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 124

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 124

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CAPT. W. J. MABRY, JR., planter, Richland, Stewart Co., Ga., was born in 1820, in Warren county, N. C. The founder of the family in America was Charles Mabry, an Englishman who in 1717 came to North Carolina from Que- bec, Canada. He had been married to a Miss Gibbs, of Irish descent, and con- nected with an old Quebec family. He was a planter and fought for independence in the patriot army. One of his sons, W. J., born about 1764, was married to. Mary Ann Short, daughter of an old settler in North Carolina. He served with distinction in the war of 1812, and lived in the old Tar Heel state, dying in 1824. His wife survived him and was married the second time to a Miss Baker. They moved to Quebec, where she died in 1876, at the very old age of ninety-six years. She bore to Mr. Mabry the following children: Mrs. Harriet McCartha, de- ceased; L. F., Atlanta; Mrs. Ann Jones, of Carroll county; Mrs. Susan Kidd, of Alabama; Seaborn, deceased, and Capt. W. J., the subject of this sketch. The Mabrys have long been democrats and members of the Methodist church. Capt. W. J. Mabry came to Georgia with his uncle when he was six years old and set- tled in Lincoln county. There he was educated and when the early inhabitants were harassed by the murderous Creek Indians he shouldered a musket and aided in the subjugation of that warring tribe. In 1839 he moved to Stewart county and commenced a farming life that has been continued for over half a century. He entered the Mexican war as a private and was promoted to the rank of captain. He participated in the battles of Matamoras and Monterey, was in a trip to the Rocky mountains to move an Indian tribe and back again, was in the front in the engagements at Tampico, Vera Cruz, Alvorado, Sierra Gordo, Pero, Black Pass, and for six months was in the siege of Mexico. In 1851 he was married to Mary C. Bowers, daughter of Philemon and Mary Ann Bowers, of Stewart county. In the civil war he headed a company, but in Virginia he was put in the quartermaster's department, and was later transferred to the western army with the rank of captain. He was in the first battles in Virginia, at Bethel, first Manassas, Perryville, Ky., Murfreesboro, Tenn., Chickamauga and numer- ous others of smaller importance. After the war he again put his hand to the plow and once more took up the affairs of his farm. Capt. Mabry has five chil- dren: W. W., of Richland; E. N., of Terrell county; T. J. and Philip P. (twins),

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MEMOIRS OF GEORGIA.

at home; Mrs. Mattie, wife of Isom T. Webb, of Stewart county. Mr. W. W. Mabry is a distinguished Baptist divine. Capt. Mabry, though in the last part of the three-quarter-century walk of life, is robust in appearance and enjoying splendid health, with his mental faculties strong and unimpaired. He was a boy when there was no railroad in the state, and was a visitor in the neighborhood of Atlanta when the site of that thriving city could not boast of a single house. He remembers the event of the laying of the first rail on the first railroad in the United States; of the second one, from Charleston to Aiken, S. C., and of the driving of the first spike in the first road in Georgia-from Macon to Forsyth. He was the personal friend of the first engineer to cross the Chattahoochee river -Mr. Watson.

