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 108

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 108

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PUTNAM COUNTY SKETCHES.

sought political position. He owns a plantation of 1,840 acres on the Oconee river, directly east of Eatonton. Mr. Little was married in 1864, in Columbus, Ga., to Miss Elizabeth J., daughter of Carlyle P. B. and Margaret (Little) Martin. Mr. Martin was a school teacher and moved about considerably; but his daughter was raised and has lived in Georgia. To them have been born six children: Charles E., a graduate and now one of the faculty of Peabody Normal school, Nashville, Tenn., a young man of brilliant promise in his chosen profession; M. C., wife of A. J. Avery, Sparta, Ga .; L. F., Putnam county, Ga .; G. B., machine draughtsman, Dayton, O .; Ada T., at home; and Forester B., at home. Mr. Little ranks high in his community as a successful planter, and as a man of probity of character; and he looks forward to a bright future for his young professor-son. He is a democrat and a Methodist-a steward of his local church.

JAMES A. MERIWETHER, deceased, ex-congressman, ex-judge of superior court, and ex-member of general assembly of Georgia, son of James and Susanna (Hatcher) Meriwether, was born in Louisville, Jefferson Co., Ga., in 1806. His father was a son of James and Mary (Weaver) Meriwether, and was a native of Wales, whence he, with two brothers, came to America just before the revolutionary war and settled in Virginia. After the war he came to Georgia and settled as a merchant in Louisville, where he raised two sons and several daughters. The following brief sketch is copied from an old publication: "James volunteered at the commencement of the revolutionary war when a youth of seventeen. He continued to serve to the end of the war with great distinction; first as a militiaman in what was called the 'silk stocking' company of Richmond, and afterward as captain in the Virginia continental line. At the close of the war he settled in Georgia, where he married Susanna Hatcher. He was secretary of the executive department, comptroller-general, and held other offices of high trust continuously for twenty years. He had two sons, one ordinary of Dooly county, and James A., a man of education, talent and integrity-judge of the superior court, a member of congress, frequently a member of the house of representatives." James A. Meriwether was liberally educated and graduated from the state university at Athens. He was married to Miss Rebecca McKigney, a lady of Scotch descent, by whom he had twelve children, most of whom reached maturity: Susan M., wife of William Young, Eatonton; Mary L., deceased wife of James Lawrence; William A., civil engineer, died in Louisiana during the war; Martha E., died in infancy; Clementina, died in childhood; James A., went to Texas; Robert, Una, Tenn .; Thomas, planter, Putnam county; Caroline, wife of James Hines, Macon, Ga .; Valeria, deceased wife of Capt. Thomas Henley, Hawkinsville, Ga.

REUBEN B. NISBET, physician and surgeon, Eatonton, Putnam Co., Ga., son of Judge Eugenius A. Nisbet, formerly of Macon, Ga., was born in Madison, Morgan Co., Ga., Feb. 6, 1830. Dr. Nisbet will be recognized at once as a member of one of the most distinguished families in middle Georgia. His father, especially (Judge Nisbet, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in these Memoirs), was conspicuously prominent for a generation in the politics and jurisprudence of the state, in the general assembly of the state, in congress and on the supreme court bench. Dr. Nisbet was mostly raised in the city of Macon, and there he received his preparatory education; after which he entered and was graduated from Oglethorpe university. He next attended a course of lectures at Jefferson Medical college, Philadelphia, Penn., and afterward attended the medical college of Georgia, Augusta, from which he graduated. After practicing

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MEMOIRS OF GEORGIA.

