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 137

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 137

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crat. He is a prominent member of the order of Masons, having been for many years worshipful master. Mr. Mobley in 1872 married Miss Aldora Moreland, daughter of Benjamin T. and Mary (Buttrill) Moreland, born in Heard county, Ga., in May, 1852. Both Mr. Mobley and his wife are members of the M. E. church. Their union has been blessed with ten children, nine of whom are living: William P., Benjamin E., Judson Gordon, Roy M., Eleazer C., Robert T., Reda S., Minnie M. and an infant.

H. E. NEWTON, farmer, Long Cane, Troup Co., Ga., son of John T. and Sarah (Loyd) Newton, was born in Troup county in 1856. His paternal great- grandfather, John Newton, was a prominent Presbyterian clergyman in Virginia. His paternal grandparents, Ebenezer and Ann (Strong) Newton, were born in Virginia, whence they migrated to Georgia about 1800 and settled in what is now Clarke county. Mr. Newton and a neighbor bought a whip-saw, with which they sawed lumber to build a two-story house, and he made the nails needed in its construction. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and a member of the Presby- terian church, of which he was an elder. Mr. Newton's father was born in Athens, Ga., in 1821. He was reared in the town and received a good education, his father being a teacher, and in 1841 removed to Troup county, where he made farming his life-occupation. He was a soldier in the Confederate service during the late war, was a Presbyterian and an elder in the church. Mr. Newton's inother was a daughter of James Loyd, a pioneer settler of Troup county. Mr. Newton received a good common school education, and then taught school himself two years. In 1882 he settled on the farm where he now lives, which is one of the best appointed and best improved in the district. Mr. Newton is a progressive and very prosperous farmer, a model citizen and an active and able promoter of all improvements calculated to advance the community materially and morally. Mr. Newton was married in 1884 to Miss Willie Cunningham, born in Troup county, daughter of Dr. William and Martha (White) Cunningham. He was a native of Tennessee and a Presbyterian, and she was a native of Virginia. Three children: Irene, Mattie and Jeannette, are the fruit of this union. Himself and wife are members of the Presbyterian church, and when his father died he was elected to succeed him as elder.

J. M. OWENS, farmer, Mountville, Troup Co., Ga., son of Daniel and Mary (Prather) Owens, was born in Troup county in 1847. His paternal grand- father, Henry Owens, was a native of Ireland, and came to America before the revolutionary war, in which he served as a soldier in the patriot army. Mr. Owens' father was born in South Carolina, came to Georgia in ox-carts, in 1832, and settled where Mountville now stands; and the next year moved to the place on which Mr. Owens now lives. His mother was also born in South Carolina, and was the daughter of John and Mary Prather, of Scotch descent, born in South Carolina. When the family came to Georgia his mother rode the entire distance on horseback. Mr. Owens was reared a farmer, and farming has been his life- occupation. His limited schooling was restricted to the common schools of the rural districts. In 1864 he enlisted in Company A, Thirty-seventh Georgia regi- ment, but as hostilities ceased soon afterward, his service was of short duration, and not extra arduous. After the war he resumed farming operations, in which he has been prosperous, and is considered one of the best farmers in the county.

JAMES F. PARK, LL. D., was born May 17, 1834, in Hall county, Ga. He was the son of John and Sarah T. (Robertson) Park. His paternal great- grandfather was a native of Virginia and a soldier in the war of 1812. His paternal

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grandparents were also from the state of Virginia. The Park family came originally from County Donegal, Ireland, in 1744, and settled in Chester county, Penn. Dr. Park's great-grandfather was a revolutionary soldier, killed at the battle of Cowpens. Dr. Park received his early training from his father, a teacher by profession and thorough and capable in his work; he completed his education at the university of Georgia, where he graduated with the highest honors of his class. He early chose the profession of teaching as his life work, and followed it without interruption for over thirty years. He was beyond question a great teacher and a master in his profession, and the high characters and intellects of many professional and business men, prominent and many of them eminent, in the several southern states testify to the powerful influence for good and use- fulness wrought into them by his care and guidance as an educator. Few ever entered the educational field better equipped for its useful and arduous labors, and none ever reaped greater success in its truest sense. He was founder and principal of the famous Park high school of Tuskegee, Ala., and during his active labors was honored with the degree of Ph. D. by the university of Alabama, and of LL. D. by the college at Auburn, Ala. In 1883, from failing health, Dr. Park retired from his profession and removed to his native state, settling at La Grange, Ga. Here he has lived a quiet, retired life with the cxception of two years' service as alderman and two years as mayor of La Grange. During his mayoralty he was largely instrumental in the inauguration of a system of electric lights and water works for the city of La Grange, which only needed these two additional marks of progress to render it first among the smaller cities of Georgia. In 1863 Dr. Park married Miss Emma Bailey, daughter of William and Octavia (Holt) Bailey. Six sons are the result of this marriage: Frank, Edward Douglass (deceased), Robert Emory, Walter Gordon, Henry Earle, and Raleigh Park. Dr. Park is to-dav retired from active life and spends a quiet time at his beautiful home in La Grange, varied with occasional travel.