MAJ. T. A. H. MEYER. Identified with Stewart county in its material in- terests and prosperity, and a figure on the pages of the county's war history is Maj. T. A. H. Meyer, Richland, one of its largest farmers and prominent citizens. He was born on Aug. 12, 1822, in Silverton, Barnwell district, S. C., and was the son of Wiley and Ruth (Parker) Meyer, natives respectively of South Carolina and Virginia. Maj. Meyer's father died when he was a child in arms and he was reared under the care of his mother. His mother dying in 1858, he came to Georgia in the spring of 1859, and on Septem- ber 13 was married to Miss Mary Walker, a native of Charleston, S. C., but at that time living in Stewart county. She was the daughter of Alexander Walker, an eminent citizen of Charleston, who married a Miss Canaday, of South Carolina. After marrying Maj. Meyer settled in Augusta, Ga., and engaged in the cotton business. He remained there until October, 1867, when he moved to Americus; lived there until 1874 and then moved to Richland, where he has since lived. In 1871 he commenced merchandising and farming, and continued both until 1889. Maj. Meyer enlisted with the Twenty-second Georgia regiment -Schley rifles-of which he was elected second lieutenant. He was afterward promoted to the rank of captain and was in active service throughout the war. He was in the battles of Warrenton, Antietam, second Manassas and Hagerstown, and was twice wounded. Owing to bad health he was transferred to light duty. Mrs. Meyer, who was an exemplary member of the Methodist church, died Nov. 25, 1883. He was married the second time to Eula Lee Fison, of Randolph county, Ga. Maj. Meyer came to Richland when his store and residence consti- tuted the town which is now a beautiful place of 800 people, with many magnificent brick buildings and fine hotel. Situated as it is at the junction of the S. A. & M. and Southern railroads, its prospects are very bright.

DR. THOMAS B. MILLER. The medical profession of Stewart county for half a century has embraced in its membership a representative of the Miller family. It was first the father who began his practice in 1843, and stood at the head of the early fraternity; then came the son, who to-day enjoys a reputation that promises to bring him the fame of his parent. Dr. Thomas Bright Miller was born in Stewart county, April 14, 1854, and was the son of Dr. Bright Miller and Miss Grace Ann Williams, natives of Washington county, Ga. Dr. Miller, Sr., was a poor boy, and never had six weeks' schooling in his life. But he was born with an unconquerable will and an cnergy to do or die; and the lack of educational advantages did not prevent him from acquiring a thorough in- tellectual training and to equip his mind for the successful professional life which followed. He was born in 1816, in Washington county, Ga., and when eighteen years old moved to Stewart county and opened up a store at Moccasin

STEWART COUNTY SKETCHES.

Gap, now Louvale. But he soon found that his talent directed him to another pursuit in life, and he commenced the study of medicine. He attended a course of lectures at the medical college of Georgia, Augusta, and was graduated from there in 1843. He returned to Stewart county and located at Union P. O. He practiced there for fifteen years and distinguished himself by his signal success in his profession and pecuniary matters. He then removed to Lumpkin, where he continued his practice in connection with a drug store until his death. Dr. Miller was thoroughly devoted to his profession, and all other things were subordinate to this, which explains his fortunate career. Even up to the last days of his life he was a hard student and an industrious, indefatigable worker. His practice was extensive and he was very frequently called to the surrounding counties of Quitman, Randolph, Webster, and Chattahoochee for advice and consultation. He amassed a large fortune. The doctor's ancestors were Irish, and in his active life he possessed all the characteristics of that irrepressible race, as embodied in grit and perseverance. In the civil war he served in the Georgia militia for four months. He was nominated several times to represent the county in the general assembly in both the house and senate, but refused all office, though he always manifested great concern in the welfare of the county and state. Mrs. Dr. Miller was the daughter of Col. Thomas Williams, of Wash- ington county, a large farmer and a prominent democratic politician, who rep- resented that county in the general assembly a number of terms and died during the war. Mr. and Mrs. Dr. Miller were married in 1847, and they had six children born to them, three of whom are living: John Walker, a farmer of Lumpkin; Shelby, a merchant of Columbus; and Dr. Thomas Bright, the sub- ject of this sketch. The deceased children are Fannie, wife of S. S. Everett, Lumpkin; Mrs. Mollie Lee, wife of R. T. Gregory, Columbus, and Joseph. Dr. Miller, Sr., was a member of the Masonic order from the age of twenty-one, and at his demise was buried by them. He died in 1880, and his widow in 1892. He was a democrat, and himself and wife belonged to the Baptist church. Dr. Thomas Bright Miller received his education in the Lumpkin schools, and remained at home until he commenced to read medicine. He attended the medi- cal college of Georgia, Augusta, and was graduated in 1875. He was asso- ciated with his father in the practice for about a year, when he was married to Leah Corrine Cox, of Pineville, Marion county, when he removed to that place and followed his profession for ten years. He returned to Lumpkin in 1885, where he practiced until 1890, when he located in Richland, his present home. Dr. Miller takes much interest in politics, and has served as an alder- man and mayor of Richland, and has been a member of the democratic execu- tive committee for many years. Mrs. Miller is the daughter of William and Sarah (Hall) Cox, of Marion county. Mr. Cox was an extensive farmer and also a big merchant, dying in 1882, aged sixty-three years. Mrs. Cox died in 1861. They had a family of six children, of whom Mrs. Miller is the only one living, Mrs. Cox and five children dying during an epidemic of typhoid fever. Dr. and Mrs. Miller have had four children, of whom two, Willie Bright and Charlie Cox, are now living. In 1882 he attended the female hospital of Phila- delphia for four months, receiving special training in diseases of women.

