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 129

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 129

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MAJ. DANIEL F. M'RAE, merchant and farmer, Lumber City, Telfair Co., Ga., son of Alexander B. McRae, was born in McRae, Telfair Co., Ga., April 22, 1822. His father was one of the early settlers of the county, and founded the town of McRae. He was a farmer and mechanic, and for many years a magis- trate. He died in 1849, leaving thirteen children. Maj. McRae received a good common-school education, and when sixteen years of age entered upon mercantile life in Lumber City, Ga. He continued in business until 1882. In addition to the store he has always operated a large farm. In 1849-50 he represented the Sixth senatorial district in the general assembly, contemporary with ex-Gov. Joseph E. Brown. Maj. McRae was a member of the Fifteenth and Fifty-sixth regiments of Georgia militia, held three commissions as major, and was brevetted colonel. He was in command of the police brigade during the siege of Atlanta; was in front of the army marching through Georgia, and at the battle of Griswoldville, near Macon, Ga., he was severely wounded. Maj. McRae was married to Miss Christian F. McRae-not a relative-in 1854, but who died in 1858, leaving three children, all of whom are still living: Duncan L., broker, in Macon, Ga., partner of W. J. Solomon; Alexander Eliot, druggist, Lumber City, and farmer; and Christian Florence, married John H. Ryals, who died. She afterwards married Capt. John L. Day, Lumber City. She has one child fifteen years old. Maj. McRae, in 1862, married Miss Marion McRae, daughter of Judge Duncan, one of the most distinguished citizens in that portion of the state. Seven children were the fruit of this union: Glynn Preston, born November, 1862, deceased; James Henry, born Dec. 24, 1863, graduated from United States Military academy, West Point, N. Y., is first lieutenant, Third United States infantry, author of several military works on tactics, and was married to Miss Stow, of Montana; Janie, born March 24, 1866, married W. B. Folsom, merchant, McRae; Anna, born May 12,

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TELFAIR COUNTY SKETCHES.

1867, deceased; Claudia Ann, born July 31, 1869, deccased; Leon Quincy, born Jan. 26, 1872, official at Atlanta of the E. T., Va. & G. railway; and Max Lamar, born Oct. 4, 1875, reading law. Maj. McRae is a Mason of forty ycars' standing, and is a member of a royal arch chapter.

MALCOLM NICHOLSON M'RAE, merchant and farmer, Lumber City, Telfair Co., Ga., son of Alexander B. McRae (and brother of Daniel F.) was born in Telfair county, Ga., July 9, 1818. His father was one of the oldest settlers in the county, founded the town of McRae, and was one of the builders of the first steamboats that ran on the Ocmulgee and Oconee rivers. His cducational ad- vantages were limited to an ordinary business education, but he has made good usc of what he had. In 1837-when nineteen years of age-he commenced merchant life in Lumber City, and continued it until the beginning of the present ycar (1894). After the war he embarked in the manufacture of turpentine at Towns, Telfair county. During the war he was commissary for the counties of Telfair and Coffee, and had charge of the steamer on the Ocmulgee for forward- ing supplies to the army. In 1859-60 he represented the county in the general assembly, and for several years was a justice of the inferior court. He was also a member of the constitutional convention of 1877. Mr. McRae has been married twice. In 1840 he was married to Miss Catharine McCrimmon, of Montgomery county, who died in 1856, leaving five children. In 1868 he married Miss Catharine Clemmons, by whom he has had four children-but only one is living. His oldest daughter was married first to Frank Tillman, of Texas, who died of yellow fever. After his death she married Gen. Elias Earle, of Florida, who also died, leaving her a widow. His oldest son, Alexander C., who was a member of the Georgia Hussars, died in 1874. Thomas Jefferson married a daughter of Gen. Earle, and is prosperous merchant in Hawthorne, Fla .; John W., who was a prominent merchant in Melrose, Fla., dicd in 1888, leaving three children: Bruce, Thomas and Pearl. Charity Emma, an invalid, resulting from a fall from the arms of a careless nurse, is a graduate of Wesleyan Female college, Macon, Ga., and is a most excellent musician. Dr. Bartow McRae, his remaining son, is located in Atlanta. Mr. McRae is a royal arch Mason.

