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. II, Part 102

Author:
Publication date: 1859
Publisher: Atlanta, Ga., The Southern historicl association
Number of Pages: 1166

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. II > Part 102

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POLK COUNTY.

JOSEPH A. BLANCE, lawyer, Cedartown, Polk Co., Ga., son of Joseph G. and Mary (Williams) Blance, was born in Savannah, Ga., June 20, 1838. Mr. Blance's father was a merchant in Savannah at the time he was born, and late in life moved and settled on a farm in Paulding county, where he lived until his death, which occurred in 1854. Mr. Blance enjoyed excellent educational advan- tages during his boyhood; after which he entered Emory college, Oxford, Ga., where he remained until 1857. He then read law under Fielder & Broyles, Cedar- town, and afterward attended the Lebanon law school at Lebanon, Tenn., from which he graduated in 1859. On his return from college he formed a partner- ship with Col. James D. Waddell, Cedartown, Ga. March 4, 1861, he enlisted in the First Georgia regiment, and was commissioned as first lieutenant by Gov.

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MEMOIRS OF GEORGIA.

Joseph E. Brown. He was in all the battles around Richmond, and served in the army of northern Virginia under Gen. Lee. At the battle of Second Manassas he had the misfortune to lose his left arm. In 1865 he was appointed solicitor- general of the Tallapoosa circuit by Gov. Brown, and in 1872 was elected to rep- resent the Thirty-eighth senatorial district in the general assembly. He has been very successful as a lawyer, stands high with the members of his profession, and has a large and valuable clientage. He is acknowledged to be one of the ablest lawyers, and one among the best business men in northwest Georgia. Mr. Blance was married June 12, 1866, to Miss Josephine, daughter of Maj. George W. and Matilda West of Polk county, Ga. Mr. Blance is a prominent member of the Missionary Baptist church, progressive in his views on all public ques- tions, a leader in thought and action, and exercises a wide and beneficial influence.

SILAS I. COX, farmer, Rockmart, Polk Co., Ga., son of Zachariah and Grizzy Cox, was born in Upson county, Ga., June 10, 1831. His parents were natives of North Carolina, whence they came to Georgia by wagon early in the present century and settled in Upson county. They remained there until 1837, when they removed to Cass (now Bartow) county and settled on a farm. Mr. Cox was, raised and educated in Cass county, attending the common schools then taught in dirt floor log houses, with seats made of slabs, and the chimney of sticks and mud. He farmed and worked at the carpenter's trade until November, 1861, when he enlisted in Company I, Fortieth Georgia regiment, and gallantly served through the entire war. With his command he was present at the protracted defense of Vicksburg, and participated in the battles at Franklin, Tenn .; at Resaca, Kennesaw Mountain, Ga, and other great battles, where he was con- spicuous for his bravery and dash. He prides himself on having always led his command regardless of danger. In 1867 he moved to Rockmart, where he engaged in the hotel business, and in connection with it kept a livery and feed and sale stable. Afterward he conducted a general merchandise store in Rock- mart, which he continued until 1891, when he turned his attention to farming. He is now one of the wealthiest citizens of Polk county-prominent and influential. Mr. Cox has been married three times: In 1856 he was married to Miss Lizzie, daughter of Robert and Mary Griffin of Hart county, Ga., by whom he had one child, Jackson. His second marriage was in 1867 to Miss Fanny McCrary, who died childless. His third wife was Miss Missouri Jones, daughter of Isaac Jones, who has borne him four children: Istalena, Nellie, Velena, and Ivanhoe. Mr. Cox is a valued and influential member of the Methodist church.

