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 127

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 127

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).

MANNING MILXER MOODY, farmer and postmaster, Long Branch, was born Sept. 8, 1844, in Tattnall county, and was the son of Dr. Manning James Moody and Penelope Moody. Dr. Manning J. Moody was an extensive farmer all his life, and for twenty years practiced medicine, ranking high in the esteem of his brother practitioners, and achieving great professional success. He was a high Mason and served one term in the house and one term in the state senate, as a representative from Tattnall county. He died in 1866, and his wife survived him but two years. Manning Miles Moody was educated in the common schools of Liberty county, and left these schools when seventeen years old to enlist in the Confederate army. He was in the Liberty guards, a cavalry com- pany, under Capt. William Hughes and Col. N. H. Anderson. He was in a number of skirmishes and at the battle of Bentonville, N. C. He served through the entire war, and returning home took charge of his father's farm. He was married to Miss Mary Martin Bradwell, of Hinesville, Liberty Co., April 12, 1869. She was a daughter of Col. James and Isabella Bradwell. She was a sister of Ex-State School Commissioner S. D. Bradwell, who is now president of (Rock college) the state normal school. She was an active member of the Presbyterian church, a highly esteemed Christian lady. She is now deceased. Mr. Moody is a member of the Baptist church at South Salem, Liberty Co. He has been postmaster at Long Branch for twenty years and jury commissioner of Tattnall county for fifteen years. He was first appointed by Gov. Hirschel V. Johnson. He has always been a strong democrat, and never scratched that ticket in voting it in his life. He takes great interest in the cause of education, and is one of Tattnall's most prominent farmer-citizens.

860

MEMOIRS OF GEORGIA.

ROBERT M. SHARPE, physician and surgeon, Perry's Mills, Tattnall Co., Ga., son of John T. and Rebecca (Lasseter) Sharpe, was born Nov. 20, 1836. His grandfather, John Sharpe, was a soldier in the revolutionary army, and came with his family from Halifax county, Va., to Georgia, early in this century, and settled in Burke county. Dr. Sharpe's father was born Nov. I, 1795, and followed farming in Burke county. His wife was born in Burke county March 29, 1795, and to them eight children were born, the doctor being the youngest, and of them four sons are now living: E. F., Kissimmee City, Fla .; John T., farmer, Tattnall county; Henry R., farmer, Lowndes county, and Robert M., the subject of this sketch. Dr. Sharpe was educated at the county common schools, attended Burke county high school two years and then attended school one year in Prin- cess Anne county, Va. With this preliminary preparation he entered the medical college of Georgia, Augusta, and was graduated in 1859, receiving his diploma from Hon. Ebenezer Starnes, president. He located at once in Tattnall county, but before he got fairly started the unpleasantness occurred, and he enlisted in the army. Considering afterward that he could be of more service at home among the people, he placed a substitute and practiced in the county during the war, there being only one other physician in the county. With the exception of three years-1869-1871, when he practiced in Lowndes county-he has continu- ously practiced in Tattnall county. He has been successful, has the confidence and esteem of the people and enjoys an extensive practice. Dr. Sharpe was mar- ried Feb. 16, 1858, to Miss Mary J. Kennedy, born March 28, 1841, daughter of Robert Kennedy, of Webster (originally from Monroe) county, Ga. This union was blessed with ten children, all living but the first-born, who died in infancy. They are as follows: Susan, born Aug. 26, 1860, married John Davis, Tattnall county, and they have five children: Thomas R., born Oct. 2, 1862, married Miss Luray Smith, and they have one child; Roberta A., born Aug. 6, 1865, married Jesse H. Little, of North Carolina, but now living in Tattnall county, and has four children; Anna, born April 28, 1868, married D. Armistead, Screven county; Claudius M., born Oct. 26, 1870, married Eliza Johnson, of Appling county, Ga., now living in Florida; Francis L., born Feb. 24, 1873; John H., born May 15, 1875; Emma L., born Dec. 19, 1877, and Robert M., Jr., born April 17, 1888. Possessing a fine estate, a competency, with an excellent practice that keeps him actively employed, and surrounded by his interesting family, Dr. Sharpe needs nothing to make life entirely enjoyable.

