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 126

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 126

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

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county, married Miss Fannie Smith, has nine children; Thomas, born April 6, 1843, farmer, Tattnall county, married Miss Sallie Shepard, of Liberty county, Ga., has eight children, has represented the second senatorial district in the general assembly; Elizabeth, born April 5, 1845, married Capt. S. D. Bradwell; Ezekiel, born Dec. 7, farmer, Tattnall county, married Miss Viola Brannan, of Bulloch county, has had six children; Emma, born March 2, 1852, married John Diestel, born in Hamburg, Germany, now farmer, Tattnall county, has three children; William, born June 29, 1854, married Miss Helen Raymond, North Lyme, Conn., who died without issue, and he married Miss Wilhelmina A. Hilton, of McIntosh county, one child. He is a prominent lawyer in Savannah, Ga., and has repre- sented Chatham county two terms in the general assembly; Benjamin Hill, born Aug. 9, 1856, died Oct. 19, 1890. Mr. Clifton was educated in the common schools of the country. He enlisted (as did his brothers Thomas and Harrison) in Company G, Fifth Georgia cavalry, state troops. The command was with Gen. Johnson's forces, and participated in the battles at Kennesaw Mountain, around and at Atlanta, Nashville, and at Bentonville, N. C., remaining in the army until the surrender. After the war he engaged in farming, and to a limited extent in the manufacture of naval stores. He represented the second senatorial district in the general assembly four years before the adoption of the constitution of 1877, and was elected to represent the same district in the first election held after its adoption. He was in the senate during the celebrated impeachment trial of Goldsmith and Renfroe, etc. These continued honors indicate a popularity and public confidence quite rare, and undoubtedly gratifying to the recipient. Mr. Clifton was married April 19, 1883, to Miss Amanda Coursey, born Aug. 13, 1868, daughter of T. J. Coursey, of Montgomery county, Ga. To them six children have been born: Olivia Robie, born Aug. 28, 1884; William Clisby, born March 6, 1886; Minnie Lou, born March 16, 1888; Benjamin Hill, born Feb. 8, 1890; Susan, born Feb. 21, died Dec. 27, 1892, and Minis Hunter, born April 14, 1894. Mr. Clifton is quietly enjoying the pleasures and comforts of a well-spent life, and of a bright and lovely family circle at his home in the western part of the county.

PETER CLIFTON, naval stores manufacturer, Tattnall county, Ga., postoffice, Lyons, son of Thomas E. and Mary (McGill) Clifton, was born in Tattnall county Jan. 19, 1851. The Cliftons came from North Carolina to Georgia, and Mr. Clifton's grandfather and father, farmers, were born in Tattnall county. His grandfather, on his mother's side, Peter McGill, emigrated from Scotland to North Carolina, and thence to Tattnall county, Ga. Mr. Clifton, whose father died in 1871, was the fifth in birth of nine children reared to maturity, and of whom five are now living. Mr. Clifton received a fairly good country school education, and, on reaching manhood, went to farming and engaged in the timber business. Con- tinuing his valuable farming interests, he commenced the manufacture of naval stores on a large scale in 1881, at Appleton, in the eastern part of Montgomery county, Ga., and, in connection therewith conducts a general merchandise store. He has managed all these enterprises with the most satisfactory results. In 1892 he was elected from Tattnall to the general assembly, and was made chairman of the committee on internal improvements. Energetic and enterprising, he exercises no small influence in his immediate community and the county. Mr. Clifton has been twice married-first, to Miss Mary E. Gibbs, daughter of Hiram Gibbs, of Mont- gomery county. This union was blessed with six children, three of whom died in childhood. This wife died in 1884. His second wife was Miss Lottie E. Sharpe-born in 1865-daughter of Littleton and Caroline (McAllister) Sharpe,

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of Montgomery county, who has borne him two children: Lester, born in 1890, and Kate, born in 1892. Mr. Clifton is a royal arch Mason, and a member of Vidalia chapter, Vidalia, Montgomery Co.

