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 107

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 107

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F. B. EZELL, merchant, banker and planter, Eatonton, Putnam Co., Ga., son of John H. and Emma (Powell) Ezell, was born in Jasper county, Ga., Oct. 31, 1850. Of Huguenot ancestry, the family on migrating to America originally set- tled in Virginia, whence they moved to South Carolina. From there Mr. Ezell's great-grandfather, a Mr. Ezell, moved to Georgia and settled in Burke county. He afterward moved to Jasper county, where he died. He was a planter, and his family were raised to be planters, and continued their residence in Jasper county --- where Mr. Ezell's father now lives at the age of seventy-one years. The family was progressive and thrifty, and became wealthy. Politically they were whigs and opposed to secession. Mr. Ezell's grandfather Powell married in Hancock county; and Powelton in that county was named in his honor. His parents raised four children: E. B., the subject of this sketch; Robert, planter, Jasper county; William, merchant, Hillsboro, Ga .; Mattie, wife of S. F. Malone, merchant- planter, Hillsboro, Ga. Mr. Ezell's mother died in 1867-his father served during the unpleasantness in the western army. Mr. Ezell was reared in Jasper county and received an ordinary education; because, as his father enlisted in the army he had to superintend the plantation. After the war he went to school six months. When eighteen years old he began his business life by engaging as a clerk in Monticello, Jasper county. A year afterward-Jan. 3, 1870-he came to Eatonton, and clerked a year for J. A. Champion, for which he received $200. He next engaged with Leverett & Graybill at $600, and the following year with Mr. Leverett at $750 a year. Accepting the offer of a partnership he entered into busi- ness under the firm name of Leverett & Ezell. Withdrawing at the end of a year he, in 1874, with $500 capital, became a partner in the firm of Etheridge & Ezell. In 1876 he bought out his partner, and continued the business alone one year. He then sold an interest to B. W. Hunt, and organized the firm of E. B. Ezell & Co., which has been phenomenally successful and prosperous, and still exists. They carry a stock of about $18,000, and have done a business amounting to $120,000 per annum. He is a prominent stockholder in the compress company;

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and in February, 1890, he was made president of the Middle Georgia bank. Besides his mercantile and the above important interests, lie owns and conducts a plantation running forty-five plows and producing annually 300 bales of cotton. In addition to managing these large and varied interests, he has served the public as chairman of the board of county commissioners thirteen years. The accom- plishment of these grand results demonstrate business talent and capacity of no ordinary character. Business courage and enterprise, directed by sagacity and tempered with caution -- all governed by unbending financial integrity, was a pre- requisite combination to work out such a creditable and astonishing business -- non-speculative-success. Mr. Ezell was married in Eatonton, June 5, 1870, to Miss Anna Belle Pruden-born in Connecticut-daughter of Sidney C. Pruden, who, for fifty-four years, consecutively was postmaster at Eatonton; a significant compliment to his efficiency and official integrity. Two children have blessed this union: Marie Belle and Percy Powell. Mr. Ezell is a member of the Pres- byterian church, in which he is an elder.

R. W. HUTCHINSON, merchant, Eatonton, Putnam Co., Ga., son of T. S. and Sarah E. (Stevens) Hutchinson, was born in Greene county, Ga., April 2, 1856. Of Scotch origin, the family when it came to America in colonial days, settled in Virginia. There Mr. Hutchinson's grandfather, Ambrose Hutchinson, was born and reared. When a young man he migrated to Georgia, settled in Greene county, where he married Miss Rachel Robbins, a South Carolina lady, and commenced the life of a planter. He was prosperous, became a large slave owner, acquired a large property and reared a large family of children, who are scattered over the states to the west-notably in Texas. Mr. Hutchinson's father was born and reared in Greene county, where he was married in 1853, and where himself and wife still live. Like his father before him, he also is a planter. Politically he is a stanch democrat-religiously an ardent Methodist. To them four children have been born: Lula M., wife of W. G. Armor, merchant, Greenes- boro, Ga .; R. W., the subject of this sketch; Taliaferro, planter, Greene county; and T. A., merchant, Monticello, Co. Mr. Hutchinson was given a fairly good education. Finding mercantile life -- from a very brief experience-congenial to his taste, he determined to make a life pursuit of it. As a preparatory step he wisely determined to take a course at Moore's Business university, at Atlanta; finishing which he came to Eatonton and engaged as a clerk in the dry goods house of W. R. Respess. In 1878 he bought a half interest in the business which was conducted under the firm name of Hutchinson & Respess until the fall of 1880, when he sold out to his partner. The following year, with quite limited means, but plenty of pluck and energy, he began business on his own account. By strict economy, untiring industry, a determination to win popular favor and succeed, he has achieved a splendid success. He has now invested about $25,000 -- his stock consisting exclusively of dry goods and boots and shoes. Besides, he holds considerable choice city property, and owns a beautiful home. This has all been acconiplished with small capital and in face of hot competition. His wide- awake business practice is shown by his going to New York twice a year to look through the market instead of buying by sample. Mr. Hutchinson was married in Eatonton, Oct. 20, 1878, to Miss Georgia Flournoy, youngest daughter of David and Amerillus Rosser, of an old and prominent family of the county, by whom he has had five children: Rolin W., Jr., Mamie E., Robert F., Georgia F., and Emma L. Mr. Hutchinson is a democrat, and a member of the Methodist church.