SHELDON P. SMITH, retired merchant and farmer, Perry's Mills, Tattnall Co., Ga., son of Nicholas and Urania T. (Aborn) Smith, was born in Rhode Island June 27, 1831. The family were among the early settlers of Rhode Island. Mr. Smith's father was born March II, 1787, and his mother July 23, 1798. When Mr. Smith was about a year old (1832) his parents migrated to Georgia and set- tled in Tattnall county, where his father engaged in merchandising. They had eight children, of whom Mr. Smith was the fourth, five of whom are now living. Mr. Smith was given the best education the schools of the county afforded, and then was sent to the Hinesville (Liberty county, Ga.) high school, at that time in charge of Prof. Bradwell, father of Hon. S. D. Bradwell, the late able state school commissioner. He succeeded his father in his mercantile business, and has also been engaged in farming. About 1861 he was elected justice of the peace, and has been the only justice of the peace and notary public in the district since. Just after the war he was appointed postmaster at Perry's Mills, and has held the office from that time until now. He was not in active service during the war, but he represented Tattnall county (1863-65) in the general assembly. He was married

861

TATTNALL COUNTY SKETCHES.

Dec. 5, 1853, in Tattnall county, to Miss Frances Bell, born Aug. 15, 1833, daughter of Joseph J. and Elizabeth (Johnson) Bell, of Tattnall county. To them thirteen children have been born, eight of whom are now living. Mr. Smith is spending his declining years at his plantation home in the southwestern part of Tattnall county, where he has lived since 1832.

CALEB W. SMITH, ordinary of Tattnall county, Ga., Reidsville, son of John C. and Mary (Jones) Smith, was born in Tattnall county March 8, 1843. His great-grandfather, Simon, and his grandfather, James Smith, were Georgia-born, and are buried on the same spot in Tattnall county. His father, John C. Smith, was a well-to-do, highly-respected farmer, born in Tattnall county March 8, 1812, died Oct. 26, 1858, and was buried near his father and grandfather. Mr. Smith's mother was a daughter of Daniel E. Jones, of Lumpkin county, born July 28, 1819, and died in 1885. Of seven children they had born to them, Caleb W. was the third born, and of them five are now living: Susan, wife of A. C. Moore, Tattnall county; Dicey, widow of S. B. Rogers, formerly of Tattnall county, deceased; M. A., farmer, and M. W., farmer, Tattnall county, and Caleb W., the subject of this sketch. Mr. Smith's educational advantages were limited to the country schools, and he was reared and entered upon active life as a farmer. He enlisted in 1861 in Company B, Sixty-first Georgia regiment, which formed a part of Stonewall Jack- son's famous corps, and was in active service until wounded in the battle of Fredericksburg, December, 1862. The wound necessitated the amputation of his right leg above the knee on the field; he was then carried to the hospital, where he remained until May, 1863, when he returned home. He at once engaged in

farming, a pursuit he has since followed. He served as tax collector two years by election, then by appointment under military rule, and was United States census enumerator in 1870. September following he was appointed ordinary by Gov. R. B. Bullock, and has continuously held the office since by election. Mr. Smith was married Oct. 31, 1871, to Miss Mary Slater, born in 1852, daughter of John Slater, of Bulloch county, by whom he has had nine children: Clarence L., born Sept. 15, 1872, student at Emory college, Oxford, Ga .; Rosalie, born Oct. 4, 1874; Daisy, born Feb. 3, 1877, and died Feb. 16, 1880; John, born Dec. 7, 1879; Mary, born April II, 1882; Mattie M., born Jan. 6, 1885; Julia H., born Oct. 24, 1886; Fannie L., born Aug. 4, 1888; Ethel L., born June 30, 1891. Mr. Smith lives in Reidsville, county seat of Tattnall, where he has a nice and comfortable home, surrounded by his interesting family, and a county full of appreciative friends.

M A. SMITH, farmer and postmaster, Hagan, was born in Tattnall county Nov. 10, 1848, and was the son of John C. and Mary Smith, life-long resi- dents of Tattnall county, and respected citizens. John C. Smith was a farmer and a strong Methodist in his religious convictions. There were born to them the following children, viz .: C. W., ordinary of Tattnall county; J. D .; M. W .; M. A. All reside in Tattnall county, except James D., who died at Lynchburg. C. W. Smith lost a limb in the second battle of Manassas. Both of them were in the Sixty- first Georgia regiment, under Gen. John B. Gordon. Mr. M. A. Smith married Susan Hagan, of Bulloch county, a daughter of James and Keziah Hagan. Mrs. Smith's father is deceased, and her mother is still living at the age of eighty-eight years. The mother is a sister of Peter Cone, who represented Bulloch county in the legislature for thirty-two years. The brother has been dead about twenty years. To Mr. and Mrs. M. A. Smith have been born several children, viz .: Dr. J. C. Smith, a prominent dentist of Tattnall county, and a graduate of the Atlanta Medical college in the class of 1891; L. A., a farmer; Keziah; Frank, a telegraph operator; Ada, and two children, deceased. Mrs. Smith was married before her