D. V. COLEMAN, manufacturer and farmer, Ohoopee, Tattnall Co., Ga., was born in Columbus county, N. C., March 24, 1859. He moved to Mont- gomery county, Ga., in 1882, and three years later settled in Tattnall county. He was the son of B. V. and E. A. Coleman of Columbus county, N. C. The father died in 1892 in Tattnall county, Ga. His remains were carried back to Columbus county, N. C., and were buried in the cemetery at Porter Swamp Baptist church. The mother still lives and resides in Tattnall county. She was married first to J. A. McClosky, and after his death married Mr. B. V. Coleman. There were two children by Mr. McCloskey: J. R. and S. A., the first living in Florida and the latter at Vidalia, Montgomery Co. By B. V. Coleman there were four children: J. S., born Nov. 16, 1856; D. V .; Mary E., wife of W. H. Page, born Aug. 27, 1861 ; N. R., born March 1, 1864, and died July 14, 1888. Mr. D. V. Coleman married Miss Mattie Hayes, of South Carolina, Oct. 12, 1887. She is the daughter of A. G. and E. M. Hayes, of Marion county, S. C. To this union have been born four children: Lena O., born Sept. 22, 1888; Arthur W., born Feb. 16, 1889; Annie B., born Aug. 25, 1890, and Mattie V., born Dec. 1, 1894-all living. Mr. D. V. Coleman is engaged in the manufacturing of naval stores, and turns out at his still in Tattnall county about 700 barrels of spirits turpentine and 2,500 barrels of resin annually. He is also interested in another plant in Tattnall county which produces about 500 barrels of spirits and 2,000 of resin. He employs about sixty- five hands, and operates about 175,000 boxes on his individual farm and about 125,000 at the farm he is a partner in. He is also engaged in farming in North and South Carolina, and conducts a mercantile business in Ohoopee, Tattnall Co. He has been engaged in the manufacture of naval stores for about nine years. Most of his turpentine and resin are shipped to Savannah.

JIMERSON M. COLLINS, merchant, Quince, Tattnall Co., Ga., son of John and Mary A. Collins, was born in Tattnall county May 26, 1854. His paternal grandfather, Josiah Collins, was a native of North Carolina, whence, when a young man, he came to Georgia. Mr. Collins' father was a farmer all his life, was a member of the Primitive Baptist church, and died in 1885 aged seventy-nine years. His mother, still living, is a member of the same church, and is eighty years of age. They were the parents of fourteen children, of whom six survive: Joshua; Stephen; Jimerson; Julia, wife of Bryant Jones, Bulloch county, Ga .; Susan, wife of E. H. Hancock, Richmond county, Ga., and Eliza, wife of L. L. Hodges, Tattnall county. Mr. Collins was educated at the common schools of the county, and when twenty-one years of age was engaged as a clerk in the store of Mr. Jarrall, at Ohoopee, Ga. After six years' service as a clerk Mr. Jarrall advanced him to a partnership and two years later sold out to him, and Mr. Collins has continued the business on his own account down to the present time. He has been in business in Cobbtown since 1884, has been very successful, and has a splendid property in and near Cobbtown, where he has a fine residence. In addition to his store he has a good farm, and operates a ginnery. Absorbed in his business interests he has cared nothing for office, yet in 1894 the democrats cast about for a man popular enough to beat the populists. They decided upon Mr. Collins, nominating him over very strong opposing candidates, and electing him over the populist candidate by a handsome majority, although the state demo- cratic ticket was defeated in the county. He started in life with a meager educa-

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tion, no capital except good health, uprightness of character, industrious and economical habits, and a determination to rise in the world. So far his youthful anticipations have been more than realized. His future is bright. Mr. Collins was married in October, 1886, to Miss Maggie, daughter of Jackson and Roxa Bird, and to them four children have been born: Mertie, Carl, Eva and Dean. Mr. Collins is a member of the masonic fraternity.

JOSEPH LUMPKIN COWART, farmer, Collins, was born Nov. 20, 1849, in Tattnall county, and was the son of James Cowart, a leading farmer of the county. James Cowart was sheriff of the county for a number of years, and was born in Tattnall in 1814, and lived there all his life. He had two sons and one daughter. The oldest son, Frank, was born July 11, 1847, and the daughter, Georgia, born July 1I, 1847, married Joseph H. Buford, and lives in Nassau county, Fla. Joseph Cowart is a farmer by occupation, and is also engaged in saw milling. He has served as constable and road commissioner, and is a man highly esteemed by his neighbors. He has several living children and others dead, as follows: Kate, born in 1887; Lottie, born in 1888; Sophronia, born in 1891; James Benjamin, born Feb. 1, 1880; Thomas, born April 4, 1882; Cleveland Lamar, born March 3, 1884; Hix, born May 15, 1893; Oscar Napoleon, born May, 1874; the dead: Clara, born in April, 1876, and died March, 1888; Florida, born Feb. 26, 1878, and died Nov. 7, 1880. Mr. Cowart is a member of Mt. Horeb Primitive Baptist church. Frank P. Cowart, farmer and brother of Joseph L. Cowart, was educated in the schools of Tattnall county, and for several years was employed as teacher. He then engaged in farming which he has since con- tinued. He is a teacher of the Primitive Baptist church and clerk of Anderson's congregation.

