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 103

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 103

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E.A. BURCH. The advent of Lord Baltimore brought to America two emigrants, Joseph and Charles Burch, and from these are descended the large and prominent family of that name. Joseph settled in Georgia and married a Miss Edith Hargrove, a lady of German parentage but of Georgia rearing, and to them were born: Charles, an early settler of Laurens county, Ga., where he died; Ruben, who lived and died in Richmond county, Ga .; Benjamin, who died in Laurens county soon after the close of the late war; Littleton, who was scalped by Indians, though he lived for some years afterward; Michael, killed by the Indians in Irwin county (see sketch of M. L. Burch, Dodge county); Edward Allen, the youngest. Upon the death of the mother of these children, Joseph married again, the lady being a Miss Wilcox, and they reared John, Henry and Alfred, who were prominent in Laurens and Montgomery counties, though all now deceased. After the death of his mother, Edward Allen Burch was adopted by a cousin, Edward Burch, of Richmond county, when he was but five months old, having been born April 6, 1796. He was reared upon a plantation and in meager circumstances. When but a youth he possessed a horse, saddle and bridle, and with these he became a inember of the colony of one Isom Cowart and traveled westward to Mississippi. After a year's residence there he married Elizabeth, the second daughter of Isom and Susanna (Miller) Cowart. Isom Cowart was a native of South Carolina and settled in Georgia in 1812. Later he went to Mississippi, and was killed by a run-away horse. In the 20's Mr. Burch, with his young wife and child, returned to Georgia, making the trip by wagon through unbroken country, and finally located three miles west of Haw- kinsville. He built a cabin in the woods, and turning his attention to carpentering, built and repaired many of the old-fashioned cotton gins. In 1836 he died of

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diphtheria. His children are: Edward Allen, the gentleman first named; Martha Womble, deceased; Joseph, died in 1855; Susan, married Jacob Shiver, and died in Florida; Michael B., resides in Texas, a very prominent citizen and justice of the peace; Mary Caroline, married Isom Shiver, and died in Florida; Mary Catherine, who was born exactly two years after the first Mary, resides in Texas. The mother of these is extremely aged and resides with her son, M. B., in Texas. Edward A. Burch was born in Mississippi, July 19, 1821, and as before related, came later with his parents by wagon to Georgia, and remembers incidents occurring en route. His early life was that of the usual backwoods boy, though he was the recipient of a good education for the period. March 10, 1842, he married Mary A., daughter of Ulysses and Mary Ann (Simpson) Crutchfield, who bore him three children, viz .: Joseph Allen, who resides in Texas; Caroline Susan Handley, also in Texas; Mary E., died in infancy. The wife died Dec. 25, 1851, and Mr. Burch married again in October, 1852, Miss Mary Ann, daughter of William and Lucinda Beard. Their children are: Martha, wife of Barney Manheim of Hawkinsville; Mary J., wifc of J. W. Bowyer of Virginia; Edward L., died in infancy; Sarah Ellen, wife of J. W. Reynolds of Pulaski county; Lucinda, died in infancy; William E., postmaster, Hawkinsville; Emma, Mrs. De Lamor of Hawkinsville; Henry M., died in infancy, and Eugene A., assistant postmaster of Hawkinsville. Mr. Burch began his carcer as a clerk in a mercan- tile establishment. Then engaged in farming and after some success he engaged for himself in the mercantile business in Hawkinsville. Unluckily for him he formed a partnership with a man of small scruples and after a short existence the

firm was dissolved. He again tried farming, but with poor success, and in the fall of 1852 removed to Floyd county, Ga., where he taught school and employed himself in any capacity honorable. In 1860 was in Rome, Ga., tcaching school, and a local Methodist preacher, frequently walking eighteen miles to fill country pulpits. In 1861 he was employed in ship building, and then in the furniture business. At about this time grave fears of a negro uprising were entertained by the citizens of Rome, and he was requested to occupy the office of chief of police of that city. In accepting he assumed command of a company of militia known as the Rome Light Guards, who did police duty. His position was a perilous one and he encountered many dangers. In 1863 he returned to Pulaski county, where he has since resided. For sixteen ycars he held the office of clerk of the superior court, and for four years has been tax receiver of Pulaski county. Mr. Burch believes in the principles of the demo- cratic party, and is a leading member of the Methodist church. He is a chancellor commander of the Knights of Pythias lodge, is an Odd Fellow and a Mason of the royal arch degree.

