fraternal relations with Sam Noble have been mentioned. Perhaps no living man was closer to the great evangelist, Sam Jones, who loved him and trusted him as he did few men. Warren Candler, the great prcacher of the Methodist church, was also his devoted friend. Therc were great souls in all these men which recognized and honored the nobler part of each and claimed kinship. In the moral issues of his time the puritan Howel held no uncertain position. He was the dauntless and consistent advocate of tem- perance, and gave to it freely of his time and munificently of his purse. He was a friend of the old-fashioned religion, and helped without stint or limit all things that ministered to it. He was the stern foe of political and social cor- ruption, and heroic in his opposition. No man of his generation was ever more instant and constant in his firm alignment with the moral side of all great ques- tions. No man of purer and of more single heart ever loved his friends, hated shame and scorned hypocrisy. He enriched his generation with a liberal purse, a stead- fast influence and a high example. No man who knew him would deny him the crown of these strong attributes. This judgment is the meed of praise, made unanimous among his contemporaries. Surely this may be his epitaph: "He served his time, developed his country, feared God, upheld the church, kept open heart to charity, and was from first to last the unshaken advocate of Righteousness, Temperance, Virtue and Truth."

WILLIAM D. HOYT, physician and surgeon, Rome, Floyd Co., Ga., son of Rev. Dr. Nathan and Margaret (Bliss) Hoyt, was born in Athens, Clarke Co., Ga., Nov. II, 1831. His parents were of English and Welsh descent; and his father, who was an eminent Presbyterian clergyman, was born, reared and educated in New Hampshire. His mother was born and rcared in Springfield, Mass., where she was married. After this felicitous event Rev. Dr. Hoyt came by private conveyance with his family to South Carolina-shortly afterward to Washington, Wilkes Co., Ga .- and finally to Athens, where he was the revered pastor of the Presbyterian church for many years. Dr. Hoyt received his primary education at the very excellent schools in Athens, and then entercd the University of Georgia, whence he graduated in 1851. After teaching school two years he went to Philadelphia and attended lectures at Jefferson Medical college, from which he graduated in 1855. After his graduation hc located in Philadelphia where he practiced medicine until the war began, when he went to Europe. He

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traveled in England, France, Switzerland and Germany, and returned late in 1861 to Athens. Later he went to Richmond, where he was examined, and made assistant surgeon on liospital service. He was afterward on duty in Richmond, Va., and subsequently was passed as surgeon. In April, 1863, he was assigned to duty as surgeon of the Seventeenth Georgia regiment, was with it at Gettysburg, and when it went into winter quarters at Orange Court House, Va. He was with the regiment also at Chickamauga; after which he was ordered to Richmond where he served as hospital surgeon until the surrender. In April, 1886, he located in Rome, where he has made his home since, engaged in the practice of his profession. He enjoys an extensive and remunerative practice, his superior attainments and skill securing the entire confidence of the public. He was county physician for many years; has contributed many articles on important medical subjects to various medical publications; and has made some valuable discoveries which have attracted the attention of the profession. Dr. Hoyt was married in March, 1863, to Miss Florence Stevens, of Athens, Ga. Of the children born to them four are living: Mary, in charge of the literary department of Mary's Institute, St. Louis, Mo., who completed her education at Bryn Mawr, near Philadelphia; Florence, now attending the same school preparing for the work of an educator; Margaret, a graduate from Shorter college, Rome, class of 1894; and William D., attending school in Rome. Dr. Hoyt is an exemplary and influential member of the Presbyterian church, which he represented at the general assembly at Nashville, Tenn.