GILES WINFIELD FEATHERSTON, merchant, Cedartown, Polk Co., Ga., son of L. H. and Mary Ann Featherston, was born in Heard county, Ga., June 10, 1842. His father was a lawyer, and early in life came from Maury county, Tenn., to Georgia, and settled in Heard county. In 1867 he removed to Newnan, Coweta Co., Ga., where he continued the practice of his profession. In 1866 he was appointed judge of the Blue Ridge circuit. and held the office four years. He was a prominent member of the constitutional convention of 1877. Mr. Featherston enjoyed excellent educational advantages-having attended good schools when a boy and youth, and subsequently graduating himself. In 1861 he enlisted in Company G, Capt. Joseph Brown, Heard county, Seventh Georgia regiment. This company was mostly composed of school boys connected with Franklin institute, Heard county. He was a participant in the first battle of Manassas, where he was shot through the left shoulder, which disabled him for

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service, and he was discharged. Before the war closed, however, he served with the state troops, and participated in the battles around Atlanta, and was finally assigned to duty in the ordnance department. In 1867 he left Heard county and came to Cedartown and engaged in merchandising, in which he was very suc- cessful, and which he continued until 1884, when he. embarked in the wholesale lumber and manufacturing business and a ginnery. Beginning life with nothing after the war he has by cautious enterprise and judicious investments accumu- lated quite a large and valuable property. He is governed by an intelligently progressive spirit on all lines, a promoter of all movements promising develop- ment, and is a useful and much esteemed citizen. Mr. Featherston was married Jan. 16, 1868 to Miss Rosaline, daughter of E. H. and Mary C. (Jones) Rich- ardson of Putnam county, Ga., who has borne him three children: Annie Estelle, Lucius Ernest, and Rosa May. Mr. Featherston is a master Mason, and a prominent member of the Presbyterian church.

WILLIAM T. GIBSON, merchant-capitalist, Cedartown, Polk Co., Ga., son of Henry and Jane T. (Ellington) Gibson, was born in Polk county, May 6, 1844. His father moved to Polk from Harris county, Ga., in 1843. Mr. Gibson received a very good education, but the occurrence of the civil war prevented its completion as contemplated. In 1862 he enlisted in Winley's company, and with it participated in the battles of Second Manassas and Sharpsburg. In the last named battle he was shot through the right lung, by which he was disabled for six months; but immediately on his recovery he rejoined his command, and was transferred to the Western cavalry, and was with it until the surrender, par- ticipating in the battles of Resaca, New Hope church, in front of Atlanta, and numerous skirmishes. He started after the war with but little capital; but by enterprise, energy and industry, and judicious investments, he has accumulated quite a large property. He is now extensively and profitably engaged in farm- ing, merchandising and the real estate business, and is one of the most financially solid men in Polk county. Mr. Gibson was married Sept. 24, 1867, to Miss Anna E., daughter of Jesse and Mary Crook of Jacksonville, Ala. They have two children by adoption: Jennie May, and William Ellington. Mr. Gibson is a con- sistent and prominent member of the Missionary Baptist church.

WILLIAM HENRY HINES, merchant, Rockmart, Polk Co., Ga., a son of James and Winiford Hines, was born in Meriwether county, Ga., Sept. 8, 1829. His father was born in Greene county, Ga., where he was reared a farmer and as such lived and died. Mr. Hines was reared on the farm in Meriwether county, and was educated in the common schools of the county, taught in log cabins; but when he was eighteen years old he attended school at Longstreet, Ga., and obtained a good education. Returning home he farmed until the war occurred. After the war he went to Jamestown, Texas, where he merchandised for fifteen months, and then returned to Meriwether county. He left that county and carne to Rockmart, in 1871, where hc established a large and profitable gen- cral merchandise business in which he is still engaged. He had but little to begin life with, and has attempted nothing extraordinary; but he has been satisfactorily successful, has accumulated a good property, and has an enviable reputation as a business man and citizen. Mr. Hines was married Nov. 1, 1855, to Miss Sarah E. Mitchell, who bore him two children: Carrie and Etta. Their mother having died in 1857, in 1872 he married Miss Nannie L. Battle, daughter of Lazarus Battle, by whom he has had one child, William L. Mr. Hines is a master Mason, and a member of the Missionary Baptist church.

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MEMOIRS OF GEORGIA.