M. K. MONK, farmer, Lumpkin, Stewart Co., Ga., son of John and Salive (Kendrick) Monk, was born Sept. 15, 1819. His parents were South Caro- linians, and came to Georgia early in this century. His father was an extensive and a very prosperous farmer, was married four times, and raised a family of fifteen children-seven of whom were step-children. Mr. Monk was reared on

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the farm, and received such education as the locality and times afforded. In 1843 he went to Arkansas, but in a short time left there and went to New Orleans, where he enlisted as a volunteer for the Mexican war, through which he served. He then returned to Georgia, and in 1861 he enlisted in the Webster (county) rifles, Capt. D. B. Harrell, and served through the war. After the surrender he came to Stewart county and engaged in farming. In 1867 he moved to Alabama, where he lived and farmed fifteen years. Then he returned to Georgia and settled at Arlington, Calhoun Co., whence, in a short time he went to Ameri- cus, Ga., where he engaged in merchandising two years. Returning to Stewart county he settled down permanently and went to farming, which he has since prosperously pursued. Mr. Monk is one of the oldest citizens in the county, and is living a very retired life in Lumpkin, where he has a nice com- fortable home. Mr. Monk was married March 1, 1859, to Miss Mary, daughter of J. L. Griffis, of Randolph county, a union which has been blessed with two children. He has been a member of the masonic fraternity forty years, and he and his wife are members of the Methodist church-his membership covering fifty-three years.

B. T. RAY, farmer, Sanford, Stewart Co., was born June 20, 1846, in that part of the county which is Quitman county. He was the son of James Ray and Dorothy Bryan, both natives of North Carolina, who came to Georgia after their marriage, and first settled in Macon, about the time of the Indian war of 1835-36. Mr. James Ray once owned a big farm on the site of that thrifty city. These pioneers had a family of eleven sturdy children, of whom only one is dead. After a few years' residence in Bibb and Twiggs counties Mr. Ray moved to Florida, but soon returned to Georgia and settled in Stewart county, where he died in August, 1872, aged sixty-five years. His wife, now about eighty-two years old, still survives him and enjoys excellent health. James Ray was a prominent man of his day, strong in character and bright in mind. The family were strict Baptists, and he was a Mason, and devoted to the teachings and precepts of that fraternity. Mr. B. T. Ray has always lived in Stewart county, and there married his wife, Margaret A. McRee, who was born in Stewart county and was the daughter of W. J. and Mary A. McRee, natives of North Carolina. The McRees were of the Methodist religious faith, and the husband a Mason from early man- hood. Mr. McRee shouldered a gun with the state militia during the war, and lived until December, 1877, when he died in his fifty-eighth year. The wife still lives at the age of sixty-three years. After marriage Mr. Ray settled on the farm where he now lives. They have two grown children: William Davis and Benjamin Leon. Mr. Ray broke away from the denomination of his parents and united with the Methodist church, of which his wife had been a member from her girlhood days. Mr. Ray is one of the stewards of the church and a member of the board of trustees. During the last year of the war Mr. Ray enlisted with the state militia under Capt. Cook, and served in defense of Georgia homes and property.