FRANK R. MANN, sawmill owner and farmer, Jacksonville, Telfair Co., Ga., was born in Tattnall county, Ga., Oct. 6, 1856. His father, born Sept. 10, 1804, was a thrifty farmer, highly esteemed as a citizen, and represented Tattnall county in the general assembly two terms. He died in 1886, leaving eight children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the youngest. Mr. Mann had the benefit of only a limited cducation, but was fortunate to have for instructor, part of the time, Hon. S. D. Bradwell, ex-state school commissioner. In 1876 Mr. Mann taught school in Appling county. He then went into the timber business in Tattnall county ; but removed in 1880 to Jacksonville, continued his timber business, carried on a farm, and added sawmilling to his enterprises. In 1884 he engaged in the turpentine industry in Berrien county. He was a justice of the peace, in 1885-89, and represented Telfair county in 1890-91 in the general assembly, and served on the committees on finance, railroads and general agriculture, and on the special military committee. Mr. Mann was married in 1880, to Miss Henrietta, daughter of Sim Sikes, of Montgomery county, who has borne him three children: Aleph Victoria, born Aug. 6, 1882; Willie, born Jan. 7, 1884, and Frank, born Dec. 26, 1885. Mr. Mann is a master Mason, and was secretary of his lodge eight years.

JOSEPH W. NEAL, physician and surgeon, Scotland, Telfair Co., Ga., was born in Harris county, Ga., July 26, 1865. His father, Thomas J. Neal, is a large and prosperous farmer, and a very prominent and influential citizen. He represented

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the twenty-fifth senatorial district in the general assembly in 1882-3. Dr. Neal received a good academic education, preparatory to entering Atlanta Medical col- lege, from which he was graduated in 1889. He at first located in Atlanta, but moved to, and located in Scotland the same year, where his success has exceeded his most sanguine expectations. In the spring of 1894 he took a post-graduate course at the New York polyclinic. He has already secured a large and remunera- tive practice, and is the medical examiner of the New York Life, Mutual Life, and Equitable Life Insurance associations, and for the Providence Savings, Knights of Honor, and others. Dr. Neal was married to Miss Sarah, daughter of D. B. Graham, of Scotland, in 1890. He is a Knight of Honor.

JOSIAH B. REYNOLDS, physician and druggist, Lumber City, Telfair Co., Ga., son of George and Mahala M. (Thrower) Reynolds, was born in Newton county, Ga., Sept. 5, 1849. His father was a merchant, was also engaged in farming, and was a railway contractor and constructionist. Dr. Reynolds was educated at Conyers high school and is a graduate of Emory college, Oxford, Ga. He entered Atlanta Medical college in 1876, attended two courses of lec- tures and was graduated in 1878. He located in Lumber City to practice his profession, and in connection with it established a drug store, and while building up a fine practice, has done a good drug business. Dr. Reynolds has been twice married. He married his first wife, Miss Fannie R. Baker, of Montgomery county, March 4, 1886, who died March 27, 1886. Aug. 6, 1890, he was married to Miss Mary E., daughter of John F. Gay, Conyers, Ga., by whom he has had three children: Nellie Daisy, born Oct. 25, 1891; Leila Josephine, born Jan. 19, 1893, and Lottie Erselle, born May 30, 1894. Dr. Reynolds was a member of the K. A. College fraternity.

JAMES C. RYALS, physician and farmer, Lumber City, Telfair Co., Ga., was born May 12, 1834. His father, John B. Ryals, was a farmer, an active and influential local politician and was a justice of the inferior court quite a num- ber of years. He died in 1863. Though his education was limited to the common schools of his time and locality; Dr. Ryals attained fair scholarship and taught school four years, 1854-58, in Montgomery, Telfair and Tattnall counties, in the meantime preparing for his chosen profession. He attended his first course of lectures at the medical college of Georgia at Augusta and his second course at Savannah Medical college, whence he was graduated in 1860. During the war he saw no field service, but remained at home and practiced in soldiers' families, excepting some hospital service around Atlanta during the siege and toward the close of the war. At this time and after the war he had a very large country practice. In addition to meeting all the exacting demands of such a practice he has always conducted a large farm. In 1892 he removed to Lumber City. Dr. Ryals was married to Miss Anna, daughter of William Mann, of Tattnall county, June 24, 1860. This union has been blessed with eight children: John B., born Jan. 28, 1862, druggist, Cordele, Dooly Co., Ga., married to Miss Emma Bussy, of Telfair county, who soon died; he was next married to Miss Emma, daughter of Dr. John Mobley, of Montgomery county; William M., born Dec. 7, 1863, graduated from Atlanta Medical college, married Miss Alice Meigs, of Alabama, and located in Florida; Ella V., eldest daughter, born June 7, 1866, married Dr. L. Clements, Montgomery county; James W., born March 3, 1868, druggist, McRae, Ga .; Ophelia E., born April 18, 1870, wife of Dr. A. C. Clements, Adel, Berrien Co., Ga .; Mary J., born March 6, 1872, died Sept. 6 same year; Aleph A., born June 23, 1873, died June 1, 1875, and Charles H., born June 1, 1875.