I O. PERRY, retired merchant, Troup Factory, Troup Co., Ga., son of Thomas A. and Amelia (Earp) Perry, was born in Troup county in 1848. His paternal grandfather was John Perry, South Carolina, a soldier in the war of 1812. His parents were natives of South Carolina, who early in life came to Georgia and settled in Troup county. His father served in the state militia during the late unpleasantness, and was a justice of the peace many years. His maternal grandparents were natives of South Carolina-the grandfather named Lew Earp. They migrated to Georgia and settled in Floyd county in 1845. From there they went to Harris county, Ga., where they lived a year and then moved to Troup county. Mr. Perry was reared in Troup county, received a fair common school education, and served some time in the state troops. He began life with $125, by opening a general merchandise store at Troup Factory in 1871, which he continued until 1891, when he retired, having more than realized his most sanguine expectations as to success and prosperousness. While engaged in merchandising he conducted a quite large farming interest, which he still carries on; in which also he was prosperous. He owns nearly 800 acres of good land, which is weil improved; and having demonstrated his business ability by his great success as a merchant, he is now engaged in the laudable work of proving himself to be a good farmer, which it is thought he is doing with his usual success-and he is enjoying among his wide circle of friends and acquaintances the confidence and esteem which follows success. Mr. Perry was married in 1877 to Miss Anna E. Estes-born in Troup county-daughter of John A. and Margaret F. (Hall) Estes. Her father was born in Virginia and came to Georgia a few years before his marriage. Margaret F. Hall was born and reared in Troup county. Thirteen

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children-of whom ten are living-were the fruit of this union: Anna O., Chara B., John A., Lula M., Ira and Iris (twins), Lillie, Henry Grady, Rosa V., and Julian G. Mrs. Perry, an exemplary member of the Methodist church, died Oct. 15, 1894. Mr. Perry is a master Mason, and a prominent member of the Methodist church.

JAMES L. SIMS, farmer, Hogansville, Troup Co., Ga., son of William G. and Permelia (Cheatham) Sims, was born in Meriwether county, Ga., Oct. 10, 1837. His paternal grandparents, John and Fannie (Garr) Sims, were natives of Virginia and came to Georgia early in this century and settled in the woods near Athens, Clarke Co., Ga. Mr. Sims' father was born on this farm July 7, 18II, was reared there, and educated in the "old-field" schools of the locality and period. In 1829 he went to Meriwether county, Ga., and settled in the woods, living in tents until they could build cabins-minus floors-in which the family lived in that condition for some considerable time. In 1837 he moved to Troup county, where he very nearly repeated his pioneer experience in the county he left. He was married Dec. 15, 1836, to Miss Permelia Cheatham-born near Athens, March 8, 1815- daughter of Josiah and Permelia (Jones) Cheatham, pioneer settlers near Athens. Mr. Cheatham was a soldier in the war of 1812, and lived to be more than 103 years old. To Mr. Sims' parents the following children were born: James L., the subject of this sketch, born Oct. 10, 1837; Emeline, born Sept. 17, 1838; William N., born July 13, 1840; Cynthia E., born Oct. 20, 1841; Fannie, born Feb. 26, 1843; Mary, born July 5, 1845; John I., born Sept. 6, 1847; Josiah G., born April 25, 1849; Jones C., born Jan. 22, 1851; George R., born June 15, 1853. He began life very poor, but he was industrious and energetic, and being pro- gressive, with exceptionally good business judgment, he became quite wealthy. Mr. Sims was reared on the farm, and his limited education was obtained in the old log school house. In 1862.he enlisted in Company B, Capt. James McCalla, Thirteenth Georgia regiment-Col. Ector-which command served in the Vir- ginia army under Gen. John B. Gordon. He was in battles at Savannah and Shepherdstown, and numerous skirmishes; but his health not being good he was a great deal of the time in hospitals. He began life with one mule and a cow, and settled in the woods where he now lives. Beginning with but little and a small farm, he has gradually increased his land holdings until now he owns nearly 600 acres of excellent land, with a good residence and good outbuildings, and his cleared land under the best of cultivation. He is now one of the solid and sub- stantial citizens of one of the best counties in Georgia. His thriftiness is worthy of imitation-his success an inspiration to young farmers of small outfit. Mr. Sims was married Dec. 15, 1868, to Miss Jane Powledge-born in Meriwether county April 27, 1845-daughter of John M. and Fannie (Foy) Powledge, whose families were among the early settlers near Savannah, Ga. The following children have been the fruit of this marriage: Robert F., John M., James O., Laura F., Irene J., and Foy P. Himself and wife are prominent members of the Methodist church.