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MEMOIRS OF GEORGIA.

WILLIAM F. JENKINS, judge of Ocmulgee circuit, Georgia superior court, Eatonton, Putnam Co., Ga., son of Robert C. and Caroline (Hudson) Jen- kins, was born in Sumter county, Ga., March 26, 1845. His paternal grandfather, Robert Jenkins, came from North Carolina to Georgia when a young man, and was one among the early settlers of Putnam county. He married a Miss San- ders, and settled as a planter on Cedar creek, leaving, when he died, quite a large estate. He raised three sons and two daughters: One daughter married a Willian T. Young, and the other married a John Jackson-and both are now deceased. Of the sons, Augustus lived and died a bachelor, wealthy; Franklin S. lived and died in Putnam county, leaving two sons and a daughter. The father and sons were all planters. Judge Jenkins' father was born and raised and married in Putnam county. Soon after his marriage he moved to Sumter county, where he lived seventeen years and then returned to Putnam county. A pronounced whig, he took much interest in politics, and represented Sumter county one term in the general assembly. On his return to Putnam county he made his home in Eaton- ton, visiting his plantation as occasion required. He was bitterly opposed to secession, using his utmost influence against it; but when the ordinance was adopted he was as earnest in support of the lost cause, and sent four sons to do battle for it. He died in Eatonton-a long-time devoted Methodist-in 1890, at the age of seventy-one years. Judge Jenkins' maternal grandfather, Irby Hudson, was a native of Dinwiddie county, Va., where he married a Miss Frances Flour- noy-a union of two families then and now prominent in Virginia politics and society. After his marriage he migrated to Georgia, and was one of the pioneers of Putnam county. He supplemented his large planting interests with an exten- sive general merchandise store in Eatonton, and became a prominent, and, prob- ably the most influential politician in that part of the state-particularly in Put- nam county. He was an ardent democrat-represented the county in one or the other branch of the general assembly thirty-one years-twenty-seven of which were consecutive; and was speaker of the house nineteen years. He reared a large family of children, all of whom were substantial citizens. Judge Jenkins' mother died in February, 1884, having given birth to eight children: Robert H., planter, Jones county, Ga .; Williani F., the subject of this sketch; B. W., planter, Baldwin county, Ga; W. G. (deceased); Caroline V., died in girlhood; Georgia E., single; David H., planter, Sumter county; and H. A., lawyer, Eaton- ton, Ga. Judge Jenkins was twelve years old when his father returned to Eaton- ton from Sumter county. His education was interrupted by the unfortunate unpleasantness, he entering the Confederate service in 1861 as a private in the Putnam Light infantry, which became Company G, Twelfth Georgia regiment, and remaining in active service until the surrender, except when disabled by wounds. His first war experience was in the battle of Greenbrier river, W. Va. At Cedar Run he was twice slightly wounded; at Second Manassas he had his left hip and right ankle broken; these wounds still give him serious trouble. As soon as he was pronounced able he returned to his command and was appointed ordnance sergeant of Gen. Dole's (afterward Gen. Phil. Cook's) brigade-a posi- tion he held until the end of the war. Returning from the war he attended school at home a few months and then went to the university of Virginia, where he studied law two years, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Laws in the summer of 1868. A member of the faculty was Dr. John B. Minor, one of the best and most erudite law teachers in the Union. He is still connected with the school. At the succeeding September term of Putnam superior court, Judge Philip B. Robinson presiding, he was admitted to the bar, and at once entered upon a suc- cessful professional career. He continued alone until his brother was admitted