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Mrs. Ryals died April 21, 1895. Dr. Ryals is a master Mason and professionally and socially enjoys an enviable popularity.

THOMAS J. SMITH, farmer and stock-raiser, Nielly, Telfair Co., Ga., son of C. C. Smith, farmer, was born in Telfair county, March 31, 1842. His father was county tax collector a number of years, was popular and highly respected, and died in 1860. Mr. Smith was reared on a farm and was educated in the county schools. In 1862 he enlisted in Company B, Forty-ninth Georgia regi- ment, and served at the front during the war. Although thus in active service and often in exposed and perilous situations, he was so fortunate as to escape being sick or wounded. Returning from the war he resumed his farming operations, entered more largely into stock-raising, and about ten years ago invested capital in the manufacture of naval stores. He has been successful in all his undertakings. In 1872 he was elected to represent the county in the gen- eral assembly, and served one term. In 1880 he was elected to represent the fifteenth senatorial district in the general assembly two years (one term), and in 1892 was again elected to represent the same district; was made chairman of the committee on the deaf and dumb asylum, and appointed a member of several other committees. He has also been a member of the executive committee of the Georgia State Agricultural society. Mr. Smith has been twice married: first to Mrs. Nielly (McKay) Clemmons, by whom he had two children, yet living: Frederick A., born in 1875, now a student at Mercer university, Macon, Ga., and Eva May, born in 1877, a graduate of Wesleyan Female college, Macon, Ga. His second marriage was to Miss Eulah Peterson, of Montgomery county. Mr. Smith has been worshipful master of Lumber City Masonic lodge No. 199, Lumber City, Ga., and a member of W. T. McArthur chapter, royal arch Mason, also at Lumber City. He is at present vice-president of the eleventh congressional district for the State Agricultural society.

TERRELL COUNTY.

ANDREW JACKSON BALDWIN, merchant and manufacturer, Dawson, Terrell Co., Ga., son of Moses H. and Elizabeth (Miller) Baldwin, natives respectively of Georgia and North Carolina, was born near Cuthbert, Randolph Co., Ga., in 1847. His father was born in what is now Bibb county about 1814, and both parents dying he was left an orphan when he was about ten years old. He grew up as best he could, and educated himself. He engaged in business in Macon with an elder brother until the latter part of 1830, when he went to Randolph county, where, in 1841, he married and engaged prosperously in farm- ing until 1850. Trading his farm for land in what is now Terrell county, he set- tled in January, 1850, where Dawson now stands, and continued farming. In 1856 the town was laid off and platted, and in 1858 was incorporated, and Mr. Bald- win's father built the first residence in the then new and now enterprising and prosperous city of Dawson. He now added a merchandise business to his farm- ing, and operated a mill just over the line in Calhoun county. He was very successful in his various enterprises until the war between the states occurred,

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when, besides valuable real estate holdings, he owned 100 slaves. He was active and energetic in business, and a shrewd trader. In politics he was an old-line whig, and was postmaster at Dawson twenty years. He was a master Mason, and himself and wife were members of the Methodist church. He died in Daw- son in 1885, aged seventy-one years, and his widow died Jan. 3, 1894, aged seventy-two years. They were the parents of nine children: Martha E., who married R. T. Spearman, who as captain went with the Panola Rifles, of Dawson, into the Confederate service, and died in Virginia during the war; later she mar- ried R. T. Harper, Atlanta, in which city she died; John Wiley, partner of A. J .; A. J., the subject of this sketch, and his twin brother, William R .; Lewis Spaight, deceased; Moses H., deceased; Mary Matilda, deceased; Sarah, widow of J. W. Turner; Mary Spaight, wife of D. S. Ferguson, Dawson. Mr. Baldwin was reared in Dawson and attended the schools there until he was seventeen years old, when he enlisted in the Fifth regiment, Georgia reserves, and joined Gen. Hood's army. He participated in the battle of Jonesboro, and was with the ob- structionist forces in front of Gen. Sherman when he was marching through Georgia and the Carolinas. He was wounded at Rivers' bridge by having both bones of his fore-arm broken, was sent to the hospital and was afterward fur- loughed and came home. His regiment surrendered at Bentonville, N. C. Soon after his return home he engaged in a general merchandising business with his father, and in 1868 went into business for himself. In 1880 he put up a large gin- nery and mill, and six years later added a planing mill and machine shop. Besides these individual enterprises he is interested in the oil mill and compress com- panies at Dawson. In 1891 the Baldwin three-story brick block, modern archi- tecture and appointments, one of the finest in that part of the state, and an ornament to the city, was built. Mr. Baldwin, of untiring industry, never still, personally looks after all his enterprises, even to the minutest details; does all his own buying, and as this recital demonstrates, is a far-seeing and eminently progressive citizen. The esteem in which he is held is shown by the fact that he has repeatedly been elected an alderman, was early in life elected mayor at inter- vals, and then in 1892 elected again and re-elected in 1893 without opposition. Mr. Baldwin was happily married in Dawson in 1871 to Miss A. E., daughter of John H. Crouch, formerly of Butler, Taylor Co., Ga., where she was born and reared. Nine children have blessed this union. Those living at home are: William R., Andrew W., Florence A., Wiley L., Earnest, Moses C. and Alberta E. Two are dead-Lizzie, first-born, who died when eight months old, and an unnamed infant. Mr. Baldwin is a Knight of Honor, a member of the Royal Arcanum and has taken all the degrees in masonry. Himself and family are members of the Methodist church, of which he is one of the trustees. He is one of the most influential citizens of the community, and his delightful home and interesting family are deservedly popular.

