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 131

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 131

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MATTHEW MARSHALL, planter, Sasser, Terrell Co., Ga., son of Matthew and Margaret (King) Marshall, was born in Houston county, Ga., in 1834. Mr. Marshall's father was born in Ohio, and when a young man migrated to North Carolina and settled in Rockingham county, where not long afterward he mar- ried, came to Georgia, and settled in Jones county. Soon afterward he moved to Houston county, and after farming a few years on rented land settled on an unimproved place, where he died, about 1840, aged about sixty years. He was a consistent member of the Baptist church. In 1852 his widow moved with her family to Lee county, Ga., and settled a place on which she lived until after the war, when she came to Sasser and made her home with the subject of this sketch until her death, which occurred in 1873. To them eleven children were born, all growing to maturity, and four of whom still survive: James N., moved to Yazoo county, Miss., entered the Confederate service, lost an eye in the war, was a planter afterward, and died in 1887; Emily, deceased wife of R. E. Story, Houston county; Rhoda, Mrs. William Moreland, Terrell county; Levi enlisted in Company H, Thirteenth Georgia regiment, and died of sickness at Staunton, Va., in 1863; William moved to Yazoo county, Miss., enlisted in the Confederate service, and died in Holmes county, Miss., about 1864; Polly, deceased wife of Henry King, Lee county; Matthew, the subject of this sketch; Thomas J., a member of the Eleventh Georgia regiment, died in Richmond, leaving a family; Sarah J., died in 1853, unmarried; Rebecca, Mrs. A. J. Mcclendon, Terrell county; Margaret, married Jehu Davis, who was killed during the war; and she is now Mrs. W. S. Bowen, Terrell county. Mr. Marshall was raised principally in Houston county, where he received a fair common school education. When eighteen years old he accompanied his mother to Lee county, and assisted on the farm until 1861, when he enlisted in Company H, Capt. Spearman, Thirteenth Georgia regiment, and left Dawson July 5, 1861, for the army. He participated in the seven days' fight around Richmond, and the battles at Gettysburg and Fredericksburg, and was captured in the battle in which Stonewall Jackson was killed; was taken to and detained ten days in Washington city, then sent to Fort Delaware. After twenty days' imprisonment he was exchanged and imme- diately returned to Jackson's division, then under the command of Gen. Early.

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MEMOIRS OF GEORGIA.

He was a participant in the fight on the Susquehanna when the bridge at Wrights- ville was burned: was at Gettysburg in the hottest of the fight; then in the Shen- andoah valley, where there were engagements of more or less importance almost every day-receiving a severe flesh wound by being shot through the left thigh at Strasburg-and was at Petersburg when that city was evacuated. He was again taken prisoner there, and sent to Point Lookout, where he was held until after the surrender. He experienced many hardships, and suffered many privations while in the service, but endured it all as the faithful patriotic soldier that he was should. In the battle at Gettysburg he had his cartridge box on one side, his canteen on the other, and both were several times shot through with minie balls; and at other battles his clothing was many times perforated. After the surrender, and his release from Point Lookout, he returned to his mother's plantation in Lee county. Nov. 2, 1865, he married Mrs. Sarah Jane (nee King) Mcclendon, who died April 4, 1886. She was a consistent member of the Baptist church. September 15 following, Mr. Marshall married Miss Rebecca J. King (a cousin of his first wife), daughter of John King, of Houston county, where she was reared and educated, who has borne him five children: Sallie Maggie; Willie Irene; John Matthew, died in 1893; John M .; Marshallie. In 1865 he purchased a place on the Chickasawhatchie creek, about two miles from where he now lives, and which he still owns. In 1881 he settled on his present place about half a mile from Sasser, where he has about 700 acres under splendid cultivation, and a delightful home, where he is enjoying life surrounded by hosts of warm friends. He is one of the best, and one of the leading farmers in Terrell county. Himself and wife are exemplary members of the Primitive Baptist church, of which he has been a deacon for twenty years.