862

MEMOIRS OF GEORGIA.

union with Mr. Smith. She was wedded the first time to Simon Brewton, lieutenant in the Confederate army, and killed while in service at a battle at Hanover junction, near Richmond, Va. They had two sons-Milton, who is a Methodist minister in Tattnall county, and L. B., who graduated in 1892 from the state university, at Athens, and who is now practicing law at Hinesville, in Liberty county. Mr. M. A. Smith was engaged in the fertilizer trade for fifteen years, being connected with the Baldwin Fertilizer company, of Savannah. He has been in the lumber trade for twenty years, and has been farming all his life. He was appointed post- master at Hagan in 1890, which position he now fills. He owned all the real estate in the town when it was laid out, and has devoted a great part of his time recently to the improvement and the development of the place. The town is only four years old, and yet it has a population of 300, and is growing rapidly. Mr. Smith owns a large sawmill in Hagan, has been manufacturing naval stores for two years, is engaged in the buggy trade, handles improved stock and is a general business man, dealing in everything that is needed by the people of the town. Mr. Smith takes great interest in Hagan, which was named after his wife. He helped to lay off the place, which is one of the best on the S. & W. railroad, and bound to develop into an important town.

BUTLER WILKES, farmer and merchant, Lyons, was born Dec. 19, 1849, in Montgomery county, Ga., and was taken to Tattnall county by his parents when he was an infant. There he was reared to manhood, receiving his education in the common schools of Tattnall, and beginning life as a farmer. He was a son of John and Catharine Wilkes, of Montgomery county. The father was born in Robeson county, N. C., and the mother in Georgia. They were married in 1835, and to the union were born the following children: Martha, deceased; Jacob; Elizabeth; Duncan; Butler; Catharine; Mary Jane; Thomas, and Frank, de- ceased. They all live in Tattnall and Montgomery counties, except Thomas, who lives in Florida. Butler Wilkes married Miss Sallie Harden, of Tattnall county, Oct. 8, 1890, and has two children-Frank, born Dec. 3, 1891; and the baby, born Jan. 6, 1893. Mr. Wilkes is one of the old residents of Tattnall, and is prominent among the leading business men of the county. He has all his life-time been actively engaged in developing the resources of the county, and takes much interest in the advancement of the state.

TAYLOR COUNTY.

J. B. BARFIELD, farmer, Butler, Taylor Co., Ga., son of Jesse and Nancy (Thompson) Barfield, was born in Macon county, Ga., in 1839. His grand- parents on his father's side were Bart. and Nancy Barfield. He was of Irish descent, born in North Carolina, moved to Georgia early in this century, and settled in Macon county. He was a farmer, and served in the patriot army during the revolutionary war. Mr. Barfield's father was a native of North Carolina, migrated to Georgia in 1833, and settled in Macon county. He was a farmer, was a soldier during the Mexican war, and was a prominent and active member of the Primitive Baptist church. His grandfather on his mother's side was Redding Thompson, who was born in North Carolina, and lived there all his life. Mr. Barfield was raised a farmer, and enjoyed very indifferent educational advantages. In 1862 he enlisted in Company B, Capt. Frederick, Tenth Georgia battalion, and participated

863

TAYLOR COUNTY SKETCHES.

in the battles of Fredericksburg and Suffolk. After the war he worked on a farm until 1868, when he bought a small tract of land in the woods, on which he cleared a farm, improved it, and made himself a pleasant, comfortable home. Mr. Barfield was married in 1866 to Miss Rebecca Brooks-born in Macon county, Ga., in 1850 -daughter of Benjamin M. C. and Eliza (Coleman) Brooks. He was a native of Virginia, removed to Georgia early in life, and settled in Upson county, whence, afterward, he removed to Macon county, where he is now enjoying life on his farm. He was tax collector of Macon county one term. Of the children born to Mr. and Mrs. Barfield, eight are living: William B., John E., Berrie, Daniel W., Eliza, Jesse M., Nancy C., and Thomas. Mrs. Barfield, who was an exemplary member of the Methodist church, died in 1890.