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when the law firm of W. F. & H. A. Jenkins was founded, which continued until its senior was elected to the judgeship. In 1873 he was elected to represent Putnam county in the general assembly-dcfeating a colored opponent, and thus breaking the backbone and inflicting a death-blow upon carpet-baggism. In 1884 he was again elected, and was specially identified with the railway legisla- tion which was then a leading topic. In the fall of 1886 he entered the race for the judgeship of Ocmulgee circuit against three other able aspirants, and was elected by an overwhelming majority-145 out of 212 votes-more than doubling all the votes cast for his three opponents. In 1890 he was re-elected without opposition. In 1893 he announced that he would not be a candidate for re-election, having in contemplation the resumption of the practice of the law. Judge Jenkins has been mayor of Eatonton, and chairman of the board of county commissioners; has held other minor local offices; and is now commander of R. T. Davis camp of Confederate veterans, Eatonton and Putnam county. Judge Jenkins was married in Webster county, Ga., near the Samter line, May II, 1870, to Miss Leila U. Head, born in Madison Parish, La., daughter of Joseph C. and Ulrica Steptoe (Damaron) Head. Miss Head, on the death of her mother in Louisiana, was reared by Col. and Mrs. Joseph Wood, Woodlawn, Webster Co. The Steptoe family made a fine record in Virginia during the revolutiontry war. His wife's father is a descendant of Sir Walter Head, once governor-general of Canada; and two of her father's uncles, Benjamin and Elbert Head, and Samuel Davis, (a brother of ex-President Jefferson Davis) married three sisters Throckmorton, a near relative of whom has been governor of Texas. While in Louisiana his wife's father was president of the levee board, a responsible and very important office; afterward, in Alabama, was a member of the legislature. He now resides in Auburn, Ala. Mrs. Jenkins attended the celebrated Vassar college, New York, two years. Three children have blessed this marriage; Joseph W. R., graduated in 1894 at the university of Virginia, with degrees of A. B. and A. M. -preparing for the Baptist ministry; Carrie V., completed her education at Shorter college, Rome, Ga., then took a special course at the Art Students' league, New York city; W. F., Jr., a student at the university of Virginia. Judge Jenkins is an exemplary member of the Baptist church.

H. A. JENKINS is a brother of Judge William F. Jenkins, was the junior mem- ber of the former law firm of W. F. & H. A. Jenkins, and possesses in a marked degree the intellectual and business characteristics for which the family is distinguished. He was born in Americus, Sumter Co., Ga., March 21, 1855. He was two years old when his father moved back to Eatonton, where he grew to manhood and received his literary education. He then entered the law depart- ment of the university of Georgia, at Athens, and was graduated in 1876. He located in Eatonton, commenced the practice, and at once made an excellent reputation and secured a large and influential clientage. His rapid advancement in his profession and his financial prosperity give promise of a brilliant career professionally and the addition of higher political distinction whenever he gets ready to contest for it. In 1882 he was elected to represent the county in the general assembly, where business legislation received his especial attention; he, however, took great interest and was largely instrumental in strengthening the restrictions on the liquor traffic in the county. Closely following his legislative term was his election as mayor of Eatonton-serving one term with exceptional success. In the campaign of 1884 he did very efficient work as president of the Young Men's Democratic club of Putnam county. Through his tact and energy it was made a very strong and effective organization. The next eight years, classi-

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cally speaking, he "sawed wood," but forged ahead wonderfully to a front position in his profession. In 1892 he was elected to represent the Twenty-eighth sena- torial district in the general assembly, in which body he was made chairman of the committee on railroads and served on many other committees. He was also placed on a special committee to consider the matter of a reduction of pensions; the committee's report favorable to the same was adopted. In 1894 Mr. Jenkins was again elected to represent the county in the general assembly, was made chairman of the general judiciary committee, member of several other committees and chairman on the part of the house of the committee to review the work of the codifiers. He was also made chairman of the democratic joint caucus, and has been favorably mentioned by his friends and the press of the state as speaker of the next house of representatives. Mr. Jenkins was married in Eatonton, Feb. 5, 1879, to Miss Tallulah, only child of L. C. Dennis, for a long term of years in charge of the railway interests of the city. He was a son of Michael Dennis, mention of whom is made elsewhere in this volume. Six children have blessed this union: Roy H., Caroline H., Tallulah D., Georgia, Robert C. and Wilbur G. Mr. Jenkins is a trustee of the Eatonton Male and Female academy, a master Mason and a member of the Methodist church.