WILLIAM MORELAND, planter, Dawson, Terrell Co., Ga., son of Edward and Nancy (Mcclendon) Moreland, was born in Jones county, Ga., Nov. 18, 1822. Mr. Moreland's grandfather was a weaver by trade and went among the Cherokee Indians a great deal teaching them how to weave. Finally he went among them, and as he was never heard from, it was supposed he had died. He left two children-Edward and Sallie-who were thus made orphans, and were reared by an aunt Atkinson in Jones county. Sallie married Burrell Mcclendon, who, after living a number of years in Bibb county, moved to and settled in what is now Terrell county. Here Mr. Moreland's father married his wife, oldest child of John McClendon, formerly of South Carolina. He lived in Jones county until he had six children, when he moved, about 1832, to within four miles of where the subject of this sketch is now living. It was partially improved, and a portion of the tract forms a part of the estate of Gen. Phil Cook. He lived on this place until he died, in 1844, in the fifty-first year of his age. He became a cripple when a young man, but it did not affect his energy or determination of purpose. He was an old-line whig in politics, and a member of the Methodist church, of which he was a class leader many years. His maternal grandfather, John McClen- don, was a native of South Carolina, whence, after he had considerable of a fam- ily he moved to Alabama. Not being pleased he shortly returned to South Caro- lina. Not long afterward he came to Georgia and settled in Jones county, whence, about 1830, he moved to Lee county and settled on land which is now a part of Gen. Phil Cook's estate, where he lived until he died, in his seventy-first year. In politics he was an uncompromising whig. His wife was Miss Dicey Blackwell, born in South Carolina, and they reared a large family of children. To Mr. Moreland's parents ten children were born, all of whom but one grew to matu- rity: John, who was a volunteer in the Florida war, died in 1891 while on a

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visit to that state; Bartley (deceased), moved to Arkansas, and served in the army during the late unpleasantness; William M., the subject of this sketch; Martha, deceased wife of George W. King, Alabama; Dicey, deceased wife of James Brown, Terrell county; Joseph went to Pike county, Ala., enlisted in the Confederate service, was taken sick at the siege of Vicksburg, and died on the way home; Newton was in the service with his brother Joseph, was taken sick and died at Vicksburg; Elizabeth, widow of Calvin C. Kersey, formerly of Lee, now of Terrell county; Dennis went to Alabama, entered the Confederate service in which he died; Sallie died when a child. The mother of these children died when about forty-five years of age-a consistent member of the Methodist church. For his second wife Mr. Moreland married Mrs. Polly (nee Mcclendon) Hawkins, by whom he had one child, Hugh, now living in Louisiana. Mr. More- land was in his eleventh year when his father moved to Lee from Jones county, where he had enjoyed excellent school facilities. These were quite limited in his new home; and his father's crippled condition making it necessary for the older children to assist in the plantation work, he was deprived of further school advantages. But when he became of age he attended subscription schools several months, much to his advantage. In 1848 he moved to where he now lives, eight miles east of Dawson, in sight of which he has lived more than sixty years, and commenced farming, which has been his life occupation. When he located where he is the country was comparatively unsettled, and his nearest white neighbor was five miles distant, and very little clearing except along Middle creek. In 1863 he enlisted in the Sixty-fourth Georgia regiment under Gen. A. H. Colquitt, and served until the battle of Ocean Pond, Fla., Oct. 20, 1864, when he was seriously wounded by being shot through the right choulder by a minie ball, fracturing the bone. He was sent to the hospital at Tallahassee, Fla., and soon afterward given a furlough and came home. While at home he was taken sick and could not re-enter the service, so he went to Virginia, where his command was and secured an honorable discharge. He then returned to his farm to which he has since given his undivided attention. His first purchase of land was sixty acres, to which he added from time to time until he owned 800 acres. Unambitious of office, and having no higher worldly aspiration than that of being a good citizen and negh- bor, he has pursued the quiet life of a farmer, devoting himself exclusively to his farming interests. He makes plenty and to spare; possessing a pleasant home and the affectionate regard of his family and the unreserved esteem of his fellow-citizens. Mr. Moreland was married in Houston county, Ga., Dec. 16, 1847, to Miss Rhoda Marshall-born in Jones county, Ga., in 1827-by whom he has had seven children: Bartley, living on adjoining plantation; Nancy, deceased wife of Nathan Davis; Martha, Mrs. J. T. King, Terrell county; Sallie, deceased wife of J. T. Kitchens; Rebecca, Mrs. Dr. J. R. Kidd, Preston, Web- ster Co., Ga .; Victoria, Mrs. J. T. Kitchens, Terrell county; W. E., living on a part of the old homestead. Before the war Mr. Moreland was an old-line whig, but since the war he has voted with the democracy. Himself and wife are exem- plary and revered members of the Primitive Baptist church.