7. T. SNELLING. Richard J. Snelling, one of the pioneers of that part of the county around what is now Richland, Stewart Co., Ga., came from North Carolina with his family in an ox-cart in the early thirties. He first located on Pataula creek, southwest of Richland, and some few years later he purchased the land upon which Richland is now located, the neighborhood then being familiarly known as Box Ankle. He moved his family there, where he continued to live until his death in 1853 at the age of fifty-six years. In politics he took a very

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STEWART COUNTY SKETCHES.

active part and represented the county in the general assembly several times. He was a man well liked, and by his industry and energy became very wealthy. He was charitable and gave with an open hand to the needy. He was married twice. His first wife died soon after coming to Georgia, having borne him eight children. His second marriage was to Mrs. Walker, nee Canaday, of Charleston, S. C. They had seven children. The children by his first wife were: John D., died in Arkansas, leaving a widow who was the daughter of Dr. Charles Austin, of Richland; Mrs. Frances Beaty, wife of Capt. J. P. Beaty, of Preston; Mrs. Hannah Hines, now living in Texas; Mrs. Elizabeth Richardson, Smithville, Ga .; Mrs. Susan Bell, Americus; William, died in childhood. Mrs. Walker had two children when she married Mr. Snelling. They were Alexander and Mrs. Mary Meyer. By her second marriage she was the mother of the following: Henry Clay Snelling, deceased; Jennie, wife of Andrew Hill, Jesup, Ga .; Mrs. Mattie Purvis, of Pickens county, Ala .; Mrs. Kossuth Ward, of Newnan, Ga .; Z. T., the subject of this sketch; Mrs. Jennie Flecks, of Augusta, and Richard J., deceased. The mother of these children died in 1879. Mr. Richard J. Snelling, Sr., was an unassuming gentleman with fine business ability, and of a gentle, Christian char- acter. He was a lover of the piscatorial art, and greatly enjoyed the sport of fishing. Z. T. Snelling, the fifth child by the second marriage of Richard Snelling, was born in 1848, near Richland, and was just prepared to enter the university of Georgia, Athens, a lad of sixteen years, when his studies were inter- rupted by his enlisting with the state militia, Tenth regiment state troops. He served until the close of the war. His company was commanded by Capt. La Fayette Harp, of Chattahoochee county, and did service against Sherman in his march through the state. Mr. Snelling was first married in 1868, his wife being Kate Smith, of Atlanta, daughter of Col. T. T. Smith. Her mother died when she was a child and she was reared by her grandfather, Mr. Green Hill, of Houston county, and was educated in North Carolina. She died in 1868, shortly after her marriage. Mr. Snelling's second wife was Kate Allums, a native of Cusseta, Chattahoochee county, daughter of Judge Allums, of that county. Mrs. Snelling was the granddaughter of Mark George, of Talbot county, was reared in Cusseta and educated in Talbotton, and is the mother of nine children, as follows: Lelia, wife of I. Jones, living near Richland; Mary, James, Julia, Meyer, Andrew, Annie, Jessie, and Flossie. Mr. Snelling and family are members of the Mission- ary Baptist church, of which he is a deacon. Mr. Snelling's father was a man that stood very high among the people, and was a man of strong character and unflinching integrity. Mr. Snelling is a democrat, and owns a good farm near Richland, upon which he lives in ease and comfort.

D. R. WADE, farmer, Sanford, Stewart Co., Ga., was born in Warren county in 1857, and is the son of J. M. Wade and Isabella Wheeler. When about six years old Mr. Wade's parents moved to Quitman county, remaining there until after the war, when they located in Stewart county. His education was obtained in the schools of these counties, and until he reached his majority he remained on the home farm helping his father. In 1880 he was married to Theodosia Williams of Stewart county, and soon after established a home on the place where . he now lives. His domestic life has been a happy and fortunate one. Of the children born to the parents all are still living. They are: Eula Bell, Robert Lee, Charles Andrew, William Homer Holcomb, and Ellen. Mr. and Mrs. Wade are good Baptists. Mr. Wade, while a leading farmer and popular citizen, takes no special interest in politics, more than to exercise the right of suffrage. He lives on a fine farm near Sanford, Stewart Co.

