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 121

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 121

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819

RICHMOND COUNTY SKETCHES.

SEYMOUR MURRAY WHITNEY, cotton factor of Augusta, Ga., was born in the township of Philadelphia, New York, in 1829, receiving his educational advantages in the common and high schools of his native district. In 1858, he removed to Elbert county, Ga., and engaged in teaching school. In the autumn of 1861, he enlisted in the Fifteenth Georgia regiment, Toombs' brigade, Confed- erate States army, serving in the quartermaster's department throughout that memorable struggle and received promotion to the rank of major, though he never received a commission as such. He was captured at Sharpsburg, and when it became known among the soldiers of the Union army that he was born north of Mason and Dixon's line strong inducements were offered him to abandon the cause of the south, but he steadfastly refused every offer with scorn, and after being duly paroled ten days later, returned to his regiment. After the war had closed, he returned to his home in Elbert county, Ga., and engaged in the gen- eral merchandise business, which was continued until his removal to the city of Augusta, in August, 1868. One of the oldest and best known houses in Augusta is that now conducted under the sole auspices of S. M. Whitney, cotton factor. This business was originally founded in 1868, as S. Franklin & Co., and in 1870 the firm title became Franklin, Read & Co. In 1873 another change transpired, this time to Franklin & Whitney. Since 1876 Mr. Whitney has con- ducted the business alone. Mr. Whitney, however, has been connected with the enterprise from its inception, having been a member of the original firm of S. Franklin & Co. The business is one of the two oldest established cotton houses in Augusta, and is therefore a pioneer in the important trade since developed in that line in the city. Mr. Whitney handles annually between 15,000 and 20,000 bales of the fleecy staple, and his long experience and complete familiarity with the business, together with his standing in the community, assures consignors that their interests will be considered in every available manner. Though not engaged in agricultural pursuits, Mr. Whitney owns the old homestead in Philadelphia, N. Y., besides tracts of land in Georgia and South Carolina, which he rents to crop- pers. He takes no active interest in political affairs and affiliates with the Pres- byterian church. He was married in Atlanta, Ga., in 1868, to Sallie J., daughter of Maj. C. M. Barry of that city. That union has proved a very happy one, and has been blessed by the birth of seven children, viz .: Bessie, Grace, Charles E., Frank E., Eddy R., Alexander B., George W., and John B. The father of Maj. Whitney was Erastus, a native of the state of New York. He died after a long and useful life, beloved by all who knew him.

DR. THOMAS R. WRIGHT, dean of the medical department of the university of Georgia, was born in Augusta, Ga., July II, 1855. He was reared and received his education in Augusta, principally at the academy of Richmond county. He entered the medical college of Georgia, medical department of the university of Georgia, in 1873, graduating in March, 1876, afterward taking post-graduate courses in the medical department of Harvard university, and at Bellevue Medical college and the medical department of the university of New York. In 1877 he was made assistant demonstrator of anatomy in the medical department of the university, afterward becoming demonstrator, then professor of anatomy and clinical surgery, and later on professor of operative and clinical sur- gery. In April, 1894, he was elected by the faculty to be their dean, which posi- tion he still holds. He is a member of the State Medical association and of the Augusta Academy of Medicine.

ROYKIN WRIGHT, ex-solicitor-general of the Augusta circuit, was born in Newton county, Ga., May 20, 1852, and was reared and received his primary education in the county of his birth. He entered Emory college, Oxford, Ga., in

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MEMOIRS OF GEORGIA.

1869, attended that institution three years, and was graduated from the university of Georgia, at Athens, in 1875, with the degree of Bachelor of Law. Immediately after his graduation, he was admitted to the bar in Newton county, thence moving to the city of Augusta, where he has since practiced his profession. Such was his advancement at the bar that, in 1880, he was elected by the general assembly of Georgia to the position of solicitor-general of the Augusta circuit, ably serv- ing in that capacity for twelve years. Mr. Wright has extensive business inter- ests in the city of Augusta, being a director of the Enterprise Manufacturing company. He is a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church south, and is an influential and valued factor in the lay service of that body.