WASHINGTON MANASSAS FOY, merchant and manufacturer, Manassas, Ga., was born near Egypt, Effingham Co., Jan. 23, 1862. He was the son of George W. and Mary Jane Foy, the husband having been born Oct. 23, 1825, in Effingham county, two miles from Egypt, and has been a resident of that county all his life. He was a farmer, a lumber and timber dealer, and was the oldest of sixteen children. He is still living, and is a faithful member of the Baptist church, and a high Mason. He was married to Mary Jane Brinson of Screven county, Ga., a daughter of Simon Brinson. There were born to them five children, viz .: Entoil Tallulah; Geo. Brinson, deceased: Ida Gertrude; Washington Manassas; and Edward Jackson. Mr. W. M. Foy married Miss Maxie Poneta Olliff, of Excelsior, Bulloch Co., a daughter of W. W. and America Kenedy Olliff. They were married July 8, 1891, and have two boys, both dead, Geo. W., born Nov. 9, 1892, and died at fourteen months; and William Olliff, who died when nine months old. Mr. W. M. Foy first entered the turpentine and sawmill business when he began life on his own account. He sold out the latter and has in recent years been engaged in raising sea island cotton, in the manufacture of turpentine and resin, and in his mercantile interests. He came to the place where he now resides Nov. 18, 1889. It was just before the S. & W. railroad was built, and liking the location he laid out the town of Manassas and so named it, and built the first house. The neat little town now has over 250 people, and bids fair to increase for many years to come. The principal shipments from the place are naval supplies, lumber and sea island cotton. He has three places for manufacturing the former, and the past year produced two thousand barrels of spirits of turpentine and eight thousand barrels of resin, and employs about 125 laborers, which is the largest output in this section of the state. He operates about 525,000 boxes, which increased in 1895 about twenty per

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cent. Mr. Foy's merchandise trade in his store at Manassas is about $25,000 annually. Mr. Foy attended school for several years at a private institution situ- ated near his father's home. He entered Mercer college in 1880, and graduated in 1883 at the state university at Athens. He is a member of the Kappa Alpha fraternity. He and his wife joined the Baptist church at Excelsior, Bulloch Co., and transferred their letters and helped organize the church at Manassas. The town of Manassas has a fine school, and in a business way is considered one of the best towns on the S. & W. railroad. The place is located with natural drainage, which is a great health protector. It is in the heart of the pine timber belt, and is surrounded by splendid farming lands. Near it is the largest saw mill in the county, which cuts about 40,000 feet per day. The town was commenced in 1889, and promises in the next decade to show a marvelous increase in popula- tion. Mr. Foy is regarded as one of Tattnall's best business men. He is progress- ive, and does not hesitate to go into any enterprise which will redound to the development of Manassas and his country.

J. D. HUGHES, farmer, Lyons, was born March 4, 1848, in Montgomery county, and is the son of Duncan and Catherine Hughes. The parents moved from North Carolina to Georgia. The mother has been dead nearly half a century but the father, though now seventy-eight years old, is hale and hearty and does a day's work with an ease equal to that of a quarter of a century ago. J. D. Hughes has all his life been a farmer and dealer in timber, and is now so en- gaged. He was married Sept. 17, 1869, to Nancy Adom, and by her has had one child, Sarah Catherine, born Sept. 4, 1870. The wife died Oct. 12, 1870, and his second marriage was to Martha Sharpe, daughter of Rev. John P. Sharpe. To this union seven children have been born: Mary Eveline, born Jan. 30, 1878; Duncan Robert, born Dec. 21, 1879; Agnes Z. Vizell, born March 15, 1882; James Thomas, born Nov. 5, 1884; Martha James, born Feb. 12, 1887; Perry W., born Sept. 9, 1889; John Stephens, born May 13, 1892-all living. Mr. Hughes has been successful in life and owns a nice farm and home, situated near Lyons. He possesses splendid business capacities, and displays excellent judgment in his business ventures.