awhile at Macon le removed to Eatonton, where he permanently located. He has been twice married, and has raised a number of children, one of whom is his partner in his practice. In 1861 he entered the Confederate service as captain of the "Brown Rifles," which afterward became Company B, Third Georgia regi- ment. He was with that command in North Carolina and Virginia, and in all the battles when fit for duty, in which it participated. He was first wounded at the battle of Malvern Hill, and afterward when in command of the regiment- having been promoted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel-at Sharpsburg. In this battle he received several severe wounds and was captured. For ten months after he was exchanged he was a great sufferer from these wounds, but as soon as he was sufficiently recovered he returned to his command in Virginia, with which he remained until May, 1864. Having been elected to represent the Twenty- eighth senatorial district in the general assembly he returned home to assume its duties. He was thus serving when Gen. Sherman was on his "march to the sea." From the legislative halls he was transferred to the command of a force sent from Augusta to Savannah, during which he had several desperate encounters with the Federal forces on the line of the Charleston & Savannah railway; but was finally placed in the trenches around Savannah. When the Confederates evacu- ated Savannah Col. Nisbet crossed the river with his command, which had been ordered back to Augusta. There he received orders to join Gen. Lee's army at Richmond, but before he reached his destination Gen. Lee had surrendered. Like all citizens along the line of Sherman's devastating march, Col. Nisbet was a great sufferer; but, going to work with his characteristic energy, he regained his foothold and reinstated himself professionally, politically and financially. He has been too closely confined to his extensive practice to give much attention to politics, yet has sustained the reputation of the family in faithfully performing the duties of unsought positions. As an old soldier, and backed by that element, he was active and successful in ridding the county of the pestiferous carpet-bag domination which prevailed just after the war. Under his lead the race problem has given Putnam county no further trouble. He was elected a member of the constitutional convention of 1877, and was the author of that provision which gave the election of the state house officers and of the attorney-general to the people. He has been a member of numerous party conventions, and of the state democratic executive committee. He was a Hancock elector for the Sixth congressional district; and when, afterward, his county presented his name as a candidate for congressional honors, he declined. He is now serving as a member of the board of trustees of the insane asylum. His prominence in public affairs and his extensive acquaintance with public men, causes him to be consulted in regard to the policy and the plans to be pursued by his party. Dr. Nisbet has been twice married; first, March 15, 1853, to Miss Martha A. (nee Dennis) Grimes. Of the children born to him by this marriage, two are living: Dr. Dennis A. Nisbet, aged forty years; and Filiola, aged twenty-five years. His second marriage was to Miss Martha A. Dennis, by whom he has had one child, a son, Osborn Brevard, aged nineteen years.

JOHN S. REID, planter, Eatonton, Putnam Co., Ga., son of Edmund and Eliza- beth (Terrell) Reid, was born in Putnam count, Dec. 21, 1839. The Reids are of Scotch-Irish descent, and when they came to America settled in Pennsylvania, whence certain members of the family moved to Virginia and North Carolina. Mr. Reid's great-grandfather, Samuel Reid, lived in Iredell county, N. C., where he was a member of the historic committee of public safety, organized before the revolu- tionary war. The latter part of the last century he migrated to Georgia and settled

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PUTNAM COUNTY SKETCHES.

in Hancock county, whence he moved to Putnam county when it was organized, where the family have mostly resided since. He reared three sons: Samuel, who died in Jasper county; William, who died in Macon; and Alexander, who was the grandfather of the subject of this sketch. Mr. Reid's father was the third son of Alexander and Elizabeth (Brewer) Reid, was born in Hancock county in 1802, and came to Putnam county with his father in 1808. The family settled on a plan- tation, still in possession of the family, three miles north of Eatonton. About 1828 he married Elizabeth Terrell, daughter of Richard and Kittie (Butler) Terrell, a Virginia family which came to Georgia early in this century, and which has at- tained to no inconsiderable political prominence. To them eight children were born: Richmond A., captain and quartermaster in the late war, since deceased; James S., planter, Morgan county, Ga., a lieutenant-colonel in the late war; Ann C., wife of Maj. W. A. Wilson, Sumter county, Ga .; Frances M., wife of Hon. Thomas G. Lawson, representative Eighth congressional district in congress; Wil- liam T., farmer, Putnam county, captain in the late war; John S., the subject of this sketch; Edward B., a private in Company G, Twelfth Georgia regiment, killed at battle of McDowell, 1862; and Susan, wife of P. W. Walton, Madison, Ga. He was a plain, practical farmer, of excellent business judgment, was prosperous and accumulated a quite large estate. Though uncaring for political preferment, he was elected to represent the county in the general assembly one term. He was a democrat, but opposed to secession. However, when Georgia seceded he contrib- uted largely of his substance to the Confederate cause. In religion he inclined to the Presbyterian faith. Himself and wife died in 1882-he eighty years of age, and