JAMES FRANKLIN CONEY, merchant, Hawkinsville, and a young man of fine ability, is the son of Ezekicl Coney. His grandfather, Jeremiah, came from Laurens to Pulaski county, where he passed the remainder of his days as a planter. His children werc: Charles, Jerry, Ezekiel, James, Sarah, Mrs. Jos. Daniel, and Dudley, who died in infancy. Ezekiel was born in 1831, was reared on the plantation of his father, and married Sarah E. Riley of Houston county. Five children were the fruit of this union: James F .; Mollie, deceased; Cornelia, Mrs. R. A. Merritt, deceased; Emma, deceased; and Eva, Mrs. C. B. Adams of Macon. The father of these children died soon after his return from the war, of disease contracted in the service. The mother subsequently married C. M. Bozeman of Hawkinsville. John G. is the only child of this marriage, now merchandising with his half-brother, James F. The latter gentleman was born June 1, 1865, and received his literary education in the schools of his native city.

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He later graduated from the Baltimore Commercial college, and clerked for M. D. Wilcox until 1885, then embarked in company with Robert Merritt of Macon in a venture of his own. In 1886 the firm name changed to Coney, Adams & Co., and took on its present style Coney, Lovejoy & Co. in 1888. For a young man Mr. Coney has proved himself possessed of excellent business capacities, and is one of the rising men of his section. He began business with naught but his meager earnings as clerk, and is now well advanced on the road to a competency. He is an active Methodist and a democrat. Mr. Coney married Miss Lula D. Wimberly of Houston county, a daughter of E. H. Wimberly, a sketch of whom appears among the prominent citizens of Houston county. Three beautiful and interesting children blessed this home: E. W., Julia F. and Lucy. With the energy characteristic of youth, Mr. Coney throws his whole soul into his business. To such a man there can be no failure, as success begets confidence, and the confidence of a community on the other hand begets success.

R. G. COOK is a prominent agriculturist of Pulaski county. He comes of Irish stock, having been born of parents who were both reared in the Green isle. His father, Patrick Cook, was united in marriage in 1848 to Catherine Malloy, and the following year they emigrated to the United States. Stopping for a time in New York, they later became residents of Savannah, where Mr. Cook passed his life-time as a contractor on public works and in railroading. There was a family of seven children born to them, four of whom were reared: Patrick, Donald, James, Mary, Catherine, Richard Giles and Robert Giles. Donald, Catherine and Richard G. died in infancy. The mother of these children died in 1867, and the father in 1892. Robert Giles Cook was born in Savannah, July 21, 1860, and passed his life in that city until his eighteenth year. At that age he resolved to try the west, and for the subsequent seven years he was engaged in handling cattle in Texas-a veritable cowboy. Returning to civilization, however, he has since been a resident of Pulaski county. He married Miss Sarah Le Grand, a French lady, in 1890, and to this union have been born five children. Mr. Cook is an unswerving democrat, and delights to be of service to that grand old party.

HENRY. The name of this family has been a familiar one in the wire grass country of southern Georgia for the past fifty years, and has been directly and intimately associated with the growth of Hawkinsville and Pulaski county since Judge John Henry established the firm of Henry & Son in 1870. The family is of Scotch-Irish descent. Beginning with George Henry, a native of Scotland, who moved over into Ireland, where he died at an advanced age, we have authentic information of but one son, Joseph. This son married and reared four boys and two girls, their names being Thomas, John, Joseph, James, Caro- line and Jane, all of whom are now deceased but John, who forms the subject of this sketch. This gentleman was born in Ireland June 12, 1820. In early boy- hood his parents emigrated to Pennsylvania, where they lived until death. John was given a good education for a boy of his opportunities, displaying a remark- able precociousness in the field of mathematics. His first connection with the business world was as a clerk in a mercantile establishment of Westfield, N. Y. Here he remained five years. He then came to Georgia and in 1845, using the savings of his clerkship as capital, he began his first business venture in Twiggs county. After two years he removed to Houston county, where for the next twelve years he conducted a mercantile business in Hayneville, then a trading point of some interest. Dooly county was then the scene of his labors until 1870, when