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Į M. WADE. Among the old families in southwestern Georgia the name of Wade is well known. Hampton T. Wade was the son of one of Georgia's early settlers and was born in Columbia county about 1807. He was married to Elizabeth G. Bolton, the daughter of Matthew Bolton, an old planter of Columbia county. They had two children, J. M. Wade, the subject of this sketch, and Mary Frances. The father died at the age of thirty ycars, and the mother after- ward became the wife of Mr. Joseph Elliott, of Taliaferro county, and lived until 1857, dying aged fifty-four years. Mr. J. M. Wade was born March 20, 1833, in Warren county, and was only three years old when his father died. He lived with his mother until sixteen years old, when he went to the home of his guardian, where he lived to manhood, receiving his education in the Wrightsboro schools. In 1855 he was married to Isabella Wheeler of Warren county, and after a year's residence in that county settled upon a farm in Stewart county, where he now lives. When the civil war broke out he joined his comrades in the rush to the defense of his people, and leaving his young wife and babe enlisted with the Stark guards of Quitman county, Company F, Sixty-first Georgia regiment. He served in the army of northern Virginia, and was in the seven days' fight around Richmond, the second Manassas, Sharpsburg, Petersburg, Gettysburg, where he was wounded, the first and second battles around Fredericksburg, and was in the last struggle at Appomattox, and surrendered with his regiment. When hostilities ceased he returned to his family and again began farming. To Mr. Wade and wife have been born six children-four sons and two daughters. Mr. Wade is an enthusiastic democrat, a high Mason, and with his wife belongs to the Baptist church, being a deacon in his congregation. He is an honorable, upright, industrious citizen, enjoying the respect and confidence of all who know him.

R. F. WATTS. One of the leading lawyers of Georgia is Judge Richard F. Watts, of Lumpkin, Stewart Co., Ga. Previous to the revolutionary war John Watts, a Virginian and the son of a Scotchman, moved his family to Georgia. He was an ardent patriot, and in 1792 was a member of the general assembly of Georgia. He was among the oldest settlers of the state and a man of strong character and much influence. Thomas H. Watts, his son, located in Clay county, was one of the first dozen residents of the county, and lived and died near Ft. Gaines. He was married in Morgan county to Miss Crenshaw, and was engaged in milling. They had eight children, of whom Benjamin Franklin was the eldest. Upon the death of his wife Mr. Thomas H. Watts was married to Elizabeth Garner, of Henry county, Ga., a union blessed by eight children, all girls, Mrs. Antoinette Sawyer, of Lumpkin, being the only one living. He died in 1844, aged seventy-two years. Benjamin F. Watts was born in 1807 in Morgan county, Ga., and was sent to Virginia, where he was educated as a civil and mechanical engineer. In 1833 he was married to Emeline Bryan, of Montgomery county, Ga., immediately after which he built a mill property in Lumber City, Telfair Co., Ga. He served an apprenticeship in ship-building at Gasport navy yard, and was one of the best mechanical engineers of his time. He died in 1847 . at his home at Cordry's (then Watts') Mill, Calhoun Co., Ga. Emeline Bryan, his wife, was a daughter of Clement Bryan, of Johnston county, N. C. The father was the son of Needham Bryan, Jr., of Johnston county, N. C., son of Needham Bryan, Sr., of the same county, who was a son of Needham Bryan, of Bertie county, N. C., a native of the province of Ulster, Ireland. The ancestry on the maternal side was Scotch-Irish. Clement Bryan's wife was Edith Smith, daughter of Col. David Smith, of Cumberland county, N. C. He was a son of Col. Sam Smith of Johnston county, N. C., who was born in 1709, and came over with