JOHN A. CAMERON, farmer, Butler, Taylor Co., Ga., son of Thomas D. and Nancy A. (Clark) Cameron, was born in Upson county, Ga., in 1829. His grandparents on his father's side were John D. and Jennie E. (Bone) Cameron. He was of Scotch descent, born in North Carolina, and lived there all his life. He was a soldier in the patriot army during the revolutionary war. Mr. Cameron's father was born in North Carolina, migrated to Georgia in early life, and settled near Thomaston, Upson Co., and reared his family there. He served as a soldier in the Seminole war. Politically, he was an ardent whig. He died in 1866. Mr. Cameron's grandparents, on his mother's side, were Gilbert C. and Jane Clark. He was born in North Carolina-of Scotch descent-and died there. He was a soldier in the patriot army during the revolutionary war. Mr. Cameron was raised a farmer, and the little education he received was at the old-time log school-house. He began life as a carpenter, and followed that trade until the unpleasantness was precipitated, when, in 1862, he enlisted in Company E, Capt. W. S. Wallace, Forty- fifth Georgia regiment. Among other hard-fought bloody battles he was in were those at Cedar run, seven-days' fight around Richmond, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Wilderness, Spottsylvania court-house, etc. He was wounded at the battle of Cedar run, and was in the hospital two months. Capt. Wallace was shot at the same battle, and Mr. Cameron took command of the com- pany. After the war he engaged in farming, and has followed it successfully and prosperously. In 1866 Mr. Cameron was married to Miss Dora Murray-born in Houston county, Ga., in 1846-daughter of John S. and Judy A. (Roial) Murray. He was of Scotch descent, and born in Burke county, moved first to Houston county, Ga., and thence to Taylor county. He was raised a farmer and followed that pursuit through life. Of the children born to them, eight are living: Julia, John, Asa, Lena, James, Annia, Katie, and Murray. Mr. Cameron is an exemplary member of the Methodist church, and Mr. Cameron, his wife and family are held in high esteem by the community.

WILLIAM H. FICKLING, farmer, Fickling, Taylor Co., Ga., son of C. F. and Caroline E.(Hankinson) Fickling, was born in Crawford county, Ga., in 1834. Mr. Fickling's paternal grandfather was born in England, and migrated to this country before the revolutionary war, settled in South Carolina, and served seven years in the patriot army during the war for independence. His father was born in 1800 in Barnwell district, S. C., where he was raised a farmer, came to Georgia in 1832 and settled in Crawford county, where he reared his family. He was a Missionary Baptist, and took very great interest in everything pertaining to the affairs of the church. He lived to be eighty-seven years of age. His maternal grandfather Hankinson was a native of South Carolina, and lived there all his life. He was also a soldier in the patriot army during the revolutionary war. Mr. Fickling was raised a farmer and received a good common school education.

864

MEMOIRS OF GEORGIA.

In 1862 he enlisted in Company C, of which he was made captain, Fifty-ninth Georgia regiment. He was engaged with his command in many of the hardest fought battles of the war-Wilderness, seven days' fight around Richmond, Petersburg and Salisbury. He was wounded at the battle of Richmond, was made a major after the fight, and remained in service until the surrender. He was a justice of the peace for a number of years, and in 1875-76 represented Taylor county in the general assembly. He served on the following committees: Banks, counties and county lines, and penitentiary. Although farming has been his principal pursuit, he has been engaged to some extent in milling and merchandis- ing. On his tract of 1,200 acres of excellent land he has a fine mill property, with a very valuable water power on Patsalega creek, with capacity for running a large factory. Maj. Fickling has prospered since the war, and is one of Taylor county's best farmers-one of its most substantial citizens. Maj. Fickling was married in 1858 to Miss C. E. Walker-born in Crawford county in 1837- daughter of Charles H. and Caroline E. (Jones) Walker. Mr. Walker was a native of Monroe county, Ga. Of the children born to this union there are living: William H., Thomas, Caroline, Charles F., Maude E., Walker, and Bessie. Maj. and Mrs. Fickling are exemplary members of the Methodist church. Socially, financially and politically Maj. Fickling and his family rank with the very best citizens of the county, and exert a wide and beneficent influence.

FRANK GLOVER, farmer, Reynolds, Taylor Co., Ga., son of John P. and Matilda (Vinson) Glover, was born in Crawford county, Ga., in 1841. His grandparents on his father's side were John and Drusilla (Paskell) Glover. He was of Irish descent, born in North Carolina, came to Georgia early in life, and settled in Putnam county. He afterward moved to Alabama and died there. Mr. Glover's father was born in Putnam county, Ga., and reared a farmer. He went to Crawford county when a young man, where he reared his family. He was a soldier in the Seminole war, and was a preacher in the Primitive Baptist church. His grandparents on his mother's side were Henry and Sarah (Graydon) Vinson. He was of French descent, born in North Carolina, migrated to Georgia and settled in Crawford county. Mr. Glover was reared on the farm, and like other youths at that period received but a limited education. In 1861 he enlisted and served six months in the state troops. Then the command was reorganized and he became a member of Company F (Capt. J. B. Fowler), Fifty-seventh Georgia regiment, and was engaged in many battles-Barboursville and Paris; and having been taken prisoner at the last named, was first sent to Camp Chase, Ohio, whence after seven days he was sent to Cairo, and afterward to Vicksburg, where he was exchanged. After his exchange he participated in the battle of Baker's creek near Vicksburg. Returning from the war he went to work on his farm, in cultivating which he has since spent his life. At present he is chairman of the board of county school commissioners. In 1866 Mr. Glover was married to Miss Pauline Christopher-born in Jasper county in 1845-daughter of W. H. and Martha A. Christopher. He was born in Walton county, Ga., was a surgeon in the Confederate army, and after the war settled in Taylor county, where he prac- ticed his profession many years. Of the children born to this union three are living: Minnie P., Maggie A , and Emma. Mr. Glover and his wife are members of the Primitive Baptist church.