ISAAC N. JONES, county school commissioner, Rockmart, Polk Co., Ga., son of Jesse P. and Temperance (Farrington) Jones, was born in Rockingham county, N. C., Jan. 22, 1818. His father was born in Maryland, whence when a young man he went to North Carolina, where he married his wife, who was North Carolina born. His parents migrated to Georgia and settled on a farm in De Kalb county in 1835. Mr. Jones had the advantage of but little schooling, and that little was obtained under circumstances of great discomfort-dirt floor, log house, puncheon seats and badly lighted. He worked on the farm and started in life very poor-penniless. He was a soldier in the Florida war, going from De Kalb county. He moved to Polk county Dec. 31, 1838, where he settled on a farm, and has lived there since. He served four years as a justice of the peace, also as justice of the inferior court, as tax collector of Polk county, and is at present county school commissioner. Although Mr. Jones commenced life so poor, he has by hard work and economy acquired a fine property, and as one of the oldest and most reliable and most responsible citizens, commands the unre- served respect and confidence of his fellow citizens. Mr. Jones has been married twice. In 1839 he was married to Miss Mary, daughter of Ephraim and Naomi Thompson, of what is now Polk county, who bore him eleven children: Isaac N., Francis P., Augustus W., Ivy Franklin, Jessie E., Georgia Virginia, Caroline M., Martha, Western, Naomi and James A. By his second marriage, in 1867, he had eight children: Jolin, Cora A., Walter Phillips, Eugene R., Edgar M., Phantom Hill, Clifton Reese and Robert Lee. Polk county does not contain a more useful citizen or one more honored.

JOSEPH MANSELL, farmer, Cedartown, Polk Co., Ga., son of James and Sarah (Johnson) Mansell, was born in South Carolina, Nov. 8, 1821. His father was born and raised in Columbia, and his mother was born and raised in Greenville, S. C., and they remained all their lives in their native state. Mr. Man- sell received only such indifferent schooling as was to be obtained at the rude and uncomfortable log school houses of the times and locality. He began life as a farmer with but little, came to Georgia and settled in Milton county when a young man, and afterward moved to Polk county, is now well-to-do, has a nice farm and home, and is regarded as one of the very best farmers in Polk county -having made a life-pursuit of the vocation. No citizen is more respected-none held in higher esteem. Mr. Mansell was married in December, 1847, to Miss Vashti, daughter of Sargent and Aurelia Griffin, Pickens district, S. C., by whom he has had six children: William Henry, Lavinia, Sarah, Alice, Annis and Joseph E. Mr. Mansell is a consistent and revered member of the Baptist church.

RICHARD PHILPOT, farmer, Cedartown, Polk Co., Ga., son of William and Elizabeth (York) Philpot, was born in Carroll county, Ga., Nov. 15, 1827. His parents, who had some means, not large, migrated from Tennessee to Georgia and settled in Paulding county, making the trip in wagons drawn by oxen. His father died in Paulding county in 1844, and his mother in 1850. Mr. Philpot's educational advantages were very limited, and what schooling he had was ob- tained in the old-time dirt floor log school house, with puncheon seats, etc. When the late war was precipitated he enlisted in the Confederate service, but after a few months' experience provided a substitute and was released. Starting with nothing after the war, he has acquired a fine estate, a competency, is a pro- gressive and prosperous farmer, and is a most highly esteemed citizen. Mr. Philpot was married in 1859 to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of John and Sarah Blackburn, of Haralson county, Ga., and to them fourteen children have been ·

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POLK COUNTY SKETCHES.

born: Alexander B., Charles C., Mary, William, Joseph H., Augustus Y., Minerva, Elizabeth, Fannie, Annie, David, Thomas, Seaborn and Jasper. His wife, born in 1844, died in 1888. He is an exemplary member of the Baptist church.