ROCKDALE COUNTY.

H. V. HARDWICK, a leading and progressive citizen of Conyers, Rockdale Co., Ga., was born in Jasper county, July 14, 1836. The Hardwicks have the distinction of being descended from a noble English family, Mr. Hardwick's great-grandfather having been a member of the house of lords during the reign of the choleric King George III. Just before the war for independence he was sent to America as a committee of one, to note and report the condition of affairs, with such recommendations as he thought necessary to the interest of England. It does not appear whether he himself was friendly to the colonists. He brought along on the trip, however, three boys: Garland, George and William, the latter of whom concluded to remain in this land of freedom. He married a Miss Parker, daughter of his father's family physician, and became the progenitor of the Hard- wick family in America. He settled in Washington county, Ga., just before the revolutionary war, in which he served during the entire seven years on the patriot side. For this he was disinherited and left to the consequences of his choice. William Hardwick had six sons: Garland, George, Charles, Robert, Willianı, and John W. With this family he moved to Jasper county in about 1790, where he died a few years later. John W., his youngest son, married Miss Mary Rivers Nally, an orphan girl who had lost her father before she was born, and her mother immediately after. She, however, fell into good hands, Judge Hines Holt having been appointed her guardian, and who gave her every opportunity her means would allow. She became a woman of rare ability and exalted piety. She was a sister of the Rev. Richmond Nally, whose tragic and touching death occurred while on a missionary tour to the early settlers of Louisiana. One bit- ter cold day, while crossing a swollen stream, he became separated from his horse, and though reaching the bank in safety, got lost, and was found the next morning frozen to death at the foot of a tree, where he had knelt in prayer. Mr. and Mrs. John Hardwick became the parents of seven children, and after a useful life, died in Jasper county. The gentleman whose name heads this sketch was the third son of this marriage. He was reared on the farm and on account of the financial embarrassment of his father had to depend on his own efforts for an education. Naturally of a retentive mind, and with a love for books, he made rapid progress, and was a matriculate of the university of Georgia, when the civil war put a stop to his further progress in that line. He left school and joined the army, serving in the ranks till after the seven days' fight before Richmond, when

821

SCHLEY COUNTY SKETCHES.

he was taken very sick and sent home to die. Recovering his healtlı, he again reported for duty, and was given a detail in the quartermaster's department, and was sent to the army of the west. His duties were arduous and dangerous, and he experienced many narrow escapes from the cnemy. The close of the war found Mr. Hardwick almost penniless, but nothing daunted, he began the study of medicine and dentistry. He soon entered the active practice of the latter pro- fession, which he continued for fifteen years with excellent financial success. Since 1891 he has been engaged in handling fertilizers and in farming, in both of which he has been quite successful. Mr. Hardwick married Miss Minnie Ward in 1867, she being the daughter of Maj. P. Z. Ward, of Henry county. She went to her reward in 1883, leaving four children. In 1884 Mr. Hardwick again entered the matrimonial state, being joined to Miss Kate Mallette of Thomasville, Ga., and who has borne him four children. In politics Mr. Hardwick is a stanch democrat, ever ready to help a friend, but asking nothing for himself. As a citizen he is true to every principle of right, and is ever ready to help advance the public good. He has been an earnest and zcalous Methodist since his youth, and has filled all the offices of his church open to laymen-has been a delegate frequently to the district and annual conferences, and has served as Sunday school superin- tendent for thirty years. He is a strong and vigorous writer and may yet be heard from through the public press, as he has several manuscripts incomplete that will make books of interest and profit.

SCHLEY COUNTY.