W. D. MURRAY, farmer, Dawson, Terrell Co., Ga., son of Moses W. and Eliza B. (Warnock) Murray, was born in Charleston district, S. C., in 1828. His grandfather, Rev. Moses Murray, was a local Methodist preacher, was born and raised in Charleston district, where he planted and preached all his life, and died there at an advanced age in 1838. His wife, Margaret (Bunch) Murray, was of Dutch descent, was also born in Charleston district, and survived her husband many years. She was a very devoted member of the Methodist church, and was a regular attendant at the camp meetings held yearly at Providence camp ground,

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near Charleston, where they had a tent. To them six children were born: Ann, married Rev. John Bunch of the South Carolina conference, who died in Florida at the advanced age of ninety years, having been blind many years before her death; Moses W., father of our subject; Lovick Pierce, who went to Louisiana and farmed in early life, then returned to Georgia, and after farming awhile engaged in milling. He finally settled near Norcross, Gwinnett Co., leaving a good estate and a widow, who is still living; Dilla, deceased wife of John Durr, who came to Georgia and farmed awhile, then moved back to South Carolina, where she died; Margaret, deceased wife of John S. Wimberly, farmer and wheel- wright, Calhoun county, Ga .; Mary Ann, married Joseph Inabnett and came to Georgia and settled in Baker county, where she died. Mr. Murray's father was the second child and oldest son of the family, and was born in Charleston district, S. C., in 1800, where he was raised and given a common school education. When attaining manhood he married Eliza B. Warnock, born in Charleston, only daughter of Gabriel Warnock, a native of England. His wife was left a widow with three sons and one daughter (the mother of our subject). The sons were: John, who died in Calhoun county, Ga .; S. C., who died near the old home place; Joseph, who was a prominent Methodist minister, lived to be quite old before he died. In 1843 Mr. Murray's father moved with his family to Georgia, by wagon, and settled on land in Baker county, now included in Calhoun county, on which he lived until 1872, when he died. He furnished a substitute during the Cherokee Indian trouble. In politics he was a whig, but took no active part as a partisan, devoting his time and attention to his farm and family. He was an active and exemplary member of the Methodist church, of which he was a steward, and a class leader from early manhood. His wife was also a devoted member of the same church, and died in 1878. They were the parents of eight children: James R. N., who died with pneumonia in 1861; W. D., the subject of this sketch; Elizabeth M., deceased wife of Dr. Walter T. Murchison, Arlington, Calhoun Co., Ga .; Mary, in Florida, widow of John Murchison; Moses H., died near Albany,

Ga., March II, 1894; Sarah, Mrs. L. M. Leonard, Terrell county; S. T. C., Cochran, Pulaski Co., Ga .; and Dorothy Selatha, Mrs. Larkin Johnson, Terrell county. Mr. Murray received his boyhood schooling in South Carolina, an interesting incident of which was, that one of his teachers, Peter Eggleston, an old Englishman, was also a teacher of his father. Although only a youth, he was mustered into the South Carolina militia before he left the state. He received some schooling after coming to Georgia. What he lacked in educational ad- vantages when growing up he has largely supplied by close observation and practical life-experience. On reaching maturity he began farming for himself in Baker county. During the latter part of the civil war he served in Wheeler's cavalry, participated in the battle of July 22, 1864, in other fights, and skirmishes around Atlanta, in Wheeler's raid in Tennessee, covering Johnson's retreat, and at Aiken, S. C. He is an old-time democrat, and cast his first vote for George W. Towns for governor of Georgia. Although taking an active part in politics he never aspired to office, but served many years as a justice of the peace. In 1894 he was elected to represent his district in the general assembly. Mr. Murray when twenty-four years of age married Miss Elizabeth Jones, daughter of Bryant Jones, a prominent Early county farmcr. She was born in Florida in 1833, and when she was a little girl her parents moved to Early county. They have no children, but have twin boys, nephews, sons of Moses H. Murray, whom they received into their family in 1875, when they were eleven months old. Mr. Murray is a master Mason, and has presided as worshipful master of his lodge. Mrs. Murray and family are exemplary members of the Methodist church.