W L. B. POWELL, farmer, Cedartown, Polk Co., Ga., son of William R. and Sallie (Franklin) Powell, was born in Elbert county, Ga., Dec. 9, 1830. His father and family migrated from Virginia to Georgia and settled on a farm in Elbert county early in this century. Mr. Powell received but little schooling, and that little in the uncomfortable dirt floor log school house with slab seats. He moved from Elbert to Haralson county, Ga., in 1861, where he remained seven years-until 1868-when he left there and settled on the farm in Polk county he now owns and cultivates. From nothing he has become a prominent and influen- tial farmer. On account of physical disability he was exempt from military service during the late war between the states. Mr. Powell was married in 1850 to Miss Patience, daughter of Joel and Rachel Dyer, Elbert county, who has borne him ten children: Vinie E., Mary J., William J., Lindsay M., Sallie, Martha H., Jona- than P., Young E., Georgia M. and Anna. Mr. Powell is a zealous member of the Missionary Baptist church.

WILLIAM T. SIMPSON, farmer, Rockmart, Polk Co., Ga., son of Rev. W. W. and Allie (York) Simpson, was born in Polk county, Aug. 17, 1849. His father was born in North Carolina, and while a young man came to Georgia and settled at Van Wert, Polk Co., where for many years he carried on a general merchandise business. He was a zealous Methodist, of which church he was a local preacher. His mother was a native of Tennessee. Mr. Simpson was raised in Van'Wert, Polk Co., but the war intervening he was deprived of the education which, but for that, he would have received. He started in life with but little, but has so managed as to place himself in easy and comfortable circum- stances. During a part of his life he has profitably engaged in mercantile busi- ness, but for some years past has devoted himself to agriculture. He is now a well-to-do, prosperous farmer, highly esteemed by a wide circle of friends and by all who know him. Mr. Simpson has been twice married, first April 8, 1869, to Miss Ophelia, daughter of Judge W. C. and Sarah Barber, of Polk county, who died leaving no issue. His second marriage was Feb. 2, 1875, to Miss Elna E., daughter of Judge W. D. and Marguerite Heslap, of Polk county. Four children have blessed this union: Maggie, Nannie, Cornelia and William Wyley. He is a prominent member of the Methodist church.

AUGUSTUS G. TOMLINSON, postmaster, Cedartown, Polk Co., Ga., son of E. S. and Ollie (Jackson) Tomlinson, was born in Walton county, Ga., Jan. 26, 1840. His father was a native of North Carolina, migrated to Georgia in 1830, and settled in Wilkes county, whence he subsequently moved to Walton county. Mr. Tomlinson received a very good education when growing up, afterward attended the college at Bowdon, and when leaving there started out to fight life's battle with no capital but a stout heart, industry and strict integrity of char- acter. When the civil war commenced he enlisted in Company D, Phillips' legion, and was in all the battles in West Virginia, Second Manassas and in the Gettysburg campaign. He was in Gen. Longstreet's corps, and was captured at Knoxville, Tenn., and held as a prisoner until the close of the war. When released he went to New York and took the steamer for Savannah, and thence to Augusta, and from there he walked to his home in Polk county. He has been exceptionally successful in all his undertakings, and is one of the solidest

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MEMOIRS OF GEORGIA.

and most prominent of Polk county's citizens. In 1893 he was appointed by President Cleveland postmaster at Cedartown. Mr. Tomlinson was married in 1866 to Miss Sarah, daughter of Mack and Adeline McIver, of Polk county, by whom he has had nine children: Addie O., James F., Jessie M., Flora, E. S., Octavia, R. A., S. E. and Annie. Mr. Tomlinson is a member of the Knights of Honor.