S. R. LAWRENCE, ex-sheriff, Eatonton, Putnam Co., Ga., son of Dr. J. W. and Elizabeth (Mitchenell) Lawrence, was born in Cuthbert, Randolph Co., Ga., Oct. 27, 1842. His ancestors came from England and settled in New York, where some of the members of the family became prominent in public affairs -- one having been governor and another a senator. His great-grandfather, John Lawrence, migrated from New York to Virginia, whence he came to Georgia in the latter part of the last century and settled in what is now Hancock county, and raised a large family and there died. There his grandfather, S. J. Lawrence, was born in 1791. He married a Miss Ward, became one of the wealthiest planters in the county, as well as one of the most influential politically. He was an "old- line" whig, represented the county several times in the general assembly, and was elected as a union man to the convention of 1860-61. He died in 1869, aged seventy-eight years. Mr. Lawrence's father was born in Hancock county, and was given a good education. He next attended lectures at and was graduated from Jefferson Medical college, Philadelphia, Pa. After practicing medicine in Hancock county two years he located in Cuthbert, Randolph Co., where he soon afterward married Miss Elizabeth Mitchenell, daughter of W. B. Mitchenell, who was of a South Carolina family. Dr. Lawrence had lived in Cuthbert about six years, had built up a fine practice, and had become so well known and so popular that, in 1845, he was elected to represent Randolph county in the general assembly. While in Milledgeville (then the state capital) in attendance on that body he contracted typhoid fever, of which he died. He was an exemplary mem- ber of the Methodist church and an ardent Mason. Mr. Lawrence now has his father's masonic apron, a valued souvenir, in his possession. His mother, after his father's death, married a gentleman named G. N. King, and is now living near Cuthbert. He lived with his mother until he was twelve years old, when he went to Hancock county to his grandfather Lawrence, who reared and educated him. In May, 1861, he enlisted in Company B, Fifth Georgia regiment, which was ordered to Pensacola, Fla., where it was stationed nine months. There he had an attack of typhoid fever, was discharged, and came home. He afterward en- listed in Company B, Forty-seventh Georgia regiment, and was made second sergeant. This regiment was sent to James island, near Charleston, S. C., where it remained six months. During this period the battle of Secessionville was

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fought, in which the junior first lieutenant was killed, and Mr. Lawrence was elected to fill the vacancy. The regiment was ordered to Vicksburg, Miss., but the city was surrendered before the regiment reached there. After a week's fight- ing around Jackson the command was ordered to East Tennessee. He was in the three days' battle at Chickamauga in which-the captain being absent and he having been promoted to the first lieutenancy-he was in command. He was in Gen. Pope's corps, carricd thirty-eight men into battle, and brought six out. He was in the battles of Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge, was promoted to the captaincy of his company at Dalton, Ga., and was more or less engaged during the entire Atlanta campaign. On arriving at Atlanta the regiment was found to be so badly cut up it was sent to James island again-this time to recruit. That this command had "scen service" and fought desperately is demonstrated by the fact that of 1,300 men in the regiment when it left Vicksburg, only ninety-seven reached Atlanta, and of 107 in Capt. Lawrence's company only thirteen reached Atlanta. On the reorganization of the regiment on James island there was a very warmly contested competitive examination to determine which officers should be retained-in which Capt. Lawrence and his first lieutenant were successful. The new command became Company F, First Georgia regiment. Gen. Sherman was then at Savannah, and Capt. Lawrence's regiment participated in nearly all the engagements from there to Bentonville, N. C. He was paroled in Greensboro, N. C., and arrived home May 25, 1865, having been in the army four years, lacking five days. In January, 1877, he was elected sheriff of the county, and so entirely satisfactory was his service that he has been re-elected continuously since without opposition. During that time he has been in many tight places, having been shot at a number of times, and hit once by a negro, who shot him with a load of buckshot. He absolutely declines a re-election for another term in deference to the dying request of his wife that he should do so for the sake of the children. His geniality and suavity of disposition are remarkable, and these traits, in happy combination with good business qualities and an unquestioned courage, made him the efficient and popular sheriff that he has been. He has a pretty cottage- home in the suburbs of Eatonton, where, surrounded by his family, he is pre- pared to pleasantly pass his declining years. Mr. Lawrence was married in Put- nam county, Sept. 15, 1864, to Miss Sadie E. Pearson, born and reared in the county, daughter of Judge Samuel Pearson, a member of one of Putnam county's pioneer families. This union was blessed with seven children: D. P., died at the age of twenty-seven years; S. R., Jr., school teacher, Sumter county, Ga .; L. G., Eatonton, Ga .; Elizabeth, graduate of Wesleyan Female college, Macon, Ga., 1894; W. S., at home; S. J., at home, and Sarah E., at home. The two oldest boys were graduates of Emory college, Oxford, Ga., and D. P., the first-born, is spoken of as a young man of unusual merit and promise, the shock of whose death the mother never recovered from. She died Oct. 23, 1893, a few months after the death of the son on whom both parents doted. Mr. Lawrence is a master Mason and a devoted member of the Methodist church.