JONATHAN J. M'CAUTS, farmer, Butler, Taylor Co., Ga., son of Jeremiah C. and Tabitha (McCrary) McCauts, was born in Talbot county, Ga., in 1845. His grandparents on his father's side were natives of South Carolina, who lived in that state all their lives. Mr. McCauts' father was born in South Carolina, was

865

TAYLOR COUNTY SKETCHES.

a farmer and moved to Georgia early in life, and settled in Bibb county when Macon was little more than a village, and shot deer where the city now stands. He represented the county in the general assembly a number of times. Subse- quently he removed to Taylor county, where he died. He gave his attention exclusively to farming. Mr. McCauts' grandparents on his mother's side, William and Polly (McCrary) McCrary, were natives of Ireland, migrated to this country when young and settled in Georgia. He was a soldier in the last war with Great Britain. He made farming the pursuit of his life. Mr. McCauts worked on the farm and had but little schooling while growing to manhood, on account of the war. In 1862 he enlisted in a battalion in Gen. Wheeler's command, was in the battles at and around Atlanta, and was in front of Sherinan when he was march- ing through Georgia. With pluck and energy, and industry and frugal habits, as his only-and reliable-capital, he began life after he came home from the war. He started out for a life-success-and he has achieved it. He now owns 2,300 acres of choice farming land, and is the proprietor of a large grist and saw mill. In 1880 he was elected to represent his senatorial district, and afterward, for three sessions, to represent his county in the general assembly. In that body he was placed on the following committees: Educational, penitentiary, internal improvements, and asylum. These successes-financial and political -- evidence his industry and sagacity, his popularity and influence, and the estimation in which his felow-citizens hold him. Mr. McCauts was married in 1870 to Miss Jennie McCauts, born in Taylor county, daughter of Andy and Betsey (McCrary) McCauts. He was a native of South Carolina, came to Georgia when a young man, was a soldier in the Indian war of 1836, and represented his senatorial district in the general assembly. To Mr. and Mrs. McCauts nine children have been born: Clifford, Bessie, Lora, Clara, Jerry, Murray, Kate, John M., and Otis. Mr. McCauts is a royal arch Mason, and himself and wife are members of the Methodist church. No citizen or family in the community occupies a more enviable position in any respect than does Mr. McCauts.

JOEL E. MONTFORT, farmer, Fickling, Taylor Co., Ga., son of Theodrick and Elizabeth (Terrell) Montfort, was born in Greene county, Ga., in 1826, His paternal grandfather was John Montfort. He was a native of England, came to America and settled in Virginia just before the revolutionary war-during which he was a soldier in the patriot army-and afterward moved from Virginia to Georgia and settled in Putnam county. Mr. Montfort's father was born in Virginia, came to Georgia when a young man, and settled in Putnam county, where he engaged in merchandising. While living in this county he represented it a number of times in the general assembly. He afterward moved to Greene county, where, in addition to merchandising he engaged in farming. A few years later he removed to Crawford county, and thence to Talbot county, where he remained a number of years, and besides his other business ran a line of stages. His maternal grandparents were David and Mary (Munger) Terrell. He was a farmer, and his family was among the early settlers of Greene county. Mr. Montfort was raised on the farm, and received a limited common school education. Early in life he removed to Crawford county, farmed awhile and then went into general merchandise business in Knoxville. In 1851 he removed to Butler, Taylor Co., where he engaged in business until the war between the states was precipitated. During the war he was engaged in tanning for the Confederate government and soon after went into business at Reynolds, in Taylor county. After continuing this some years he sold out and retired to his farm, where he now lives, enjoying the fruits of his enterprise and labor. Mr. Montfort was married in 1847 to Miss Mary E. Dugger-born in Virginia in 1828-daugh-

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

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 127

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