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 104

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 104

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PULASKI COUNTY SKETCHES.

present century. However, soon after the birth of Col. Lathrop the whole family including his father, also named Charles, went back to Connecticut, traveling the whole distance in wagons amid many perils. They settled in Colchester, where the colonel was reared and schooled. He was educated at Bacon academy of Colchester, and in 1845 came to Hawkinsville, Ga. An elder brother, James W., had preceded him to Georgia, and was engaged in mercantile pursuits in Savannah. In company with his brother, Col. Lathrop began a business in Hawkinsville, which continued the balance of his life with uninterrupted success. Later in life he became identified with the banking interests of Hawkinsville; also, and for many years prior to his death, he was one of the leading spirits of the wire grass region. Col. Lathrop was a man of the broadest culture, of decid- edly poetical temperament, and a lover of nature who never tired of her beauties. He was modest and unassuming, and though his ability was such as to invite a public career, he resisted all efforts to draw him into a life of public preferment. He grew wealthy, but wealth to him meant increased opportunities to do good. He was liberal in his charities, but few knew the extent of his gifts, as he heeded the Bible injunction to secrecy in such matters. One of his most munificent gifts was never made public until after his death, consisting of a cash payment of $25,000 toward the building of a Y. M. C. A. mission building in Tokio, Japan. In politics he was a democrat, and was a veteran of the late war, serving his adopted state long and faithfully in her need. Col. Lathrop was twice married. His first wife was Margaret Rebecca Mikell, to whom he was wedded Nov. 21, 1854, and who died at Griffin, Ga., Dec. 3, 1855. His second wife was Mary Eliza- beth Robinson, of Norfolk, Conn., whom he married Oct. 18, 1874, and who survives him. Col. Lathrop left no children.

COL. JOHN F. LEWIS. Died in Hawkinsville, Ga., on Dec. 29, 1879, of pneumonia, Col. John F. Lewis, in the forty-ninth year of his age. Thus read the notice that startled the friends of a man who was for many years a familiar figure in the business and commercial life of South Georgia. Col. Lewis was one of those self-made men who forged to the front by reason of superior financial acumen. His was a mind that was quick to perceive and ready to act upon the opportunities of life. And long before he had reached the zenith he had impressed his individuality upon the business world of all south Georgia. The following from the pen of a friend in the "Montezuma Weekly" will serve to show the estimation in which Col. Lewis was held at the time of his untimely demise: "His was, by far, more than an ordinary career. Early in life he laid deep the cornerstone of his coming success. With truth as his guide, with honesty as his anchor, with sobriety as his chart, with fidelity to principle as the star, who can wonder at his achievements in a life, that was alas, too brief? The days of youth had scarcely vanished; long before entering into the 'sere and yellow leaf,' we find him standing upon the threshold of life, master of his calling, with the trophies of victory enwreathing his brow, with success as his portion and wealth as his companion. He will be missed, not only in his immediate section, but in circles abroad; for his fame as a business man, for deep-seated sagacity and far-reaching views, ignoring local limits, found recognition, even in the nation's metropolis. He was doing a noble service in rebuilding the trade, the credit and the character of his own southland. His place will be hard to fill, for there are few men like him. Noble spectacle it was to behold him, while in life, surrounded by his young sons, like a chieftain upon the field among his lieutenants, teaching them to plan and succeed, carefully carrying out in every detail the operations of the largest business of the country, thus preparing them for future usefulness." Col. John F. Lewis was a native of Georgia and a son of John B., who died a few

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months after the birth of his son. He was reared by his paternal grandfather, who was a poor but respectable planter. Legal age found Col. Lewis with but an ordinary education and small capital to embark in a mercantile venture at Coney, Ga. Success, however, seemed inherent in him from the beginning. As his mercantile interests grew he removed to Montezuma and branched out in the banking business. He subsequently established banks at Hawkinsville, Valdosta and Albany, all of which were in fine financial condition, and have become leading institutions in their line in the state. Col. Lewis married, March 17, 1853, Lavinia Butts of Macon, daughter of Elijah and Ann (Thompson) Butts, who now survives him, the mother of the following children: E. B., state senator, Montezuma; Mrs. Eva Leonard; R. G., deceased in 1892; Sherry B., deceased in 1890; John F., president of the Citizens' bank, Valdosta; Mattie, Mrs. W. A. Dodson, Americus; Pearl L., Mrs. John C. Holmes, and William M., of Hawkinsville.