J C. GUERRY, merchant and planter, Chickasawhatchie, is a son of J. P. and Mary A. (Lowry) Guerry. He was born July 6, 1836, and his early days were spent on the farm and attending school. When the civil war broke out he was among the first to volunteer and joined the Twelfth Georgia Volunteer in- fantry under Gen. Joe Johnston and remained in that command until he lost part of a hand and was badly wounded in the ankle. He then returned home and after farming awhile engaged in the mercantile business, which he still continues. He owns a farm of 300 acres, which he operates in connection with his business. Mr. Guerry was married to Rebecca A. Tison, a native of Georgia. They have one child, which was born in 1875, Jessie. Mr. and Mrs. Guerry are members of

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the Methodist Episcopal church. He has been justice of the peace for ten years, resigning in 1893.

FLI G. HILL, planter, Bronwood, Terrell Co., Ga., son of David B. and Matilda (Spencer) Hill, was born in Baldwin county, Ga., Jan. 2, 1820. His paternal grandfather, Robert Hill, was a son of one of three brothers who came from Ireland before the revolutionary war, settled in Virginia, and served as a captain in the patriot army. After the war the brothers separated and the Georgia branch of the family lost track of the others. Mr. Hill's grandfather came to Georgia when a young man, on business, and being favorably impressed with the country determined to make it his home. He was a great talker, and the mixture of the Irish brogue with his English only made him the more interesting and popular, and he became much in demand as an auctionecr at public sales. He was thrice married. The offspring of his first marriage were: Thomas, who served as a volunteer soldier in one of the earlier Indian wars; and Olivia, who married, and reared a small family. His second marriage was to a Miss Bailey-a relative of the Baileys at Griffin, Ga. By this marriage he had six children: David B .; Hiram H., who, after marrying, died leaving three children; James A., who served as sheriff of Baldwin county, and died in 1842, leaving six children; Eli S., who after his marriage settled in Walton county, Ga., represented that county in the general assembly, and, in 1848, went to Texas; Charles, who married and moved to Arkansas, and settled near Arkadelphia; Rebecca, who married Robert Brown and settled in Crawford county, Ga., and after living there twenty years moved to Macon county, Ga., where herself and husband died, leaving a small family, some of whom are living in California. His third wife was a Miss Phinney, by whom he had no children. In 1823 he was killed by being thrown from a horse when returning from a sale. Mr. Hill's father was born at what was then known as "Shoulder Bone," in what is now Hancock county (laid off in 1793), July 5, 1792, and was raised and educated in Hancock and Baldwin counties. He remained on the old home place-included in Baldwin county when laid out in 1803-as a planter and stock raiser, in which he was very successful. Besides a large body of land he owned 103 slaves at his death, which occurred Dec. 31, 1843, in his fifty- second year. Politically he was an ardent and active old-line whig, but not an office seeker, as he would never accept office. His wife was born in Louisville (then the capital of Georgia) in 1795. Her family, the Spencers, were old settlers and prominent; an uncle, Col. Mowbrcy, being an officer of the state government. They were the parents of eleven children: Mary, married Col. R. S. Williams, both dead; Caroline A., married J. W. Lightfoot, who died in ten months-then she married T. A. Goodwin, both dead; Eli G., our subject; Elizabeth R., near Dallas, Texas, widow of L. D. Holstein; Melvina, Albany, Ga., widow of Thomas God- win, formerly of Milledgeville; Olivia, Austin, Texas, widow of F. K. Wright; David B., on the home place, Baldwin county; Jane A., married Ned Millner, Titus county, Texas; Josephine Ann, deceased wife of William Ross, Dallas, Texas; Melissa A., Milledgeville, widow of Ed White; John L., enlisted in Fourth Georgia regiment, died of measles, Camp Jackson, Norfolk, Va., Aug. 1, 1861. Mr. Hill was principally reared and received his primary education in Baldwin county at the common schools; and afterward attended Oglethorpe university, then flourishing at Midway, Baldwin Co., one of his college mates being Gen. Phil Cook, secretary of state of Georgia, lately deceased. Returning home he was variously employed until 1839, when he moved to what was then Lee county, where, with two negro boys and 200 acres of land presented him by his father, he started in life for himself. He still owns the place, on which he lived until a few years ago, when he moved to Bronwood. In the Creck Indian war he was a