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he came to Hawkinsville and in company with his son, Edwin J., established the house of Henry & Son, which for many years carried on a most successful busi- ness. In 1891 the firm was dissolved, the father having been made vice-president and the son cashier of the Hawkinsville Bank & Trust company. Judge John Henry is a man of superior cast of mind in a financial sense. Experience has taught him many lessons, yet his mind was always clearer in mathematical opera- tions than in the field of science. And notwithstanding his reverses during and following the war, he is to-day one of the wealthiest men of the wire-grass coun- try. He never aspired to political preferment. In 1872, however, he was pre- vailed on by friends to allow his name to stand for county judge, and being ap- pointed, he served the following four years. During his term of office the hand- some court house now doing service was built, and largely through Judge Henry's influence. In 1850 John Henry and Civility, daughter of Jones Kendrick, of Putnam county, Ga., became man and wife, and to them were born four children, a daughter and son now living: Amanda, the wife of S. M. Caldwell, a merchant of Hawkinsville, and Edwin Jones, who has become one of the leading business men of his city. He was born in Hayneville, Ga., Dec. 24, 1852, and was educated at the Lawrenceville high school and at the Atlanta Business college, where he graduated in 1870. As before stated, he in that year became a member of the firm of Henry & Son, and is now cashier of the Hawkinsville Bank & Trust company. Inheriting the strong point of his father, Edwin J., he is regarded as a business man of decided merit. Aug. 25, 1847, Mr. Henry was happily mar- ried to Miss May, a daughter of Dr. William Russell, of Lawrenceville, Ga. He is a democrat in political belief, a member of the board of county commissioners, and of the city council.

MARK T. HODGE, representative of Pulaski county, and a lawyer of well- known ability at Hawkinsville, was born April 4, 1849, in Gordon county, Ga. His father, Duke H. Hodge, was a native of Georgia also, Newton county being the place of his birth. He married in Bartow county Miss Eliza Craw- ford, daughter of the president of Cherokee Baptist college. The children born to this union were Mattie L., John W., Mary S., Morgan H., Mrs. Dr. A. A. Smith, of Hawkinsville, and Mark T. Duke H. Hodge led a mercantile life during his time, but was cut off in middle age, dying in 1855, a short time prior to the birth of his youngest son, Mark T. The mother of the children fought the battle of life alone until they became of proper age to take up the burden, and died Sept. 18, 1893. Col. Mark T. Hodge was of that age to experience all the evil effects of the war, and none of the fun, so to speak. The unsettled condition of the country precluded successful school-going or school-teaching, but being naturally of a studious disposition, Mark T. was able at the tender age of sixteen to teach others what he knew. By the judicious use of his meager earnings he was enabled to continue his own studies, and in this way succeeded in getting a college education, graduating at Athens in 1876. The property of the family had all been destroyed by Sherman's vandals, and they had fled to Haw- kinsville in consequence, where they continued to reside, and where Col. Hodge returned after graduation to take charge of the village school. He taught for three years a very full school, and having continued his studies with but a change of direction, was admitted to the bar in 1880. Of his legal career it need only be said that success followed application, and he has built up a very safe and remun- erative practice. He is also interested in a financial way in farming and in various enterprises about Hawkinsville. He owns part of the stock of the Holmes & Co. barrel manufactory, an institution which is doing a good business, and is a

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paying investment. Col. Hodge has always been an outspoken democrat and a worker in the ranks of his party. In 1892 he was honored as the standard- bearer in the legislative fight, and again in 1894, serving both terms with credit. He has never married, being wedded hopelessly to his books and to his work.

JAMES OLIVER JELKS, of Hawkinsville, is a younger brother of Dr. E. A.

Jelks, of Quitman, Ga., under whose sketch elsewhere in these memoirs will appear the facts relating to the family history. J. O. Jelks was born July 4, 1839, in Pulaski county, Ga. His early education was limited to the schools of that early period. He began his business career in Hawkinsville where, in 1865, he erected the first building devoted exclusively to store-keeping, mercantile busi- ness having been previously carried on in frame dwelling houses. For twenty- eight years Mr. Jelks continued in that business, and with a large measure of success. In 1843 he was united in marriage to Elizabeth C., a daughter of Mr. Joseph E. Phelps, of Pulaski county, who was one of its early settlers. The daughter was an accomplished lady, a graduate of the La Grange college in 1862, where she took honors in music. They became the parents of several chil- dren: Nathaniel, Mary, Thomas M., James O., Jr., and Oliver-the two last deceased. The wife and mother died in 1875. Mr. Jelks' present wife was Mary S. Way, a daughter of Dr. E. F. Way, one of Liberty county's most noted families, and later of Hawkinsville. To this union two children have been born: Leonora and Anna. Mr. Jelks is a sound money democrat and a member of the Baptist church. In addition to his large real estate holdings in Georgia he owns an extensive property at Lake Jesup, Fla., which he had planted in 1867 with orange trees, there being a grove of seventy-five acres. Mr. Jelks and his family have been accustomed since then to spend the winters at that point. Mr. Jelks inherits in a large degree the characteristics which made his father one of the chief citi- zens of Pulaski county, and is held in high regard among his large circle of friends and acquaintances. Being very public spirited and a writer of con- siderable note, he has written much on public questions, particularly on those bearing upon the development of his section.