JOHN HUGHEY, retired teacher, and county school commissioner, Riggton, Tattnall Co., Ga., son of John and Elisha (Perry) Hughey, was born in Tattnall county Sept. 1, 1837. His father was born in South Carolina in 1794, and when quite a young man came to Georgia and settled in Morgan county. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and was twice wounded. In 1820 he removed to Tattnall county, where, in addition to farming, he followed mill-wrighting. His mother was born in Virginia, and was the daughter of Dr. James Perry, who moved from Virginia to Tattnall county, Ga., early in the present century, and was the first practicing physician in the county. He was also clerk of the superior court from 1812 to 1828. Mr. Hughey's parents had ten children born to them, of whom four are now living, John, the subject of this sketch, being the youngest of the family. His mother died in 1838. Mr. Hughey's father married for his second wife Miss Hannah Pearson, daughter of John Pearson, who migrated from Pennsylvania to Tattnall county. This lady was the sister of John Pearson, now a citizen of the county, and is reputed to have been one of the most intellectual women ever born in the county. By this second marriage Mr. Hughey's father had eight children born to him, of whom five are now living. He removed to Orange county, Fla., in 1846, where he died in 1883. In early life-during child- hood and youth-Mr. Hughey had the great benefit of the superior advanced

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instruction under his accomplished stepmother, and later attended an academy of high reputation in Heard county two years, whose then principal is now pro- fessor of Greek in the university of Wisconsin. Mr. Hughey began life as a teacher in Orange county, Fla., where he taught one year. He then engaged for a year in steamboating on the St. John's river. From that he embarked on a sea-faring life, and followed that until 1860, when he suffered shipwreck at Cape Canavarel on the Atlantic coast of Florida. He then came to Appling county, Ga., and engaged in teaching. When the war between the states began he enlisted (in 1861) in Company B, Fifty-fourth Georgia regiment, which was assigned to duty in the army of the west, and served successively under Gens. Beauregard, Johnson, Hood and others until the last gun was fired. After the surrender he returned to Appling county, and resumed teaching, adopting it as a profession. He taught in Appling and Tattnall counties nine years. Retiring from his profession he turned his attention to farming, in which pursuit his intelligent care and attention has been followed with most satisfactory results. Progressive farming and his public duties fully occupy his time and give employ- ment to his mind, while gratifying his public spirit. In 1874 he was elected county commissioner of education and has continuously held it, unopposed, until the present time. He has the teachers and schools better organized and the schools under better discipline than is found in any other county in what is known as the "wire grass" portion of the state. Mr. Hughey was married Nev. 23, 1870, to Miss Nannie Tillman-born March II, 1847-daughter of Col. Joseph Tillman, of Appling county. Seven children are the offspring of this happy union: Eliza, born in August, 1871, teacher, Tattnall county; Lena, born May, 1873, married to W. H. Faulk, Tattnall county-two children; Lillian, born June, 1875; Edna, . born October, 1877; John G., born February, 1880; Virginia, born May, 1883; and Geneva, born November, 1890. Mr. Hughey is one of the most prominent and influential citizens of Tattnall county. He is held in high estimation, is public-spirited, and a useful member of the community-well up on all important topics of the day. With fine and extensive farming interests, comfortably situated monetarily, and surrounded by an interesting family and possessing the good-will and respect of his fellow-citizens, the down-hill of life bids fair to be pleasant to him.

FLISHA BUCKNER KENEDY, merchant, Claxton, was born March 20, 1850, in Tattnall county, and is the son of Stephen and Macy Ann Kenedy. His mother was a native of Bulloch county, and his father a native of South Carolina. He had six half brothers and three half sisters and one sister. The latter's name was Macy and she is now dead. His half brothers and sisters were: Jimerson, Edmond, William, Daniel, Stephen H., Eli, Mary Ann, Wealthy Ann, Mary and Sarah. Jimerson, William, Eli, and Wealthy are deceased. Elisha B. Kenedy married Miss Mary Moore, a daughter of William and Jane Moore, originally from county Clare, Ireland. Mrs. E. B. Kenedy was born in Bulloch county April 13, 1852, and she was married to Mr. Kenedy Feb. 7, 1872. They have had nine children born to them, all of whom are living. They are as follows: Edward Foster, born March 26, 1873, and engaged in the mercantile business with his father in Claxton, after having traveled three years for a wholesale drug house of Augusta, Ga .; Nellie Moore, born May 21, 1875; Stephen Bedford, born April 23, 1877, and agent for the Southern Express company at Claxton; James Daniel, born August 10, 1879; Thomas Barret, born Sept. 20, 1881; Della L., born Oct. 26, 1883; John Patrick, born Oct. 2, 1885; Katherine Isabella, born Feb. 17, 1888; William Elisha, born August 23, 1891. Mr. Kenedy has

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always been engaged in farming, and eight years ago opened up a mercantile business in Bulloch county. Two years ago he moved to Claxton, Tattnall Co., and there he and his son conduct the largest store in the town. They do a business of about $25,000 per annum. They also run the hotel and a livery business. Mr. Kenedy is a member of the town council and mayor pro tem. His wife and children are all members of the Catholic church at Savannah. Mr. Kenedy is one of the most prominent citizens of Claxton, and though only a resident of the place for two years has identified himself with the town, and shows great interest in its growth and prosperity. He is one of the best business men in Bulloch and Tattnall counties, and has a large acquaintance among the business men of Atlanta, Savannah, and Augusta.