I INDSAY JOHNSON, physician and surgeon, Rome, Floyd Co., Ga., son of Lindsay and Mary (Word) Johnson, was born in Cass (now Bartow) county, Aug. 3, 1851. His paternal grandfather was a wealthy Virginia planter, who migrated to Georgia and settled in Elbert county in the early part of the present century, where he planted on a very extensive scale. Dr. Johnson's father was born in Virginia, and was about fourteen years old when the family came to Georgia. When a young man he moved to Cass (now Bartow) county, where he conducted large planting interests. He was a man of strong will-power, exercised a wide and strong influence, and, withal, was a man of very benevolent disposition. His mother was born, reared and educated in South Carolina, but came to Cass county about the time she attained womanhood, and married. Of the children born to them three survive: Lindsay, the subject of this sketch; Mrs. Meyer, in Texas; and Mrs. McDaniel, on the old homestead. His father died in 1862, and his mother in 1882. Dr. Johnson received a good primary, supple- mented by an academic education. At Euharlee he was the room-mate and almost inseparable companion of Rev. Sam. P. Jones, the great evangelist. He finished his literary education at the Memphis, Tenn., high school at the age of nineteen, and then returned to Cartersville and began the study of medicine. He then went to Louisville, Ky., and attended lectures at the University of Louisville, from which he graduated in 1875. From there he went to New York, where, for six months, he received private lectures, and then returned to Cartersville. It was not until 1879 he entered upon the practice of his profession; but almost immediately afterward he was elected professor of clinical surgery and demonstrator of anatomy in the Southern Medical college then just estab- lished in Atlanta. After holding this chair two years he resigned on account of impaired health and returned home, where he resumed active practice. He established a very large practice, and remained in Cartersville until 1891, when he came to Rome-now his home. Although engaged in general practice, he is giving particular attention to surgery, especially abdominal surgery, and has

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a very satisfactory patronage. During his professional life he has had the manage- ment of some of the most dangerous and difficult of operations in surgery, in all of which he has been phenomenally successful. He has also made many valuable contributions to medical periodicals, particularly the "Southern Medical Record," and to professional knowledge. He is a prominent and progressive member of the County and State Medical societies. Of recognized unquestioned scientific knowledge and practical skill, his professional eminence is a matter of choice with him. Dr. Johnson was married in 1876 to Miss Mary Curry, sister of D. W. Curry, Rome, Ga., who, dying in 1885, he afterward married Miss Valentine Goulon, born and educated in New Orleans, La. He has two sons-William Henry, and Yandell-and one daughter, Marguerite, at Boscobel college, Nashville, Tenn.

I LINDSAY JOHNSON, lawyer and planter, Rome, Floyd Co., Ga., was born in Floyd county in September, 1855. His grandfather, Col. Lindsay Johnson, of Scotch lineage, was a native of Virginia, who early in life migrated to Georgia and settled in Elbert county, afterward-about 1833-moving to Cass (now Bar- tow) county, and was an officer in the Creek Indian war of 1836. Mr. Johnson's father was born in Elbert county in 1818, and was fifteen years old when his father moved to what is now Bartow county. In 1842 he moved to Floyd county and engaged in planting, and so successful and prosperous was he that he was reputed to be the largest planter in North Georgia, cotton being the predominant production. Although he never sought or held office, he was a very warm and active partisan, was an old-line whig and anti-secessionist before the war, but after Georgia seceded he sustained her action, and although incapacitated by physical debility from active military service, was untiring in contributing, gatla- ering and forwarding provisions, etc., for the soldiers. He was a very charitable man and universally popular. He was married about 1846 to Miss Mary, daugh- ter of Col. Smiley Seabrook, of Jones county, Ga., the fruit of which union was four children, three of whom survive: Smiley S., large planter, Floyd county; J. Lindsay, and Millard F., planter, Floyd county. He died in 1887. Mr. John- son was raised in Floyd county, in whose schools he received his primary and preparatory education, and when seventeen years of age he attended Washington and Lee university, Lexington, Va., where he took a special course, and after- ward a special course in the law department of the university of Georgia, Athens. In 1875 he located at Rome and entered upon the practice of law, doing more or less as he could not neglect his large planting interests in Floyd, Bartow and Chattooga counties. In 1884 he was elected to represent Floyd county in the general assembly, and served on the following committees: Special judiciary, cor- porations, military and special local legislation. He was also one of the prime movers for the establishment of the Technological school, and did all he could in every way in his power to secure favorable legislative action, and has done all he could to sustain it since. He has always been the ardent friend and sup- porter of all measures, local and general, calculated to promote the industrial interests and the development of the state's resources. In 1888 he was again elected to represent the county, and during this term worked and used his strong influence against the "betterment" claims of first lessees of the Western & Atlantic (State) railway. He also took a prominent part in favor of what is known as the "Berner bill," which was intended to prevent the consolidation of certain rail- roads, and also in what is known as the "Glenn bill," the purpose of which was to enable each county traversed by a railway to collect a tax on the miles within its limits-a law which is of great benefit to the counties. This bill's constitution- I-43