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member of Capt. Gaither's cavalry company, for which, in 1850, he received a land bounty. When mustered into the service he was only sixteen years old, the youngest member of the company, and is now one of only three survivors of the company-the other two being Judge A. H. Hansell, Thomasville, and Jacob Gunn, Milledgeville. He was a member-and chairman-of the first board of supervisors to look after jurors, continuing on the same eleven or twelve years. He was also a justice of the inferior court for many years. During the unpleas- antness he was appointed one of five commissioners in the county to look after the soldiers' families in Terrell county; and in 1878 he was elected to represent the county in the general assembly. Mr. Hill has taken a great interest in every movement proposed which in his judgment would advance the county materially and morally, always supporting candidates best fitted for the position sought- himself neither seeking nor declining office. It has been the special solicitude and delight of his life so to educate his children that they would be intelligent, moral and useful members of society. Himself well educated, well informed gen- erally, of refined thought and manners, he ranks high in all the walks of life. Mr. Hill was happily married Oct. 2, 1842, to Miss Annie V., daughter of P. O. Paris, Warrenton, Ga., where she was born in 1825, and received her early educa- tion. In 1841 she graduated from Wesleyan Female college, Macon, Ga. She was a life-long, exemplary and useful member of the Methodist church, and died April 17, 1889, having been the mother of thirteen children: Eugene B., enlisted in Sumter light guards, Americus, Ga., Fourth Georgia regiment, in 1861, and was killed July 18, 1864, at Snicker's gap, Shenandoah valley, on Early's retreat from Washington, D. C .; Sarah E., Mrs. Frank Gyles, Americus, Ga .; George O., merchant, Bronwood; Anna S., Mrs. M. A. Marks, died in Florida; Alma C., farming near Bronwood; David B., died in Americus, April, 1893, leaving a wife and six children; Mollie E., single, at home; Myrta V., a graduate of Wesleyan Female college, at home; James J., merchant, Bronwood, Ga .; Carrie A., deceased wife of G. C. Price, Macon, Ga .; John L., on the old home place, Terrell county ; Inez, Mrs. Dr. N. B. Drewry, Griffin, Ga .; Jessie E., died when two years old. Delightfully domiciled, prosperous, highly and universally respected, and sur- rounded by an interesting family and appreciative friends, he is pleasantly passing his declining years, patiently awaiting the final summons.

ALMA C. HILL, planter, Bronwood, Terrell Co., Ga., son of Judge Eli G. and Annie V. (Paris) Hill, was born on the family homestead in what is now Terrell (then Lee) county, in 1850. His boyhood was passed on the plantation, and he was educated in the common schools of the county and Rylander academy at Americus. The war between the states interfering, he failed to receive the thorough education intended for him. He remained at home until 1871, when he engaged as agent for the El Paso Stage company, continuing four years. In 1875 he returned and conducted a saw mill and lumber business for several years, and then located at his present home, about six miles east of Dawson, where he has since been engaged in farming. He takes considerable interest, and is very active in politics, but is very conservative. In 1890 he was elected to represent the eleventh senatorial district in the general assembly without opposition; was chairman of the committee on immigration and labor; was very active in his efforts in behalf of the bill placing the telegraph and express companies under the supervision of the railroad commissioners, and was made chairman of the sub-committee appointed on that subject. In 1894 he was elected to represent the county in the general assembly. He is a successful farmer, public-spirited and popular. Mr. Hill was married Jan. 18, 1882, to Miss Ella T., daughter of Dr.

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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 129

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