DAVID G. M'CORMACK, one of the substantial business men of Hawkins- ville, was born Jan. 29, 1839, in Pulaski county. His education was procured after the crops were laid by in an old log cabin field school; but such as it was there were staying qualities in it. The war between the states found Mr. Mc- Cormack just at manhood's estate, and of disposition and temperament to resist Yankee interference with southern institutions. He became a private in Company E, Third Georgia infantry, known as the Governor's Guards, and did service in Virginia and South Carolina for fifteen months. Returning home, he soon re-enlisted, joining the Forty-ninth Georgia under Maj. Pate. During his service in the field Mr. McCormack participated in many of the chief battles of the war and in hundreds of smaller skirmishes, yet escaped unhurt. He recalls with a thrill of horror the fall of Gen. Kerney at Harper's Ferry, of which he was a witness. During the progress of the war, Jan. 12, 1864, Mr. McCormack was joined in marriage to Emma Pollack of Houston county, a daughter of Moses Pollack, one of the wealthy planters of that county. She is the mother of four daughters and a son: Anna, Mrs. James McGriff, Hawkinsville; Emma; Eugenia; May, and David G., Jr. In 1866 Mr. McCormack embarked in the mercantile business in Hawkinsville, which he conducted with a measure of success for some twelve years. He then retired to his plantation, where he gave much attention to the development of the fruit industry, experimenting with various kinds. The cotton warehouse business next attracted his attention, and he has since conducted an institution of that kind at Hawkinsville. In 1892 he suffered the loss of his building by fire, but immediately built the commodious and safe brick structure in which he now operates. Mr. McCormack is a democrat, but with no aspirations for office. His religious belief is in conformity with the Baptist teaching, in which organization he is a deacon. David G. McCormack is a son of Mathias and Mary H. (Connor) McCormack. The former was a native of Burke county, born in 1794. He came to Pulaski county in 1818, locating on the east side of the Ocmulgee river. Indians were then plentiful. On one occasion he reached an Indian camp in south Georgia with a pack horse laden with goods, only to find them with their war paint on. Their greeting was most suspicious and filled him with alarm. But he found a friend in the chief, who came to him at night and offered to guide him safely home. Leaving his goods he traveled all. night and at dawn heard the first words his guide had spoken on the trip, "pale face, safe." He reached home in safety, and in a few days his goods were returned without damage. Mr. McCormack was very kind to the Indians and they all respected him greatly. He reared a deaf and dumb child of an Indian. He became very intelligent and lived with Mr. McCormack's

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family until he was forty-five years old. He was known as "Indian Sam." Mr. McCormack prospered and became one of the old-time "southern princes." He was a rock-ribbed democrat and represented Pulaski in the legislature several terms. During the war he lost his entire fortune, and died in 1874. His wife was a native of Brooks county, Ga., and was the mother of Jas. C., deceased; Mrs. Eliza Fletcher, Telfair county; Mrs. Amanda Howell, deceased; William, Thomas, Sarah, Catherine, Araminda, Madison and Martha, all deceased; Nannie, Mrs. Woodward, Dooly, Ga., and David G.

PATRICK THOMAS M'GRIFF, for twenty-two years ordinary of Pulaski county, and one of the most genial, obliging and competent officials in Geor- gia, is of Irish lineage and Georgia birth. His paternal grandfather emigrated to America from Ireland about the middle of the eighteenth century. He was a man of superior education and professional ability, a civil engineer by vocation. He married Miss Mary Hall, of a family of distinction in Maryland both at that day and the present. He served in the revolutionary war, rising to the rank of colonel, and subsequently settled in Virginia, where he was employed by the gov- ernment as an official surveyor. Later in life he removed to Montgomery county, Ga., where he died after a long and uncommonly useful life. He reared a family of ten children. Thomas, Judge McGriff's father, was born Jan. 22, 1774, in Vir- ginia. His education was of a limited character, but by careful study and close observation he in later years became a man of superior mind and broad culture. Settling in Pulaski county in 1812, a date which marks him as one of the very earliest settlers, he married a Miss Mercer, and by her became the father of six children, all of whom are now deceased. The first wife died, and he was married to Mary, a daughter of Alexander Michael. Two children resulted from this mar- riage, James A., now deceased, and Judge P. T. The father was a man of great energy and a will to work which brooked no obstacle and which made him one of the wealthy men of his community. He believed in progressiveness, and was always foremost in every enterprise which looked to the upbuilding of the com- munity. He was an old-line whig in politics, but not an aspirant. He died March 30, 1843, his wife outliving him by thirty-eight years. Judge P. T. McGriff was born July 20, 1833, and is a native of Pulaski county. The common schools which he attended were of a superior grade, and he therefore received a good academic education. When but sixteen years old he served three months in the Florida Indian war under Capt. Thomas Lankford. The civil war found Mr. McGriff ready and anxious to defend the principle of the free sovereignty of the states, . and in 1862 he became a member of Company G, Tenth Confederate cavalry, sub- sequently being made its captain. He served in the army of the west and engaged in a large number of sanguinary battles. When peace was assured Capt. McGriff settled in the quiet vocation of agriculture in Pulaski county, which he prosecuted with success until his election in 1873 to his present important posi- tion. It is needless to speak of the conduct of this office. Twenty-two years of continuous service among an intelligent people simply means that no better man could be found for the office, or Judge McGriff would have been relegated to private life long ago. A thorough democrat, the judge takes delight in further- ing the interests of his party. Fraternally he has for thirty-three years been a member of the grand lodge, F. and A. M., and is at present high priest of Pulaski chapter No. 20, R. A. M., at Hawkinsville, Ga., and a sir knight templar of St. Omar commandery No. 2, Macon, Ga. He is president of the board of educa- tion for the city of Hawkinsville, where he wields a powerful influence in advanc- ing the interests of education. In religious faith he is a Baptist. The first mar-