BENJAMIN WRIGHT, physician, Young's, Polk Co., Ga., son of Daniel and Mollie (Young) Wright, was born in Franklin county, Ga., Jan. 10, 1846. His father came from Edgefield district, S. C., to Georgia, and settled in Franklin county in 1840. In 1850 he moved thence to Paulding county, and in 1864 moved to Polk county and settled on a farm. Dr. Wright had very meager educational advantages during his boyhood and youth. In 1861 he became a member of Phillips' legion, as a substitute, and did good service during the war. Soon after entering the service he was transferred to Gen. Wheeler's cavalry and the western army. Among other battles engaged in were Lookout Mountain, New Hope church, Resaca, Adairsville, Cassville and Kennesaw Mountain, and in almost every skirmish during the siege of Atlanta. He began life with nothing after the war excepting a spirit of determination, industrious habits and correct principles. He improved his leisure time studying medicine, and in 1882 was graduated from Atlanta Medical college. He located immediately at Young's, where he has lived ever since, established an enviable reputation as a physician and has a very re- munerative practice. No physician in the county stands higher than he, and no citizen is more popular. In 1886 he was elected to represent the Thirty-eighth senatorial district in the general assembly, and in 1888 he was elected to represent Polk county in the general assembly. In 1892 he was again elected to represent the senatorial district-his fellow-citizens thus bearing testimony to his faithfulness and efficiency. Dr. Wright was married in April, 1887, to Miss Ella, daughter of Thomas J. and Jane Peck, of Polk county, by whom he had four children: William Benjamin, John, James and Ella. The mother of these children died Feb. 6, 1891, and Feb. 7, 1892, Dr. Wright married Miss Mary, daughter of Thomas Lasseter, of Haralson county, who has borne him one child: Crissie. Dr. Wright has been very successful as a practitioner of his profession, and an excellent manager of his property.

JAMES YOUNG, Young's, Polk Co., Ga., son of Augustus and Katharine Young, was born in De Kalb county, Ga., Dec. 22, 1832. His father was a son of Robert and Celia (Strickland) Young, of what is now De Kalb county, a farmer, and was a member of the escort or guard which accompanied the Indians when they were removed from Georgia. Late in life his parents moved to and settled a farm in Polk county. Mr. Young received a very limited education, only such as could be afforded at that time and locality. He enlisted in 1862 in the First Georgia cavalry under Col. James Morrison, but after eight months' service he was discharged. Subsequently he enlisted and was commissioned a lieutenant in Yeiser's legion, state troops, and served to the end of the war. Since the war he has given his time and attention principally to his farm, though for some years at one period he conducted a general merchandise store at Young's. He started in life with some property, which by his superior management he has largely increased, until now he has a magnificent estate. He is regarded as one of the richest men and one of the best financiers in Polk county. He is popular and wields a wide and powerful influence. Mr. Young was married Aug. 3, 1854, to Miss Emiline, daughter of Jesse and Adeline Ammons, of Polk county, a union which has been blessed with six children: Sterling, Ida, Katie, Mollie, Augustus and Lucy.

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PULASKI COUNTY SKETCHES.

PULASKI COUNTY.

CAPT. R. W. ANDERSON, a gentleman prominent in agricultural pursuits in Pulaski county, and a leading warehouseman of Hawkinsville, was born Oct. 6, 1837, three miles from that city on what is known as the "old-shell road." He was reared in the county to a plantation life, acquiring his education at the academy in Perry, Ga. He found a wife in Miss Agnes Merritt, a daughter of Simon Merritt, one of the earliest settlers of the county, and became the father of eight children: Ada, Mrs. Brown, Hawkinsville; Elizabeth; Robert S .; Simon S .; Rowell; Frank; Lucy, and Dudley. Capt. Anderson was one of the first to join the "gathering of the clans" in 1861, enlisting for twelve months in the First Georgia volunteer infan- try. When his period of enlistment expired he returned home and organized a company of artillery, which he commanded through the remainder of the war in the army of the west. The company did valiant service at New Hope church, Chickamauga, and in the Atlanta campaign, and in many other bloody engage- ments. The captain was wounded three different times, though not seriously. Capt. Anderson's family history dates back to Jordan Anderson, his grandfather, who passed the earlier years of his life in North Carolina. He removed to Geor- gia with a small family about 1815, settling on the shell road, in Pulaski county, where he continued to reside until his death. Robert Sanders, Capt. Anderson's father, was born in North Carolina in 1809. ' He was reared in the pine woods on the banks of the Ocmulgee river, a thorough knowledge of woodcraft being the principal item of his education. When yet a boy he cleared for himself a small plantation on the banks of the river, where he began life with but a single female slave. He prospered as the years passed, and accumulated during his life a hand- some property. He was a man of deep religious convictions, and was a prominent member of the Baptist church for over forty years. He married Miss Sarah Eliza- beth Wooten, of Monroe county, Ga., and reared thirteen children, six of whom are now living: Mrs. Nancy S. Hardin; R. W., and Joseph J., of Hawkinsville; John L., land commissioner in New Mexico; Mrs. Roberta Moreland, Atlanta, and Mrs. Fannie Murphy, Barnesville. The father and mother of this family died in 1882 and 1867 respectively. Capt. Anderson conducts a successful warehouse business in Hawkinsville, and farms a plantation of 1,000 acres in the county. He also has 1,200 acres of wild timber. He has always been a worker in the development of Hawkinsville, and none stands higher in the estimation of her citizens. He has three times represented Pulaski county in the state legislature, and has been a mem- ber of the county board of commissioners since 1877. He and his family are mem- bers of the Baptist church, in which he has been a deacon since his seventeenth year. Pulaski is honored by such men.