she about the same. Capt. Reid was raised a planter, and has made that his life occupation. In 1861 he enlisted as second lieutenant, Company B, Third Georgia regiment, which was among the first troops that reached Virginia, and was stationed at the Norfolk navy yard and thereabout for a year. The regiment was then ordered to the army of northern Virginia, and participated in the seven days' fight. Being taken sick he was sent to the rear. In 1862 he was made a captain, and was with the army in the Maryland campaign; was wounded in the right leg at the battle of Sharpsburg, from which he was disabled until the following spring. When the campaign opened he went to his command, accompanied Gen. Lee in the Penn- sylvania campaign, and was severely wounded in the foot on Cemetery Heights at the battle of Gettysburg. His brigade captured the same works, but not being properly supported had to retreat, where Gen. Pickett met with such a bloody repulse the following day. Capt. Reid was left on the field and taken a prisoner. He was sent to a hospital on David's island, remained there about three months, when he was transferred to Johnson's island. He was exchanged just before the close of the war and reached home the day Gen. Lee capitulated. Capt. Reid was also a gallant participant in the battles about Fredericksburg, the Wilderness, and others. In 1886 he was elected to represent Putnam county, and in 1888 was elected to represent the Twenty-eighth senatorial district in the general assembly. Beside his individual holdings, himself and sons own a splendid 1,000-acre planta- tion. Capt. Reid is a prosperous, progressive planter, is very popular, and is so highly esteemed that he could be elected to any office he would accept. Capt. Reid was married in November, 1866, to Miss Louisa, daughter of William and Sarah (Respess) Dennis, by whom he had two sons: Hunter, a practicing dentist in Eatonton, and William Dennis, engaged in teaching. Their mother died Oct. 4, 1879. On Dec. 21, 1880, he was married to Mary, daughter of William and Anna E. (Reese) Johnson, who has borne him no children. He is an active and uncom- promising democrat, and a consistent and influential member of the Methodist church.

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MEMOIRS OF GEORGIA.

I. C. SLADE, "mine host" of the popular "Putnam," Eatonton, Ga., was the son of Daniel and Elizabeth (Trippe) Slade, and was born in Eatonton, June I, 1842. His father, Daniel Slade, was born in Litchfield, Conn., and was a graduate of one of the New England colleges. In response to an invitation he came to Putnam county as a teacher, and followed that profession a number of years. He after- ward engaged in merchandising at Slade's cross-roads with such profitable results that he removed to Eatonton, where he established a fine business, and prospered, and became the leading merchant of that old-time enterprising town. He success- fully conducted his business until he died in 1873. In 1836 Mr. Slade married Miss Trippe, a daughter of John and Betsey (Hunt) Trippe, one of the oldest and best of the old Georgia families, one entirely worthy of all the honors the people of Georgia have delighted to confer upon its members as legislators and judges. To this marriage there were born: Hattie, wife of Stephen B. Marshall, proprietor of the Oconee house, Milledgeville, Ga .; William H., who died of yellow fever while serving in the C. S. A. navy, Oct. 11, 1864; and L. C., the subject of this sketch. Mr. Slade was raised and received a good education in Eatonton, where he has passed most of his life. When the war between the states began he was at that age when the blood is mantling, and the love of adventure strong. In April, 1861, he enlisted in Company B, Third Georgia infantry, and for the first twelve months was stationed at the Norfolk navy yard. From there the command was ordered to join the army of northern Virginia, with which it remained during the war. The record of the Third Georgia is a part of the glorious history, written in blood, of that gallant army. No recapitulation of the bloody battles fought need be made here; it is enough to say that that regiment bore an honorable part in nearly all, and that the subject of this sketch was with his command in its every engagement until it laid down its arms at Appomattox. He entered the service as a soldier in the ranks, he surrendered as first lieutenant. On returning from the war he entered his father's store as a clerk, and continued with him a number of years; and for most of the time since has been engaged in hotel-keeping in Eatonton. In 1888 he took charge of the splendid new Hotel Putnam, which he has conducted with eminent success, and gained for the hotel a wide-spread, enviable reputation. Mr. Slade was married in Eatonton Oct. 22, 1879, to Miss Joccora, daughter of Dr. Slack, a union which has been unblessed with children.

JOSEPH S. TURNER, lawyer, Eatonton, Putnam Co., Ga., son of James S. and Louisa (Dennis) Turner, was born in Putnam county, Dec. 19, 1859. His grandfather, William Turner, was born in Virginia, and when a lad of seventeen came to Georgia with his family early in the century and settled in Putnam county, which has been the home of the family for five generations. His grandfather be- came a prosperous planter and a prominent politician, and represented the county at different times in both branches of the general assembly. He also served for several sessions as clerk of the house of representatives. Politically he was a democrat. Mr. Turner's father was educated at Emory college, Oxford, Ga., and after his graduation read law, was admitted to the bar, and soon rose to professional distinction. He also represented the county a number of terms in the general assembly, and for a number of years conducted with distinguished ability a paper entitled "The Countryman." It was in this office that Joel Chandler Harris, the popular author of the now famous Uncle Remus papers, learned to set type. Mr. Turner raised four children: William, merchant, Eatonton, manager Alliance store; Michael D., Methodist minister, deceased; Lucy B., deceased wife of I. Branham, and Joseph S., the subject of this sketch. He died in 1869, and his wife in 1877. Mr. Turner was educated in the schools at Eatonton, and attended the university of