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riage of Judge McGriff was solemnized in Pulaski county to Mary A., daughter of Judge B. B. Dykes, in 1857. She died in March, 1862, the mother of a son, Rufus J., now a resident of Hawkinsville. The second marriage occurred four years later, in December, 1866, to Frances Cowan, widow of Dr. Cowan, of Pu- laski county. Three children have been born to her, two of whom are now living: James P. and Frances, the latter being an accomplished young lady of superior mental attainments, and a graduate of the Girls' Industrial Normal school of Milledgeville. Judge McGriff and his family have always held, and still retain, the love and respect of the citizens of Pulaski county. Mr. James P., son of Judge McGriff, is a successful merchant of Hawkinsville.

HENRY L. MANNIE is a native Austrian, and son of Moses Mannie, of Cracan,

Austria, who died in 1876. Henry L. was born May 14, 1855, and was edu- cated in the land of his birth. When but seventeen years of age he emigrated to the United States, landing in New York, Friday, Feb. 5, 1872. Here, among strangers, he started in business with the small capital obtained from the sale of a dozen razors. Investing in a small stock of notions, he took them upon his back and began to travel through the rural districts. Sept. 25, 1872, found him in Hawkinsville, Ga., where he secured employment as clerk in the mercantile establishment of Charles Schlang, now a merchant of New York city. In 1878 he became junior partner in the business, which was conducted under the firni name of Schlang & Mannie. The following year he purchased the interest of his partner and continued the business until 1880, when fire swept away his pos- sessions. Starting anew at Scotland, Ga., from there he went to Mount Vernon, and in 1882 opened a branch store in Hawkinsville. He now conducts a very large business, carrying a stock averaging $12,000. He also owns several plantations in the counties of Pulaski and Dooly and has considerable real estate in Atlanta. On Dec. 26, 1880, Miss Mollie Waterman became his wife. Four children have blessed this union, three of whom are living: Moses, Birdie and Sarah. Mr. Man- nie has two brothers residing in this country, Augustus M., of St. Louis, and Charles M., of Arkansas. Mr. Mannie quickly adapted himself to the ways and manners of his adopted country and in politics has become a good democrat.

HENRY B. MARR. The grandfather of the gentleman whose name heads this sketch was a native of Scotland. He was one of the early settlers of Kentucky and later of Virginia. In the last named state his son, Henry T. Marr, was born in 1806. The father being in very poor circumstances, Henry T. was reared to manhood on the farm. In later years he moved to Georgia. His wife was Miss Elizabeth T. Rogers, of Kentucky. She was born Feb. 27, 1804, and died in Mississippi, April 21, 1863. The husband died at Hawkinsville, Ga., at the advanced age of eighty-three years. They were both sincere Christians and members of the Methodist church. Henry B. Marr was born in Fayette county, Ky., Jan. 6, 1842, and was reared near Lexington. He took an active part in the civil war, during which time he was an artilleryman of Withers' battery. He was present at the siege of Vicksburg, and was with Gen. Hood in his retreat before Gen. Sherman. He remained in the service until the close of the war, participating in many skirmishes. After the surrender he engaged first as an overseer, then farmed for himself and was very successful from the start, and soon accumulated a fortune. However, by injudicious investments, he soon met severe reverses, and was compelled to start again at the very beginning. Success attended his efforts, he soon regained his fortune, and in 1887 he moved to Hawkinsville and retired from active business. He, however, manages his plantation, which consists of

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some two or three thousand acres. In politics he is an old-time democrat and in faith a Methodist. Married to Susan, daughter of Daniel Hutchins, of Ken- tucky, he has become the father of the following children: John, Mary, Lydia, died in infancy, and Ethel.