JAMES POPE BROWN is the eldest son of Stephen W. Brown, who was the son of Stephen, a native of North Carolina, who migrated to Georgia about 1830 and settled in Houston county, where he spent the balance of his life. He married Miss Hannah Leary, and to them were born the following children: J. Marshall, John D., and Stephen W., all deceased; Robert H., Macon, Ga., and Calvin P., Hawkinsville, Ga. Stephen W., father of James P., was born about 1830. He was reared on a plantation, his father's vocation being that of a planter. He married Miss Martha Pope, a daughter of James Pope, of North Carolina, and later of Twiggs county, Ga., where he settled early in life. To this union were born the following children: James Pope; Stephen W., died at eight years of age, and

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Robert D., of Hawkinsville. Mr. Brown was of humble parentage and had his own way to make. He located in Pulaski county in 1856 and resided there the bal- ance of his life. His wife was a graduate of La Grange, Ga., college, was a good cook, tolerated no servants and assisted largely in the success which attended her husband. He was a democrat and represented his county in the state legislature for one term, but would accept no further political favors, though frequently ten- dered. He devoted his entire attention to farming, and was considered the best farmer in this section of the state. He did not make a fortune, but always lived in comfortable style. He died March 1, 1891, and his wife in the fall of 1890. James Pope Brown was born May 4, 1855, in Houston county, and was but an infant when his parents removed to Pulaski county, where he was reared. He received his preparatory education at Mt. Zion, and then entered Mercer university, graduating from the latter when he was but eighteen years of age. After school days were over he began working on his father's farm. In 1873 he became connected with a warehouse in Hawkinsville, where he remained until 1876, when he rented a small farm, upon which he remained for three years. He then purchased a tract of land nine miles from Hawkinsville, upon which he now resides. He married Miss Anna Wrighton Miller, a daughter of Jonathan Miller, of Beach Island, N. C. (See sketch of A. L. Miller, Macon.) To them five children were born: Stephen W .; Emily, deceased; Martha; Jonathan M., deceased, and J. Pope, Jr., deceased. Col. Brown is a man who honors the occupation of agriculture by his connection with it; and with the same qualities displayed in that field could suc- ceed in any other he should care to enter. His plantation of 4,000 acres of land is one of the largest and best in south Georgia. He is president of the Pulaski County Fair association, which every year holds one of the best meetings in Geor- gia. He also serves on the board of county commissioners, is a Baptist in faith and votes with the democrats.

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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. II, Part 102

Author: Publication date: 1859 Publisher: Atlanta, Ga., The Southern historicl association Number of Pages: 1166

Author:
Publication date: 1859
Publisher: Atlanta, Ga., The Southern historicl association
Number of Pages: 1166