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Georgia at Athens one year. Being without means to gratify his youthful ambition, he had a hard struggle, but thanks to his persistent courage and recognized solid qualities of character he overcame all obstacles and accomplished his object. He read law alone and in 1879, while still very young, was admitted to the bar. He then practiced a year with S. A. Reid, since which time he has practiced alone. The year he came of age (1880) he received the distinguished honor of being appointed county judge by Gov. Colquitt, a position he held until 1892. That year he was elected to represent Putnam county in the general assembly, in which body, besides being made chairman of the committee on penitentiary, he was placed on several other important committees. He also took a very great and active interest in the establishment of a state reformatory for children, for which he made an earnest and gallant fight. Judge Turner is a man of unflinching moral courage, of great persistency of character, conscientious in the extreme, and as modest as he is courageous and capable. He is one of the most popular citizens in the county, and, being a young man, may be expected to leave his impress on the legislation or judiciary of the state. Judge Turner was married Dec. 15, 1881, to Miss Leila H. Coombs, daughter of William Coombs, of Laurens county, by whom he has had two children: Joseph S., Jr., and Louis C. Judge Turner is a solid democrat, a master Mason and an exemplary member of the Baptist church.

N. S. WALKER, physician and surgeon, Willard, Putnam Co., Ga., son of D. F. and Sophia (Sadler) Walker, was born in Monroe county, Ga., Aug. II, 1830. His paternal grandfather, John Walker, was a native of Virginia, and migrated to Georgia and settled in Greene county about the beginning of the present century. He reared the greater part of his children in that county, and late in life moved to Talbot county, where he died at the age of ninety- four years. He was a veteran of the war of 1812, a leading Methodist, but was never in public life. He was married three times, whereby he became connected with the Brown and Callier families. Dr. Walker's father was the youngest son by his first wife; was raised in Greene county and came to Putnam when a young man, where he married his wife, a daughter of Nathaniel Sadler, who was from North Carolina. He was one of the commissioners who laid off the town of Eatonton, and lived there a number of years. He then moved to Monroe county where he became a prominent and prosperous planter, and was for many years a justice of the inferior court. Late in life he moved into Forsyth county, where he died about 1865, aged 66 years. His wife died some years previously. They reared four children: Frances, who married a Mr. Bootey, and died young; Henrietta, widow of W. T. McDade, Putnam county; Mary, widow of John B. Davis, Dalton, Ga .; and N. S., the subject of this sketch. He was a man of excellent judgment, left a fine estate, and was an ardent working member of the Methodist church. Dr. Walker was reared in Monroe county and educated in Forsyth. When twenty years of age he begun the study of medicine under his uncle, Dr. C. W. Sadler; afterward attended lectures at the university of Kentucky, at Louisville, whence he graduated in 1852. After his graduation he located where he is now, between seven and eight miles west of Eatonton. He served one year during the war as surgeon of the Forty-fourth Georgia regiment. His arduous and exhaustive duties broke him down, and he was discharged for physical disability. He enjoys the distinction of having been the only surgeon to dress a wound for Gen. Robert E. Lee. Gen. Lee was never hurt by a ball, but the circumstances were these: While returning from the first Maryland cam- paign an admiring friend presented a very fine horse to the Confederate comman- der, but untrained to the bustle of army movements. Gen. Lee was standing hold- ing him as some artillery wagons rattled by. Frightened, the animal made a sud-

II-47

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MEMOIRS OF GEORGIA.