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W. B. OXFORD, planter, Dawson, Terrell Co., Ga., son of John and Jane (Baker) Oxford, was born in Lumpkin county, Ga., in 1836. His great- grandparents came from Europe and settled in North Carolina, where they raised a quite large family of children. His paternal grandfather, Jonathan Oxford -- born in 1765-was one of eight sons of this family, no two of whom settled in the same state; one was killed at the battle of New Orleans. Jonathan married a Miss White, born in North Carolina, and settled in Buncombe county, that state, where four children-three sons and one daughter-were born to him. He then moved to Georgia, settled first in Lumpkin county, where he remained until 1845-46, when he went to Walker county, where he prospered as a farmer, and died in 1850, aged eighty-five years. He accumulated some property as a farmer and stock raiser, and was a democrat in politics. His wife died some years later very old. Their children were: Jacob, who first settled in Georgia, and later moved to middle Tennessee; David, died in Whitfield county, Ga., never married; Elizabeth, married James Owenby, who died, and then she married William Hall and went to Kansas; and John. The last-named was Mr. Oxford's father, who was born in Buncombe county, N. C., Nov. 24, 1799, where he was raised on the farm. He married Miss Jane Baker of Ashe county, N. C., and after living a short time in Buncombe, migrated to Georgia about 1825, coming in a four-horse wagon through the inountains (a pleasant and interesting trip, although the country was wild, mountainous and sparsely peopled), and settled in Lumpkin county. About the time of the Cherokee purchase he moved to Walker county, where he lived until after the battle of Chickamauga, when he refugeed to Terrell county and located in Dawson, where he died in 1882. He assisted in removing the Cherokees from Georgia. His wife, born in 1804, died in Walker county in 1854. Himself and wife were members of the Missionary Baptist church. To them eleven children were born. Those living are: Amanda J., wife of W. R. Russell, Whitfield county; W. B., the subject of this sketch; John H., Terrell county; C. F., Terrell county; Josephine, Mrs. B. F. Commander, Fannin county, Tex. Those deceased are: James H., accidentally shot himself while hunting; Nancy, deceased wife of John Puryear, Walker county, Ga .; Sarah L., deceased wife of J. C. O'Neal, Walker county; Louisa, died when fourteen years old; Elizabeth, deceased wife of H. B. Cobb, Fannin county, Tex .; David W., acci- dentally killed in Dawson in 1870 while under a tent during Ames' show, by a shot fired outside. After the death of his wife he married Mrs. John Oxford (nee White) Ellis, by whom he had three children: Lee, Whitfield county; the other two died young. His widow is yet living in Whitfield county, Ga. Mr. Oxford was raised on the farm and educated in Walker county, where he lived until he reached maturity-1857-when he went to Texas and engaged in clerking until the war between the states began. He then enlisted in the Third Texas regiment cavalry, commanded by Gen. Ben McCulloch, and participated in the battle of Oak Hill-where Gen. Lyons was killed-and Pea Ridge, in the Missouri cam- paign. He was then transferred to east of the Mississippi river under Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston, and afterward to Gen. Bragg's command. After the battle of Chickamauga he was in no important battle, but was in numerous minor engage- ments. In 1873 he moved to Terrell county and purchased the tract of land on which he now lives, then partially improved, to which he has added until his holding amounts to 800 acres, 500 in one body, most of which is under fine cultivation. He is one of Terrell's most prominent and substantial citizens. He was at one time tax collector of the county, and was one of the commissioners in charge of the building of the new court house. Mr. Oxford was married to Miss Mary Commander, daughter of John Wesley of Macon county, who has borne him nine children: Nancy J., deceased wife of John S. Jones, leaving four

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children; John T., on home place, married Miss Minnie Marshall and has two children; Mattie, Mrs. John M. Wall, Terrell county, one child; William H .; B. C .; Mary J .; D. M .; and J. H., at home, and a boy-baby, which died unnamed. Mr. Oxford is a strong democrat and a master Mason. Himself and wife are members of the Missionary Baptist church.