NATHANIEL P. JELKS, one of the leading physicians of Hawkinsville, Ga., is a son of James O. Jelks, Sr. (See sketch of Dr. E. A. Jelks, of Quitman, Ga.) He was born at Hawkinsville, Ga., July 18, 1845, but reared in Florida, where he received his earlier education, his later school days being spent in Au- gusta, Ga. At the opening of the civil war he entered the Confederate service, enlisting in a regiment of Florida cavalry under Gen. Jones, and was wounded in battle at National Bridge, Florida. After the war closed he entered Bellevue Medical college at New York, and graduated from the same in 1868. He imme- diately began the practice of his profession at Hawkinsville, Ga., where he has since resided. In 1870 he took for his wife Miss Kathleen Lamkin, and to this union were born seven children: Kathleen, E. L., Lily, Needham, Mary, Maude and Ruth. The mother of these children died in 1891. In 1892 a second mar- riage was solemnized, the lady being Miss Catherine Pate, daughter of Judge A. C. Pate. To this union one son has been born-Antony Pate, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this volume. Dr. Jelks enjoys a large and lucrative practice and is widely known both for his professional ability and his genial hospitality. He votes the democratic ticket and has an interest in the welfare of his party. The Baptist church of Hawkinsville numbers him among its most useful mem- bers, and the public school among its strongest supporters, he being on the board of trustees. Fraternally he affiliates with the Odd Fellows. Like his brother,

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Dr. Jelks, he became interested in orange culture, and at present is the owner of a large orange grove in Florida. He is a member of both the Georgia Medical and South Georgia Medical associations.

DAVID CURTIS JOINER. This gentleman is the grandson of Curtis Joiner, who was a native of North Carolina, and an early resident of Pulaski county, Ga. He came to this county in 1819 when the county was occupied by Indians, with whom he had many adventures. His son Larkin, David C.'s father, was born in North Carolina, in 1809, and came with his parents to the then wilds of Pulaski county, Ga., when but nineteen years old. His educational advantages were as a matter of course very limited; but he had a brilliant mind, and by reading and observation he became quite well educated for the period. He married Miss Elizabeth Linsey, a daughter of David Linsey, of Washington county, Ga., and also one of Pulaski's early settlers. In 1840 he became a Baptist minister and filled the pulpits of various churches for forty miles around, and was regarded as the leading divine of this portion of the state. He died in October, 1880, and his wife followed him in 1885. His children are Eliza, widow of Rev. R. L. Bul- lington; David Curtis; Jane, now Mrs. P. G. Mckinney; Martha, Mrs. J. T. Stephens (deceased); John J., a resident of Hawkinsville; and Wm. Larkin, also a resident of Hawkinsville. David C. was born in Pulaski county, June 12, 1842, and was reared seven miles east of Hawkinsville, in Dooly county. At eighteen he married Miss Mary E. Mims, a daughter of Elias Mims of Houston county. He was absolutely without resource, but began farming upon thirty acres of land belonging to his father. A few months later he left his wife and growing crops to respond to the call of arms by the Confederacy. He enlisted in July, 1862, Company G, Tenth Georgia cavalry, which was composed of both Georgia and Alabama patriots. He participated in no less than fifty-two engagements, many of which were hand-to-hand conflicts. Except for being hit by a nearly spent shell he was uninjured. He laid down his arms after a long service in the western army with Gen. Scott in Kentucky, at Hillsboro, N. C. For his gallantry he was promoted from private to first lieutenant and then to captain, having command of a company for the last two years. Upon his return from the war he bought a small plantation entirely upon credit. In 1871, after many "ups and downs," he was in possession of a good plantation of which he was sole owner. He then came to Hawkinsville, where his shrewd ability was at once recognized, and he became a partner in a mercantile establishment. After eighteen months he bought the business from his profits, and in another eighteen months had cleared nearly $4,000. He then took into partnership a brother, and this firm conducted a suc- cessful business for six years, at the end of which time Mr. Joiner again assumed sole charge, which he has since successfully conducted. His success is truly won- derful and he is, at the time of writing, worth $250,000. He is the largest real estate owner in Pulaski county. Not only in a financial way has his success been marked, but in every other respect. He is self-educated; and a more refined, courteous, and affable gentleman cannot be found. He owes his success to close attention to business, sterling honesty and fair dealing. His wife is a lady of fine intellect and no little credit is due her for her valuable assistance in Mr. Joiner's career. Both are members of the Methodist church. Mr. Joiner is a democrat, but of no political aspirations. His children are Mary Francis and David Wynn. David Curtis, the first born, died in youth, in 1873.