den plunge by which the general was thrown violently to the ground and two fingers on his left hand were broken. 'Dr. Walker being near at hand was called in and dressed the wound. Returning home he resumed professional life and has practiced ever since in the neighborhood of Willard, where he has a fine 600-acre plantation and a delightful home. He is liberal, an ardent practical progressionist, and very public spirited. In 1880 he was elected to represent the county in the general assembly, and served one term. He was one of the organizers of the alliance, and in hearty co-operation with Dr. de Jarnette of the alliance store in Eatonton and the bank established in connection with it. He is a prominent and valued member of the board of directors both of the store and bank. Dr. Walker is also a member of the board of trustees of the Girls' Industrial and Normal college at Milledgeville. Dr. Walker, one of the financially solidest citizens of the county is justly proud of his connection with the alliance store and bank, which have been so successful, and with the Girls' college at Milledgeville. Dr. Walker was happily married in 1854 to Miss Maria E. Edwards-reared near their present home-daughter of J. H. Edwards. The following named children have blessed their union: Laura A., wife of W. B. Martin, Putnam county; E. Y., physician, near the old homestead; Ada, wife of J. F. Walker, Monticello, Ga .; A. Sidney, planter, Jasper county; Nannie E., wife of W. E. Rainey, nearby; W. H., at home; Charles W., at home; Hampton C., Eatonton; John F .; and Nathaniel P., at home. Dr. Walker possesses all the characteristics of model citizenship, and stands high professionally. Politically he is a democrat; he is also a master Mason, and is a pillar in the Methodist church.

QUITMAN COUNTY.

M.T. DUSKIN, merchant and farmer, was born in Stewart county, Ga., in 1839. His grandfather, Michael Duskin, was a native of North Carolina, where he married Elizabeth Atkins, the daughter of an old resident of that state. In 1830, with his wife and family of eight children, Michael Duskin came to Georgia and settled in Stewart county, where he lived until 1847, when he went to Florida with his wife and part of the children. He died there about two years later at the age of sixty years. His wife survived him many years and died at the age of eighty-four. The founder of the Georgia branch of the Duskin family was one of the original whigs and was an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church. The oldest of his sons was John L. B. Duskin, who was born in Edge- field district, near Raleigh, N. C., Sept. 30, 1813. He was about sixteen years old when his father came to Georgia, and long before manhood had commenced his successful career as a farmer. In 1838 he married Miss Mary Hardie of Stewart county. She was the daughter of Theophilus Hardie of Washington county, where she was born in 1820. Mr. Duskin was a soldier in the Indian war of 1835-36, and was a man of great influence in the community in which he lived. Like his father and mother, and in fact, all of the Duskin family, he belonged to the Methodist church. He died on his farm, where he had first settled, at the age of sixty-seven. His wife, and the mother of the subject of this sketch, survives him and resides with her children, seven of whom are living: M. T., the sub- ject of this sketch; Sarah Elizabeth Parker; Mary L. Boyett, living near Lump-

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QUITMAN COUNTY SKETCHES.

kin, Stewart Co .; Josie K. Kenyon of Webster county; M. L., living near Lumpkin; Martha E. Thornton, near Columbus, Ga .; John Emory, living in Montgomery, Ala. Those deceased are: W. J., died in the Confederate service in 1864, and Mrs. Argent K. Griffis. Mr. M. T. Duskin lived in Stewart county until 1885, and there received his early education. He now lives on the Lumpkin & Eufaula road, near Georgetown, Quitman Co. He was twenty-two years old when the "war between the states" began, and enlisted at the first call, in Com- pany K, Second Georgia regiment, under command of Capt. J. I. Ball. His first active service was in the seven days' fight around Richmond, thence to Malvern Hill. He was in all the north Virginia campaign, and was wounded in the right leg at the second battle of Manassas. He was confined in the hospital and at home for ten months, but as soon as able, rejoined his command, and was in the battle of Chickamauga, where he received his second wound. He was in Longstreet's corps through the east Tennessee campaign, and was in the battles of the Wilderness and then in the campaign around Richmond. At the time of the surrender he was at home on a furlough. Mr. Duskin was married in 1865 to Mrs. Mariah J. Keith, the daughter of Williamson Perkins, a native of Talbot county, in which county she was born in 1841. Mr. and Mrs. Duskin have one child living: Lena T .; three daughters, Eula F., Ola B., and Mary Eliza, hav- ing died in childhood. Miss Lena, now at home with her parents, is a charming young lady with a talent for music that has been highly cultivated by a thorough training and instruction at the hands of eminent artists. She was educated in the public schools, by private tutors, and at Andrew Female college of Cuthbert, Ga. The family are members of the Methodist church, and Mr. Duskin is steward of the Rocky Mount congregation, and superintendent of the Sunday school. He is a liberal supporter of the church and a strong advocate of thorough education. Mr. Duskin is a thorough, progressive business man and his enterprise is felt by the whole section in which he lives. Beginning a poor boy, he has fought his way to a position in life where he can stop and look back with satisfaction at a most honorable and successful career, achieved by his own individual efforts. In politics he is a democrat.

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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 108

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