CAPT. JOHN H. MARTIN, one of the best lawyers in south Georgia and leader of the bar in Pulaski county, was born April 10, 1842, in Decatur county. He is the only son of Dr. M. H. Martin and Caroline W. Martin, the former a prominent physician and planter of Decatur county for years. He never held any political office except that of state senator from his district. He was born in Liberty county, Ga., Oct. 18, 1811, and was graduated from the state university, then known as Franklin college, and also from the medical college at Augusta, Ga. In July, 1841, he married Mrs. Caroline W. Stewart, nee Miss Caroline W. Bains, who was born near the town of Eatonton in North Carolina, July 21, 1818. At the time of their marriage both were residents of Quincy, Gadsden Co., Fla., but soon removed to Decatur county, Ga., near the village of Attapulgus, where both died, she on May 22, 1846, and he on Oct. 3, 1855, leaving surviving them two chil- dren, John H. and Mary L. Martin. Mary L. married Mr. R. T. Smith, of Dooly county, Ga., and died Nov. 14, 1881. John H. was educated in the academies at Attapulgus and Mineral Spring in Decatur county, and at Midway in Baldwin county, Ga., the last being conducted as a preparatory school for Oglethorpe uni- versity, and from attending which he acquired the name of "Ackie Martin," and by which he has ever been known and called by his classmates in college. He entered Oglethorpe university in 1858, where he stood at the head of his classes, as is evidenced by certificates given him by Dr. S. K. Talmage, Profs. R. C. Smith, C. W. Lane (the venerable Dr. Lane, now of Athens, Ga.), and the other professors under whom he studied until he left college, in May, 1861, to enter the war. He joined the Decatur guards, which left Bainbridge, Ga., on Aug. 13, 1861, and was mustered into the Confederate service at Lynchburg, Va., Aug. 31, 1861, as Com- pany D, Seventeenth regiment of Georgia volunteers, Henry L. Benning, of Columbus, Ga., being colonel of the regiment. At that time Private Martin was elected as orderly sergeant of his company. On Jan. 20, 1863, he was elected first lieutenant, and on Aug. 15, 1863, he was unanimously elected as captain of his company, which position he held until the close of the war, refusing to run for any higher position. This company made a record second to none for gallantry in the campaigns of the army of northern Virginia, was with Longstreet at Chicka- mauga and through Tennessee back to Virginia. Capt. Martin was struck several times, and was seriously wounded three times in as many different battles. At the second battle of Manassas one of the bones of his left forearm was broken by a minie ball, which also gave him a slight wound in the right shoulder, he being in the act of firing at the time he was shot. At Chickamauga a minie ball broke his lower jawbone on both sides, and from the effects of which his under jaw became shortened and does not fit the upper. In this battle every member of his company was either killed or wounded. At the battle of the Wilderness he was severely wounded in the abdomen by a minie ball. He carried a rifle into the fights and fought with his men, and was with his company in all the fights in which it participated, except when disabled by wounds and during and just prior to the evacuation of Richmond. He was not with his company when Gen. Lee surren- dered, being at that time on duty at Danville, Va., and commanded one of the com- panies that drove the Federal raiders from the railroad and guarded the removal of President Davis and cabinet from Danville to Greensboro, N. C. On April 14, 1865, upon his application for assignment to duty, he was under special order No. 86, issued by the secretary of war, ordered by John W. Riely, assistant adjutant-