JAMES GUYTON PARKS, attorney-at-law, Dawson, Terrell Co., Ga., son of Wiley G. and Tabitha (Guyton) Parks-born, respectively, in North Carolina and Georgia-was born in Laurens county, Ga., June 28, 1853. His father was born in North Carolina in 1818, the youngest of a large family of children, some of whom became prominent in the professions and the ministry, one as pastor of Trinity church, New York city. He came to Georgia when a young man and settled in Floyd county, where he read law, and was admitted to the bar in Rome, Ga. About this time he made his home with Rev. Dabney P. Jones, a prominent Methodist minister, but more generally and popularly known throughout Georgia and Alabama as "Uncle Dabney," and as an influential temperance lecturer. The close association with "Uncle Dabney" growing out of this relationship, and the influence the beloved philanthropist exercised, resulted in Mr. Parks' deciding to become an itinerant Methodist preacher, and he applied for admission to and was accepted by the Georgia conference. He acceptably filled many important pastorates and the presiding eldership of districts. He was in charge of Terrell circuit when the war between the states began, when he raised a company, of which he was elected captain, and entered the Confederate service. After the war he was elected judge of the county court, which he held some years, and engaged in the practice of law. Later he was elected ordinary, an office which he held until the year before he died, in 1877, aged fifty-nine years. In early life he was an old-line whig, but late in life he became a democrat, and was an enthusiastic supporter of Samuel J. Tilden for the presidency. He was an ex- emplary member of the Methodist church, and exercised a wide and powerful influence. Mrs. Parks' parents were of eminent South Carolina families, who early in life came to Georgia, where she was born. She is still living, has been a life-long ardent and active member of the Methodist church, and makes her home with her son, the subject of this sketch. Their family of children consisted of six: James Guyton; William S., deceased, secretary Lamar Drug company, Atlanta, Ga., eminent as a pharmacist; Carrie, wife of F. E. Clark, cashier Dawson National bank; Lloyd B., of the George Muse Clothing company, Atlanta; Helen, wife of L. F. Cater, merchant, Perry, Houston Co., Ga., and Frank L. Mr. Parks was educated and prepared for college at the best schools in Dawson, then entered the university of Georgia, Athens, graduating in the law department in 1874. He was for a short time a professor in the South Georgia Male institute, Dawson, and subsequently a member of the board of trustees. He was chosen as a trustee of the Southwest Georgia Agricultural college, at Cuthbert, in 1880, and that same year was elected to represent the Eleventh senatorial district in the general assembly, and was re-elected in 1882, being elected each time without opposition. In 1881 he edited the "Dawson Journal," and in 1885 was appointed on the board of visitors to the university of Georgia. In 1888 he was appointed, and still continues to be, local attorney of the Central Railroad and Banking company of Georgia. Mr. Parks was married Oct. 19, 1875, to Miss Eola G., daughter of Prof. William H. Allen, by whom he has had three children: William Wiley, deceased; James Guyton, Jr., and Warren B. He is a gentleman of culture and ranks with the foremost in ability and in social, financial and political circles, and wields a far-reaching salutary influence.

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J L. PARROTT, merchant-planter, Parrott, Terrell Co., Ga., son of James and Harriet (Dennard) Parrott, was born in Twiggs county, Ga. His paternal grandfather was a native of France, came to Georgia and settled in Washington county late in the last century. Mr. Parrott's parents were born in Washington county -- the father in 1795, the mother in 1800. While they were yet children their parents moved to Twiggs county, Ga., where, when grown, they were mar- ried. In 1834, with three children, they moved to Stewart county (pioneers) and settled near Lumpkin. In 1834 a tract of improved land (then in Randolph coun- ty) was bought, where the subject of this sketch now lives, where his father died Jan. 19, 1865, and his mother in October, 1888. Mr. Parrott served as a volunteer in the Indian war. To them eight children were born, of whom there are now living: Laura, Mrs. Samuel Stokes, Terrell county; Mary A., same county; J. L., the subject of this sketch; Louisa Virginia, Mrs. L. M. Jumper, Parrott, Ga. Those deceased are: Benjamin, died when eighteen years old; Augustus, enlisted in the Thirty-first Georgia regiment, was captured, and the last seen of him was in Point Lookout (Md.) prison; Martha (Mrs. Whaley) and Harriet. Mr. Parrott was raised in the vicinity where he now lives, and was educated in the common schools of the county. At the age of nineteen he commenced farming for him- self and was thus engaged when the war between the states began. He enlisted in Company K, Seventeenth Georgia regiment, under Gen. Henry L. Benning,

formerly of Columbus. He saw much arduous service and participated in many hard-fought battles, among them second Manassas, seven days' fight around Rich- mond, Sharpsburg, Gettysburg, Fredericksburg, Wilderness, Cold Harbor, Peters- burg and many minor engagements. In 1863 his command was ordered south and took part in the battles at Knoxville and Chickamauga and numerous small engagements and skirmishes. After two years' service as a private he was elected first lieutenant and held the office till hostilities ceased. He received two flesh wounds, one at Gettysburg and one at Chickamauga, during his service and was furloughed but once, and that was just before the surrender, which occurred after he reached Virginia, but before he reached his command. After the war he returned to his farm and is now very extensively engaged in farming and is also financially interested in various other enterprises. In 1889, about a year before the Columbus Southern (Columbus to Albany) railway was built, he laid out the town-named Parrott, in compliment to him-which has become a very consid- erable trading point. Mr. Parrott has taken great pride and a lively interest in the development and prosperity of the town, which now has the Parrott high school, sustained by subscription, a Methodist and Missionary Baptist church, seven stores, two ginneries, a planing mill, grist mill, variety works and hotel and livery stable, all doing a prosperous business. Soon after the town, which is located on the Columbus Southern railway nine miles northwest of Dawson, was founded, it was established as a postoffice. Mr. Parrott has been mayor of the town until within a year and is a member of the board of trustees of the high school. He is a solid democrat and is one of the large planters and one of the substantial citizens of the county. He has done himself and the county great injustice by remaining unmarried.

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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 131

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