FRANK M. DEVANE, planter, Schley county, Ga., son of John and Eliza (Sel- lers) Devane, was born in Schley county, Jan. 15, 1844. His father was the sor of William Devane, a North Carolina planter, and was born and raised in that state. When a young man he came to Georgia and settled in Schley county, married, reared his family and endcd his days there. During the war he was a member of Company B (Capt. French), Seventeenth Georgia regiment. Mr. Devane was reared on the plantation, and received only a limited education. He enlisted in Company B, Seventeenth Georgia regiment, early in the war and among other battles was in those fought in the Wilderness and at Gettysburg, and surrendered at Appomattox. He was so fortunate as to escape with only some slight wounds. After the war he returned to his plantation-containing 400 acres -- where he is enjoying life. Mr. Devane was married in Schley county, June 3, 1867, to Miss Polly Ann Wall, daughter of Austin Wall, a prominent planter of Schley county. He is a member of the farmers' alliance, a populist, politically, and himself and wife are members of the Methodist church.

GEORGE C. DYERS, planter, Schley county, Ga., was born in Macon county, Ga., Aug. 6, 1839. His grandfather, Thomas Dyers, was a large planter of Monroe county, where our subject's father was born and raised. In 1863 he moved to Macon county, where he died the same year. George C. Dyers was reared on the plantation and received but limited education. At the beginning of the war he enlisted in Company B, Capt. French, Seventeenth Georgia regiment; was in

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MEMOIRS OF GEORGIA.

active service and engaged in many important battles until the battle of Malvern Hill in 1862. In that battle he was so severely wounded as to be completely disabled for further service, and from which he has never recovered. He has a good plantation of 400 acres, where he enjoys the fruits of his labor. Unambitious of wealth, or of office, he is content with such prosperity as comes from his daily toil and propitious seasons. Mr. Dyers was married in 1864 to Miss Margaret Peters, a daughter of Levis M. Peters, a planter of Macon county, who, himself, served in the state militia during the war. Of the children born to them four are living: Lena, wife of Joseph English, planter, Macon county; Anna, wife of Augustus Johnson, planter, Sumter county, Ga .; Henry and Eunice. Mr. Dyers is a democrat, and a member of the Primitive Baptist church.

HARDY H. PHILLIPS, planter, Schley county, Ga., was born in Randolph county, Ga., Dec. 10, 1850. His grandfather, Elijah Phillips, was an early settler of Georgia, a practical farmer, a soldier in the patriot army during the revolutionary war, and a Primitive Baptist minister. His father, Trussa Phillips, was a plain, hard-working farmer in Randolph county, but moved to Macon county, where, when Mr. Phillips was only six years old, both parents died. He was then bound out to Capt. Kinsey, from whom he received such harsh treatment that, when fourteen years old, he ran away from him and came to Schley county. Here he hired himself out for a year under an agreement that he was to work a portion of the year and go to school the remainder. The next year he went to work at the carpenter's trede, and continued at it until he married. Mr. Phillips was married Dec. 14, 1871, to Julia Ann, daughter of G. W. Marshall, a planter of Schley county. He and his wife then began life on a rented farm. By constant work and close economy they made and saved up by 1881 money enough to buy the fine 400-acre farm which has since been their home. Of the children born to them there are living: Jane, Rebecca, Eliza, George, and Trussa. Mr. Phillips and his wife are devoted Christians, and for the last three years Mr. Phillips has been in the ministry. He is a useful and highly esteemed member of the community in which he lives.