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general, to "report to Maj .- Gen. A. R. Wright for duty in Georgia," and did so at Augusta. Remaining a few days in Augusta, he was ordered by Gen. Wright to report to Col. W. A. Barden at Albany, Ga., who was collecting troops to go west, but when he got to Albany, or near there, he found the Federals in possession of the town, Col. Barden had departed, and the cause was lost. These were the last official orders received by him, and have been preserved. Capt. Martin returned to Decatur county, his wordly possessions consisting of a horse that he had traded for in South Carolina, giving four horses and a wagon that he got from a recruiting camp for Confederate horses for this one horse, enough cloth for one suit obtained from the quartermaster's office in Greensboro, a lot of Con- federate money and one pistol. His property, consisting of negroes and Confed- erate bonds, was swept away by the result of the war. He taught school in Decatur county in the fall of 1865, and made money enough to land him in Texas on April I, 1866, where he remained teaching and engaged as a cowboy until the last of July, 1869, when he returned to Georgia, and on Aug. 12, 1869, married Miss S. E. Winn, of Liberty county, Ga., to whom he had been engaged for a number of years. He then taught school in Quincy, Fla., one year, and on Sept. 1, 1870, moved to Hawkinsville, Pulaski Co., Ga., and taught school for two years, and while teaching he studied law under Judge C. C. Kibbee, with whom he afterward formed a co- partnership, and which continued until Kibbee was elected judge of the circuit court. He was admitted to the bar in 1872, practiced by himself for a time, then was formed the firm of Martin & Jordan, then Kibbee & Martin, then Martin & Cochran, then Martin & Smith, which continued until his partner, C. C. Smith, was elected judge, then Martin & Mack, then by himself, except in Dooly county, where Judge U. V. Whipple is associated with him under the name of Martin & Whipple. While he has refused to seek any political office, he has been a most active and persistent worker for the democratic party, having been selected as the president of the Central Democratic club of his county in the several campaigns. He never held any public office, except mayor of Hawkinsville four terms, and was president of the public school board of his county. As a lawyer he ranks with the best in his profession, has a large and lucrative practice, and has written a little brochure on ejectment pleadings, which has been most favorably received by the bench and bar of the state, as an accurate, full and complete treatise on the subject. His first wife died on Dec. 31, 1881, by whom he had four children, all dead except one daughter, Eloise Winifred. On Jan. 31, 1883, he married Miss Amittie S. Curry, the only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Calvin A. Curry, of Decatur county. Capt. Martin and his wife are both Presbyterians, in which church he has been an elder for a number of years.

G EORGE D. MASHBURN, proprietor of the largest general store in Hawkins-

ville, and a leading citizen of that thrifty wire-grass city, has attained signal business success, although he is still a young man, and had to be the architect of his own fortune. He is a native Georgian, the son of James W. Mashburn and Nancy R. Reid. The former was born in Washington county, Ga., in 1823. In early manhood he settled in Dooly county, where, though without capital of any kind but health and strength and a will to succeed, he began farming operations which eventually made him independent. In middle life he heeded a call to the ministry of the Baptist church, and for many years was a leading divine in that denomination. He also served a period of years covering the late war as county ordinary for Wilcox county. He was a man of large heart and generous impulses and died Nov. 3, 1892, mourned by a large circle of friends. Nancy R. Wilcox, whoni he married in Irwin county in 1854, was the daughter of George R. Reid, and the widow of John Wilcox. She was born in Irwin county, and died April;

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1895. Her children are as follows: Mrs. Mary C. Fitzgerald, Drury T., Mrs. Martha R. Hanly, Henry, and Mrs. Anna N. Oliver, of Wilcox county, and George D., John F. and David T., of Hawkinsville. George D. Mashburn was born April II, 1857, in Irwin county, Ga. His education was limited to academic work, and at eighteen he began his business career as a clerk in the mercantile establishment of R. V. Bowen in House Creek. After three years he changed his occupation to that of a teacher, which he pursued successfully until 1880, when he embarked in the mercantile business in the town of Wolf Creek, in company with R. V. Bowen. Mr. Bowen retired soon, however, and Mr. Mashburn, continuing business until 1885, removed to Hawkinsville, and in company with H. W. Bozeman established the firm of Bozeman & Mashburn. The style of this firm changed in the latter part of the same year, Mr. Bozeman's interests being purchased by John F. Mash- burn, a brother of George D., the firm being known as George D. Mashburn & Bro. The purchase of his brother's interest by John P. Doster in 1891 put George D., as manager of the new firm, since which time he has conducted the business in that capacity. The nuptials of Mr. Mashburn were celebrated in 1881, when he wedded Miss Bettie Doster, of Wilcox county. Three children brighten their home: Christina, Eugene and Lois. Mr. Mashburn has been rather too much of a business man to take great interest in politics. The sterling quality of his citizen- ship, however, and his practical grasp of public questions led the citizens of Wilcox county to insist on his serving them in the state legislature, which he did in 1880, much to his credit and their satisfaction. The tenets of the Baptist faith suit him religiously, and he, of course, votes the democratic ticket.

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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 104

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