JOSHUA S. LANIER, farmer, Altamahee, Tattnall Co., Ga., son of Lemuel S. and Rhoda (Hodges) Lanier, was born in Bulloch county, Ga., Feb. 24, 1846. His ancestors were Huguenot refugees from France, who came to this country and settled in North Carolina, where his grandfather was born. This is a branch of the same family from which the distinguished poet descended. Mr. Lanier's father was a successful farmer, and himself and wife, born in 1814, are both living. Her father was Joshua Hodges, whose family was among the earliest settlers in Bulloch county. The subject of this sketch is the oldest of eight chil- dren born to them. Mr. Lanier attended the best schools in the county, but the war between the states interrupted his' advancement in this direction. He enlisted in Company E, Fifth Georgia cavalry, Anderson's division, and was in active service throughout the war. As a member of the dashing and daring Gen. Wheeler's cavalry force, he traversed nearly all the southern states, ending his military life with the surrender at Hillsborough, N. C., shortly after Gen. Lee's surrender. Returning home he taught school in Bulloch and Tattnall counties four years, after which he settled down to farm-life in Tattnall, and has indus- triously and profitably pursued it since. Recognizing his capability and public spirit, his fellow-citizens have called him into their service in various important and responsible capacities. They have made him road commissioner ten years, a member of the board of education twelve years, he being now president of the board, and he is also station reporter for the county for the United States weather bureau. He also represented Tattnall county in the first interstate cot- ton convention, held in Atlanta in 1885. Mr. Lanier married Miss Priscilla Lang, born in 1851, daughter of Mrs. Eleanor Lang, of Tattnall county, by whom he has had three children: Howson L., born March 15, 1873, a graduate of the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Baltimore, Md., in March, 1894, now located in San Francisco, Cal .; Walton, born in 1879; Roy, born in 1886. Mr. Lanier devotes his time and attention to the cultivation and improvement of his farm, and to his public duties, being esteemed and confided in by his neighbors.

BROWN M'COLLUM, manufacturer, Long Branch, Tattnall Co., was born Jan. 5, 1829, in Robeson county, N. C., and is the son of Dougal and Flora McCollum. Dougal McCollum was of Scotch parents, an elder for forty years in the Presbyterian church and was a prosperous farmer. He took great interest in educational matters and gave his three children a good education. These children were: Mary Ann, married Nathaniel McNair, of Robeson county; Martha Jane, wife of Edward Campbell, of Marion county, S. C., and Brown. Brown McCollum received his education from private tutors and in the common schools under able teachers. He taught school for two years and then commenced farm- ing. In 1860 he married Miss Kate Newell McLean, of Robeson county. She

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was a daughter of Archibald McLean and was born in 1837, and was educated at Salem, N. C. There were born to this union two sons and two daughters, viz .: Jennie Brown, wife of R. P. Hamer, of Hamer, S. C .; Mary, wife of Dr. T. C. McSwain, of Marion, S. C .; Arthur Newell, graduated at Davidson college, North Carolina, has been engaged in farming and merchandising and is now agent in Houston, Tex., of the Equitable Life Insurance company; Dougal A. was educated in the common schools of Robeson county and then took a course in a business college. He is now engaged with his father in Tattnall county in the manufacture of naval stores. Brown McCollum has been a member of the Presbyterian church thirty years, and has always been a man temperate in his habits. He has been engaged in manufacturing naval stores for twenty-five years. He first operated seven years in Robeson county, N. C., then went to Marion, S. C., where he was in business twelve years; thence to Wilcox county, Ga., and in 1889 to Tattnall county. He manufactures five thousand barrels of resin and spirits annually, and employs from eighty to ninety men and produces two crops per anntim.

FLIAS LAFAYETTE M'DILDO was born in Tattnall county, Jan. 7, 1863, and is the son of William and Sarah (McGill) McDildo. His parents were natives of Montgomery county and had nine children, two of whom died in infancy. The living children are all residing in Tattnall county and are: Annie, Mary, Victoria, wife of Benjamin Anderson; Amanda, wife of John Collins; Georgia Ann, wife of Daniel Lewis; Emma, wife of Robert Wilkes. Mr. Elias McDildo attended school until manhood and then engaged in the timber trade, a prominent industry of Tattnall county. He also farms, and owns a farm of about 400 acres, partly cultivated and well-timbered. This timber has never been affected by the manufacture of turpentine. Mr. McDildo is a pushing citi- zen and enjoys the respect and confidence of all who know him.

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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 126

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