STINSON J. REES, planter, La Crosse, Schley Co., Ga., son of Joel and Carrie (Mahone) Rees, was born in Schley county, Feb. 18, 1857. His paternal grandparents were Joel and Anna (Stinson) Rees, and his grandfather was a soldier in the patriot army during the revolutionary war. His father was born in Putnam county, Ga., but when he was small his parents removed to Alabama, whence, about 1837, they returned to Georgia. They lived there until 1856, when, having a large number of slaves, his father bought and settled a large plantation in Schley county. He enlisted as a private in the Twelfth Georgia regiment, and went to the front; was promoted to first lieutenant, served through the war, and contracted a disease of which, finally, he died. His maternal grandfather was Peter H. Mahone, a rich Talbot county planter, and proprietor and landlord of the Mahone house, Talbot- ton, Ga. He was a soldier in the Seminole war. Mr. Rees received a good edu- cation; when a young man taught school, including four years in Florida. He has a large, fine plantation, and is a prosperous planter of the progressive type. He was married Aug. 14, 1889, to Miss Mollie, daughter of James and Bettie (Duncan) Cox. Her father was a native Georgian and a large planter. He en- listed and lost his life in the late war. Mrs. Rees received a classical education, and is a lady of varied and many accomplishments, a graduate of the celebrated Lebanon college, Ohio. She is one of the leading instructors of Schley county, and the popular principal of the La Crosse schools. One child only, James S., has blessed this union.

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SCHLEY COUNTY SKETCHES.

HENRY HARRISON SINGLETARY, merchant-planter, La Crosse, Schley Co., Ga., son of Nathan P. and Cassandra (Wright) Singletary, was born in Sumter county, Feb. 4, 1841. His grandfather, Thomas W. Singletary, was a native of South Carolina, came to Georgia when a young man and became identified with the leading planters of Georgia. Mr. Singletary's father was born in Laurens county, Ga., removed to Taliaferro county, Ga., and in 1836 came to Sumter county. Being a skilled mechanic he engaged in various kinds of woodwork, and helped to build a number of boats to run on the Ocmulgee river. Later in life he gave his entire time and attention to his plantation. His only public service was as a justice of the inferior court. Mr. Singletary was raised on the plantation and was educated at the common schools of the county. Early in 1862 he enlisted in Com- pany B, Capt. J. C. Dunlap, Forty-sixth Georgia regiment, as a private, and served through the war. He was in the battles of Missionary Ridge, Chickamauga, Kennesaw Mountain, Jonesboro, Nashville and Franklin. He came home from the war with only a few slight wounds as souvenirs, and without a dollar in the world went to work on a plantation. By close attention, hard work, by enterprise and good management he has forged ahead until he ranks among. the foremost of Schley county's farmers and business men. He has now more than 2,000 acres of choice land, which includes an excellent productive 100-acre peach orchard. In addition to his extensive planting interests he conducts one of the largest general merchandise stores in the county at La Crosse. Enterprising, prosperous and popular, Mr. Singletary has a bright future before him. Mr. Singletary has but two children: Lydia C., and Cattie L., both of whom are graduates of the Southern Female college, La Grange, Ga.

JOHN STEWART, planter, Schley county, Ga., son of Henry and Sophia (Mc- Kinney) Stewart, was born in Schley county Dec. 6, 1851. His paternal grand- father, Randall Stewart, was a native of and a planter in North Carolina, and quite late in life migrated to Georgia. He was a soldier in the patriot army during the revolutionary war, and was also a soldier in the war of 1812. Mr. Stewart's father was born in North Carolina in 1805, came to Georgia when a boy, and finally settled permanently in Schley county, where he became an esteemed citizen and prosperous planter. He was a soldier in the Seminole war. Mr. Stewart was raised on the plantation, and had very limited educational advantages. He has enjoyed average planter prosperity, and now owns 300 acres of land in Schley county, and 200 acres in Taylor county, Ga. Mr. Stewart was married in Decem- ber, 1874, to Miss Martha McCantz, daughter of Jesse McCantz, of Taylor county, who bore him six children: Lillie, Oalie, Annie, two infants, deceased, and John Henry, deceased. The mother of these died in 1887, leaving a husband and those children to mourn the loss of a wife and mother. In October, 1888, he married Miss Rebecca Donnan, daughter of James Donnan, a planter of Marion county. Two children have blessed this union: Robert D., and Nancy E. Mr. Stewart is a member of the Farmers' alliance and a populist in politics. His wife is a devoted member of the Methodist church.