AUGUST M. JONES, farmer, of Pulaski county, Ga., is the son of John H. and Estelle A. (Bartlett) Jones. His father, now deceased, was born in 1831 near Sandersville, and at twenty-one engaged in mercantile business in that

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MEMOIRS OF GEORGIA.

town. He married in 1860. Mrs. Jones having been the daughter of Ronald and Sarah (Lippman) Bartlett of Washington county, and continuing to reside in Sandersville for a short period the family removed to Dodge county, where he died March 18, 1888. He was a man of strong personality and successful in whatever he undertook. During the war he was a gallant soldier for Dixie's cause, being a private in the Forty-ninth Georgia, with whose members he endured many hardships and fought many battles. He was a member of the Methodist church, in political belief a democrat, and a member of the masonic fraternity. The names of his children were: Robert M .; Mary F. (deceased) ; Eugenia G. (deceased); Mallard C .; and August M. In 1890 they removed with their mother, who still survives, to Pulaski county, where they now reside, cul- tivating a farm of 450 acres. August M. Jones was born Feb. 3, 1864, in Dooly county, Ga. He had the distinction in his youth of having been one of Gov. Northen's pupils, though he did not receive a collegiate education. In 1874 he began his first business venture in Dooly county as a country merchant and con- ducted it successfully for a number of years, removing with the family to Pulaski in 1890. Mr. Jones is yet a bachelor, having never succumbed to the charms of southern womanhood. He is a democrat, a Methodist, a Mason and a pleasant, social gentleman.

JAMES J. KINCHEN. Wm. Kinchen, a native of North Carolina, and grand- father of James J., was a patriot of the revolutionary war, and lost an eye while doing service for his country. He died at the age of ninety-eight. James, his youngest son, the father of the gentleman whose name appears above, was a native of Washington county, Ga., and lived to be fifty-two years of age. He married Lucretia Coleman of Emanuel county, Ga., and they became the parents of nine children, three of whom are living: Hiram, Early county, Ga .; J. J .; and John, who resides in Thomas county. The father was a member of the Baptist church, a good planter and a man of some means. The husband and wife died about the same time in about 1830. J. J. Kinchen was born in Laurens county, Ga., Dec. 20, 1820. His boyhood days were spent upon his father's farm. Hav- ing acquired a good education, he spent a great part of his life (thirty-five years) as teacher, most of the time in Pulaski county. He married Mary, a daughter of Hardy Powers, of Pulaski county, and the following children have been born to them: Winnie; Sallie; Margaret; Laura; James P .; and Wm. H. The mother of these children died Oct. 6, 1887. While teaching school, Mr. Kinchen also devoted a part of his time to farming. He had no capital with which to start in life, even his education being self-acquired. He has been a most successful teacher, and his standing as an agriculturist is evidenced by the high state of cultivation under which he keeps his plantation. He has never desired political honors, though he is a good democrat and takes an interest in the affairs of his party.

COL. CHAS. TENNANT LATHROP. Hawkinsville has had many sons to fall by the wayside while in the full strength and vigor of manhood, while others have passed, their life work finished, and a successful career rounded out by a quiet and peaceful death. The above gentleman was one of the latter class. He died Sept. 8, 1893, at the ripe age of seventy-six years, with a business career of more than the usual success behind him, and a life whose benign influence was recognized by all. Col. Lathrop was of northern birth and family, having been the first white child to be born in Vincennes, Ind., that event occurring June 28, 1817. The Lathrops were a New England family of old and honorable descent and are still found in Connecticut, from which state Col. Lathrop's grandfather, Charles, had migrated to the new territory of Indiana in the early years of the

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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 103

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