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ality was attacked, but was affirmed by the supreme court. Mr. Johnson is an active member of the Floyd County Agricultural and Horticultural society, and is chairman of the executive committee of the American Cotton Growers' Protec- tive association. He is a gentleman of scholarly tastes and attainments and speaks fluently the French and Spanish languages, and it is gratifying to know that one so extensively read and well informed, possessed of large wealth, takes the active interest he does in the material and moral development of his immediate locality and the state. Mr. Johnson was happily married in 1876 to Miss Annie E., daughter of the late J. D. C. Gillespie, of Brooklyn, N. Y., and to them three children have been born: John Gillespie, Letitia Patterson and J. Lindsay, Jr. He is not a member of any social or fraternal organization, nor any church, but is proud of being known as a "working democrat," and thoroughly American in sentiment and action.

JOHN W. MADDOX, member of congress, Rome, Floyd Co., was born in Chattooga county, Ga., June 3, 1848. He was raised and educated in the county, and in 1863, when a little more than fifteen years old, he enlisted in the Sixth Georgia cavalry (Col. Jack Hart), and from that time was in con- tinuous, active, arduous and oftentimes hazardous duty until February, 1865, when he was so severely wounded at Aiken, S. C., as to be invalided from service. His first experience was at Chickamauga, whence his command went to Knox- ville, where there was fighting almost every day for three months. He next participated in the battle of Resaca, and in the obstinately fought campaign thence to Atlanta and in the battles of July 19 and 22, 1864, at Atlanta. He was next with his command on the famous raid of the army through Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee, a regular three months' series of fights. The command was next employed in covering Hood's retreat from Dalton, Ga., to Gadsden, Ala., and after that was in the engagement at Griffin, Ga., and thence in front or on the flanks of the Federal army in Georgia and South Carolina until he received his disabling wound at Aiken, S. C. In November, 1864, he was wounded in the face while on the skirmish line at Turkeytown. From Aiken he was sent to the hospital at Augusta, and later to Madison, Ga. On his restoration to health he returned to his Chattooga county home, where he farmed three years and then went to school a year at Summerville, the county seat, and then at Bethel. Following this he engaged as a clerk in a grocery store in Rome, and then took charge of a branch store in Summerville, where he remained about eight months. The next twelve months he spent in traveling, and traveled in Texas, Nebraska, Colorado, etc. On his return home he joined a corps of engineers who were surveying the line of the North and South railway from Rome to Columbus, Ga., now known as the Chattanooga, Rome & Columbus railway. About six months afterward he took some contracts for grading on the line, which he con- tinued until the panic of 1873, when he went to his home in Chattooga county. He remained at home twelve months and then entered the employ of the Round Mountain Iron company, Round Mountain, Ala., which suspended in about a year, and he went home again. A few months later he was engaged by the Stone Hill Copper Mining company to take charge of their mining plant. After a year's service-a part of 1874-75-he returned to Summerville and commenced the study of law, and on completing his studies in 1877 was admitted to the bar at Chattooga superior court. He located in Summerville and was extremely successful from the start. That year he was elected mayor of Summerville, and the next year was elected county commissioner. In 1880 he resigned that office and was elected to represent Chattooga county in the general assembly, and was