CHARLES A. TAYLOR, planter, Schley county, Ga., son of James N. and Eliza Coleman (Jones) Taylor, was born in Macon county, Ga., March 15, 1835. His paternal grandparents, James L. and Mary Taylor, were natives of Georgia, and the grandfather was a major in the patriot army during the revolutionary war. Mr. Taylor's father was born in what is now Pulaski county, Aug. 22, 1804, where he grew to manhood, and then removed, first to Macon county, and afterward, in 1859, to Schley county, where he raised his family, consisting of eight children: Mary A. E., Charles A., Artie C., Julia F., James N., John J., Anna C., and Philip

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MEMOIRS OF GEORGIA.

E., dying in 1865. Mr. Taylor, like his father, was raised a farmer, and received a collegiate education. Early in the war he enlisted in the Macon county volun- teers, Capt. Prothro, which afterward became Company I, Fourth Georgia regi- ment. (With this company Phil Cook went into the service as second sergeant, became Brig .- Gen. Phil Cook, of the Confederate army, and died in 1894 as secre- tary of state of Georgia.) Mr. Taylor was in the battles of Chancellorsville-where he was wounded severely-Fredericksburg, Malvern Hill and Spottsylvania court house. At this last-named battle he received some very serious wounds, was taken prisoner and sent to Washington. Here he was imprisoned until March, 1865, when he was exchanged and returned to his father's plantation in Schley county. Soon after reaching home he had to undergo a surgical operation, the removal of five or six inches of bone from the left arm. Mr. Taylor was married Oct. 17, 1867, to Miss Antoinette Hart, by whom he had six children: James N., deceased; Mary E., Nettie R., Lizzie L., Charlie E., and Artie C. Their mother died in August, 1885. In December, 1889, he married Sarah Alice, daughter of John S. and Mary H. Smith. Mr. Smith is a large planter, and a veteran of the late war. By this marriage he has had three children: Annie Alice, Mary H., and Finis E. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor are members of the Methodist church, and he is a master Mason.

SCREVEN COUNTY.

W. C. BOWIE, physician, Buck Creek P. O., was born in Screven county, Ga., in 1827, He is the son of James W. and Mary B. (Campbell) Bowie, now deceased. The father was born near Charleston, S. C., and took up a farm in Screven county, Ga., about 1800. He was a member of the M. E. church, and a soldier in the war of 1812. He died in 1852. He left a family of children, of whom those now living are: Sarah, married to James D. Wade, of Brooks county; A. J., who lives with Dr. Bowie; Mary, wife of William P. Wade, of Quitman, and Martha, now wife of L. L. Miller, Bulloch county. Dr. Bowie's mother was a daughter of William Campbell, of South Carolina. He was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools of the county, and in 1846 began reading medicine under Dr. T. S. Mims. He received his diploma in 1848 and located in Screven county, where he has since continued his profession. In 1851 he was married to Lucy Virginia Humphreys, daughter of Curtis Humphreys and Mary B. (Best) Humphreys. Mr. Humphreys was a native of South Carolina, came to Georgia, and was an influential politician of Screven county, having represented his district in the state senate, and for several years was ordinary of said county. To Dr. and Mrs. Bowie were born four children, all of whom are now living. The eldest, Dr. J. W. Bowie, is a physician of Emanuel county; the first daughter, Belle (Bowie) Black, is the widow of Thomas J. Black; Gabriella is the wife of W. C. Thomas, Sylvania, and Zuline, the third daughter, married Dr. B. R. Saxton, who resides in Valdosta. Mrs. Bowie was born in Barnwell county, S. C., 1828. Dr. and Mrs. Bowie are both members of the Methodist Episcopal church, south. Dr. Bowie is a mason of high degree, has a large practice, and is one of the ranking physi- cians of the county. He owns a fine farm of 2,000 acres near Buck Creek P. O.