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STEWART COUNTY SKETCHES.

several Scotch families to Cross Creek, now Fayetteville, a colony established by Neil McNeil. Samuel Smith married the daughter of Bryan Whitfield of Lenoir county, N. C. Mr. Bryan Whitfield was the son of William Whitfield, who came from Nansemond county, Va., and married a daughter of the first and eldest Needham Bryan. Needham Bryan, Jr., married Sarah, daughter of Col. John Hinton, Wake county, N. C. Needham Bryan, Sr., married a daughter of Col. John Smith, of Johnston county, who was a brother of Col. Sam Smith, of the same county. Clement Bryan was killed during the Indian war-on his plantation in Randolph county-the battle ground of Ich-a-way (Noch-a-way). All the Bryan family were soldiers in the Creek Indian war. To Benjamin F. Watts and

wife were born: John Whitfield; William B .; Thomas B .; Richard F., the subject of this sketch; and Emeline C. Only the last two are now living; Miss Watts is living in Texas. Mrs. Benjamin F. Watts died in 1846 and her husband in 1847. Richard F. Watts was born May 3, 1841. He was very young when his parents died and was reared by his uncle, Loverd Bryan, of Stewart county. He was delicate for many years previous to reaching his majority, and on account of this was sent to Florida, where he obtained his education. He was among the very first to volunteer in the Confederate army, and served throughout the war as a private. After the surrender he returned to Stewart county and commenced the study of law, and was admitted to the bar in 1866. He was married the same year to Virginia T., daughter of E. F. Kirksey, who is still living, and who was originally from Mecklenburg county, N. C. Mrs. Watts' grandfather, Jared Irwin, Jr., was killed by the Indians in the Creek war. In 1868 Judge Watts was elected ordinary; and in 1882-83, and again in 1886-87, represented Stewart county in the general assembly. In 1888 he was appointed by Gov. Gordon as one of the trustees of the lunatic asylum, and reappointed twice by Gov. Northen. Mr. and Mrs. Watts are members of the Methodist church, and Judge Watts is pron- inently identified with the I. O. O. F. They have three children: Benjamin Hinton, at present school commissioner of the county; Richard F., Jr., and Helen. Judge Watts enjoys a large practice, both in the state and federal courts.

GEORGE W. WILLIFORD, farmer, Omaha, Ga., was born Nov. 28, 1826, in Warren county, Ga., and is the son of Benjamin C. and Charity (Cobb) Williford, natives of North Carolina. Benjamin C. Williford left his native state in 1826 and settled in Warren county, Ga. He lived there ten years, and then removed to Pulaski county, afterward to Monroe, and thence to Crawford county, where he died in 1833. His wife survived him, dying in 1850. By this union twelve children were born, only two of whom are living: Mrs. Mary Bailey, of Alabama, and Mr. George W. Williford, the subject of this sketch. The latter was only seven years old when his father died and when a mere youth was compelled to go to work to help support his mother and himself. His first earn- ings were $1 a month, not a munificent sum, but to the brave lad was sufficient to encourage him in his industrious habits, and well prepare him for the busy life that followed. When about twenty-one years old he moved to Stewart county, where he met and wedded Susan Bullard. This marriage was blessed by ten children, eight of whom are still living. Mrs. Williford died in 1871, and the husband was married the second time, in 1873, to Jennie Cowan, a native and resident of Stewart county. To this union were born ten children, six of whom are still living. The children by the first marriage now living are: Antoinette S., wife of J. B. Collins, of Mitchell county; Mary T., wife of W. J. Carter, of Florence; L. C., W. B., M. C., B. W., W. M., and Minnie Powell, wife of H. M. Powell, of Stewart county; and the children by the second marriage that are still living are: George W., F. C., Charlie, Joe Brown, Grace, and Ruth.

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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 124

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