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re-elected in 1882. In 1884 he was elected to represent the forty-second senatorial district (composed of Bartow, Floyd and Chattooga counties) in the general assembly. In November, 1886, he was elected judge of the Rome circuit, for a term of four years, and in November, 1890, was re-elected for another term. In 1892 he was elected to represent the seventh congressional district of Georgia in the fifty-third congress, and in 1894 was elected to succeed himself in the fifty-fourth congress over a strong opponent and after a heated canvass. Judge Maddox removed to Rome in 1890, which has been his home since that time. His steady and uninterrupted advancement since he first entered public life, now nearly a score of years, affords the very strongest and highest evidence of sound practical judgment, great ability, personal excellence and official integrity that could be presented. He is a member of the national democratic committee. Judge Maddox was married Aug. 15, 1872, to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of H. B. C. Edmondson, of Summerville, and to them have been born six sons and one daughter. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias, and a Knight Templar Mason; although not a member, his predilection is for the Presbyterian church.

MAX MEYERHARDT, lawyer, Rome, Floyd Co., Ga., son of D. J. and Esther Meyerhardt, was born in Germany, Oct. 24, 1855. When he was about a year old his father emigrated to Georgia and settled in Rome, where he continued his life-time business of dry goods and clothing merchant. They raised four children, two sons and two daughters, the father dying in May, 1890, and the mother in February, 1891. Mr. Meyerhardt was educated principally in the public schools of Nashville, Tenn., and when sixteen years of age went into the office of the clerk of the superior court of Floyd county as his deputy. During the years he filled this position he began the study of law, continued it afterward under Col. C. Rowell, of Rome, and at the October term, 1876, of Floyd superior court was admitted to the bar and entered at once upon the practice. In 1881 he became a partner of Judge A. R. Wright, and his son Seaborn, under the firm name of Wright, Meyer- hardt & Wright, which continued until the death of Judge Wright in 1891. In 188I he was elected city attorney, and was continuously re-elected until he resigned in 1886, when he was appointed judge of the city court by Gov. John B. Gordon. He held this office until 1891, and the next year he was elected attorney for the county, and is now serving his second term. In 1882-83 he filled the appointment of United States commissioner, and for eleven years has been a member of the Rome school board. He has filled every office with acknowledged ability and unswerving fidelity, and enjoys the sincere esteem of the profession and his fellow- citizens. Mr. Meyerhardt was married in the spring of 1890 to Miss Nettie Watson, formerly of Alabama, then a teacher in the public schools of Rome, who has borne him three children: Rebecca, David, and Hester. He is a very enthusiastic and prominent member of the masonic fraternity, being now worshipful master of Cherokee lodge, No. 66, high priest of Rome chapter, No. 26, and deputy grand master for the seventh district of Georgia. In religious faith he is a Hebrew of the Hebrews.

J.P. M'CONNELL, sheriff, Rome, Floyd Co., Ga., was born in Floyd county in 1845. When he was twelve years of age his parents moved to Cherokee county, Ga., where he was educated. In September, 1862, he enlisted as a private in the Sixth Georgia cavalry, Col. Hart commanding, and as such served through the war, and was almost all the time in continuous arduous service. With his com- mand he participated in the engagements at Dandridge and Philadelphia, Tenn., at Chickamauga, Dalton, Resaca, New Hope church, Noonday church, where he was

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shot in the leg. In fact, he was engaged all through the busy Atlanta campaign- a fight almost every day-the battles around Atlanta and Macon, at Aiken, S. C., and finally at Bentonville, N. C. After the surrender he went to school a year at Acworth, Cobb Co., Ga., and afterward farmed and merchandised in Cherokee county until 1880. That year he returned to Cobb county and carried on a general merchandise business until 1886, when he moved to Floyd county and engaged in farming until 1891, when he was made deputy sheriff of the county, and served in that capacity two terms, four years. In January, 1895, he was elected sheriff. Sheriff McConnell is a man of determined character, excellent business habits and qualifications, and superior executive ability, besides being very popular. Mr. McConnell was married in 1870 to Miss Julia, daughter of Raymond Sandford, deceased, by whom he has three children; Lena, wife of John A. Foster, Floyd county; James Raymond, and John E. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., a master Mason, and a member of the Missionary Baptist 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 98

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