J. H. DANIEL, merchant, Millen, was born in Burke county in 1831, and is the son of Zack and Lydia (Griffin) Daniel. His father was a native of, and followed farming all his life in Burke county, and his grandfather, a native of

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SCREVEN COUNTY SKETCHES.

North Carolina, first settled in Burke county about 1800. The parents of the mother of Mr. Daniel were born in South Carolina, and moving to Georgia, died in this state. He was educated at the public schools and in 1858 married Mary H. Gray, daughter of Robert H. Gray. Mr. Gray was born in Columbia, S. C., and moved to Waynesboro, Ga. He was tax receiver for a number of years and afterward moved to Millen, where he died in 1870. To this union were born four children, now living: Robert G., engaged in business with his father, now in England; James H., also in business with his father; and Grover Stanley. The mother was born in Waynesboro in 1840. They are both active members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and he is a member of the masonic fraternity. In 1855 he was made tax receiver of Burke county and held the office two years. He was then employed as a mail clerk for two years and was then promoted to conductor, and afterward became a railroad agent at Millen. He also established a general mercantile business in 1876, which has since been continued. He is a partner in the firm of Daniel Sons & Palmer, and owns large farming interests in both Burke and Screven counties. Mr. Daniel has about 20,000 acres of land, a large number being in cultivation, in tilling which he runs about 130 plows; his cotton production being about 1,500 bales annually. Mr. Daniels is one of the best business men in Screven county, and handles the reins of his vast interests without any apparent responsibility. He lives in a fine residence near Millen.

H. C. KITTLES, judge of the county court, Sylvania, was born in Screven county in 1842, and is the son of John R. and Clarky A. (Lovett) Kittles. John R. Kittles was born in Screven county and was one of the commissioners who laid off Sylvania. He was also a member of the legislature and a strong whig in politics. He was a son of Peter and Sarah (Williamson) Kittles. Peter Kittles was a revolutionary soldier under Gen. Marion and settled in Georgia after the war. The mother of Judge Kittles was a daughter of Fens Lovett, a native of Screven county and a wealthy farmer. Judge Kittles was reared on the farm and in August, 1861, enlisted in the Ogeechee Rifles, which was afterward Company K, Capt. A. J. Williams, Twenty-fifth Georgia regiment, who was promoted to lieutenant-colonel and killed at the battle of Chickamauga. He was afterward transferred to Company A, First battalion Georgia sharpshooters, and was at the important battles of Ft. McAllister, Jackson, Miss., and Chickamauga and Resaca, Ga. At the latter place he was captured and sent to Rock Island prison, and remained there until the war closed. Judge Kittles read law under Gen. A. R. (Ranse) Wright and was admitted to the bar in Augusta, Ga., in June, 1870; since that he has practiced law and been a planter in Screven county. In 1876 he married Eva P. McCall, daughter of M. N. and Catherine (Porter) McCall. Mr. McCall was born and died in Screven county. He was a soldier in the Indian war, and was also a member of the Georgia legislature for a number of years. He preached in the Baptist chuch for sixty years and died at the age of ninety-seven. He had six sons in the Confederate army. They were as follows: Philip G .; Moses N., captain of the Screven troop of Fifth Georgia cavalry; Thomas K., first lieutenant Fifth Georgia cavalry, and killed near Marietta while serving on Gen. Anderson's staff; Charles P .; Daniel T., now a leading physician of Rome, Ga .; and William C., a Baptist minister and in charge of Orangeburg church, South Carolina. George, another son, did not serve in the war, and is now living in Macon and is a Baptist minister. To the union of Judge Kittles and wife have been born four children, now living: William H., Peter R., Catherine L. and Mamie L. The mother was born in Screven county. They are both members of the Baptist church, and he is superintendent of the Sunday school. In 1893 he

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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 121

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