THOMAS G. LAWSON. Among old Putnam's distinguished citizens is the present honorable representative in the national congress for the eighth con- gressional district, a man of marked individuality and a personality which attracts the best men in all parties. Thomas G. Lawson is the son of Reese and Elizabeth (Keaton) Lawson, and was born in the county where he has passed his lifetime in May of 1835. The Lawsons settled in Hancock county, Ga., from Virginia after the revolutionary war. Here the grandfather of the above gentleman, David Lawson, was born and rcared to manhood. He married a Miss Reese, and set-

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tling in the northeastern portion of Putnam county, reared a family of five chil- dren, Reese Lawson being the eldest son. To the marriage of the latter were born but two sons, Thomas G. and Reese. The last named went to Texas before the war, and enlisting in one of the famous cavalry companies of that state, was killed while bravely doing his duty at the battle of Shiloh. Putnam county has always been noted for her wealthy and cultured people. This was particularly true of her for the two decades preceding the war, when there lived within her borders a people of the highest refinement and the broadest culture. Among this people Thomas G. Lawson came to manhood, receiving a good academic educa- tion, which was later supplemented by a course at Mercer university, where he was graduated in 1855. Choosing the law for a profession, he became a student in the office of ex-Judge of the Supreme Court Starnes, at Augusta, and was admitted to the bar there in 1856. Returning to his boyhood home, he began the practice in partnership with Capt. Richard T. Davis. Success attended his efforts, and as years added to his experience, he built up a reputation which refused to be compassed by the narrow bounds of his own judicial district, but passed to a state-wide significance, and for many years before his retirement from active practice in 1890 Judge Lawson was regarded as a power both as a coun- selor and before a jury. The public life of Judge Lawson has been both useful and varied. He represented his county in the legislature from 1861 to 1865 and again in 1888 and 1889. He was a delegate to the constitutional convention of 1877. In 1878 he was made judge of the superior court of Ocmulgee circuit and served for two terms of four years each. In 1890 he was the choice of his party to meet the rising tide of populism in his district, and after a spirited canvass was triumphantly elected. Again in 1892 and 1894 he defeated his populist opponent by a good round majority, though it was confidently predicted that every member of the Georgia delegation would be retired to private life. The brief limits of this sketch will not admit of a detailed account of the service of Judge Lawson in the halls of congress. Suffice it to say that his sound financial views and his devotion to the democratic party mark him as a safe man-a man to be trusted by the people. In November of 1860 Judge Lawson was married to Miss Mary F. Reid, a member of an old and prominent family, whose history will be given under the sketch of Capt. John S. Reid, found elsewhere in this volume.

K. D. LITTLE, planter, Spivey, Putnam Co., Ga., son of Kinchen and Christine (Stinson) Little, was born in Putnam county, Feb. 16, 1830. His paternal grandfather, Abram Little, was born and raised in North Carolina, and when a young man came to Georgia and settled in Burke county. He afterward moved to Baldwin county, followed the life of a planter and raised a family of two sons and two daughters, and there he died. Mr. Little's father was born and reared in Baldwin county, but married his wife in Putnam county, whose family (Stinson) came to the county in 1807, when it was organized. They lived and died on the plantation where Mr. Little now lives, and raised eleven children, all attaining to maturity: William F., deceased; L. L., deceased: Ann C., deceased; S. D., deceased; James, killed near Richmond, during the Seven Days' fight; K. D., the subject of this sketch; A. A., deceased; M. E., wife of J. J. Lawrence, Atlanta, Ga .; F. M., planter, Hancock county; S. H., deceased; A. F., killed in the battle of Kennesaw Mountain. He died in April, 1865, aged seventy-five, and his wife died in 1875, at about the same age. He was an industrious and energetic, and hard-working man, took no interest in politics and when the war began was one of the wealthiest men in the county. Mr. Little has lived all his life in Putnam county, and been engaged in planting; has never cared much for politics, or

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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 107

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