JOHN I. SIMS, farmer, Hogansville, Troup Co., Ga., son of William G. and Permelia (Cheatham) Sims, was born in Meriwether county, Ga., Sept. 6, 1847. (For sketch of parents and grandfather see that of his brother, James L. Sims, in these Memoirs.) Mr. Sims was reared on the farm, and between the urgent necessity for farm work and indifferent school advantages on account of the un- pleasantness, he received a very limited education. He began life with sixty dollars, settled in the woods and cleared his farm. He now has a fine 150-acre farm, well-improved, and is recognized as a good, progressive and successful

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MEMOIRS OF GEORGIA.

farmer, and is a prominent member of the alliance. Mr. Sims was married in 1870 to Miss Sarah E. Reed, born in Heard county, daughter of Zack. and Elizabeth (Kendrick) Reed, whose families were among the early settlers of this portion of the state. To them nine children have been born: Lula, wife of Andrew Daniel; John P., Clo. V., Lizzie P., William E., Emma B., Sallie B., Edgar and Leta. Mr. Sims and his wife are prominent members of the Methodist church.

JOSIAH G. SIMS, farmer, Hogansville, Troup Co., Ga., son of William G. and Permelia (Cheatham) Sims, was born in Troup county April 25, 1849. (For sketch of parents and grandparents see sketch of his brother, James L. Sims, in this volume.) He received only limited schooling in the common schools of the county, and started in life without a dollar. He has been industrious, eco- nomical, attended exclusively to his own business, which he has carefully man- aged and now owns 725 acres of good land, well-improved, with a good home and outbuildings, and enjoys the esteem and the confidence to the fullest extent of his fellow-citizens. He belongs to a family of good farmers and is the peer of any in the county. Mr. Sims was married in 1874 to Miss Lucy Burdett, born in Wilkes county, Ga., daughter of Thomas J. and Almeda (Murphy) Burdett, of a family of early settlers. To them seven children have been born: William T., Effie, Etta, Raymond, Fannie G., Lurline and Franklin. Mrs. Sims is a member of the Missionary Baptist church.

JONES C. SIMS, farmer, Hogansville, Troup Co., Ga., son of William G. and Permelia (Cheatham) Sims, was born in Troup county Jan. 22, 1851. He is a brother of James L. Sims, in a sketch of whom in this volume will be found a sketch of his parents and grandparents. Mr. Sims was reared on the farm, work on which and the troublous times consequent upon the war being waged while he was growing up, interfered with his schooling, so that his education was ex- ceedingly limited. He began farm-life, however, with one mule and has made farming a life-pursuit. He now owns 230 acres of fine land, well-improved, under the best of cultivation, with ample and substantial buildings. He ranks very high as a farmer, and as an upright and much esteemed citizen. He is a leading and influential member of the alliance. Mr. Sims was married in 1879 to Miss Cordelia Thornton, born in Harris county, Ga., daughter of Turner and Lucy (Castleberry) Thornton, whose families were among the pioneer settlers of Georgia. Three children have blessed this union: Turner, Charles W. and Minnie V. Him- self and wife are exemplary members of the Missionary Baptist church.

RUFUS W. SMITH, president of La Grange Female college, La Grange, Troup Co., Ga., son of Ebenezer and Cynthia (Lewis) Smith, was born in Greene county, Ga., March 4, 1835. His paternal grandfather, George Smith, came from North Carolina to Georgia about 1788 in ox-carts and settled in the woods in what is now Lincoln county, when the Indians roamed the virgin for- ests hunting wild animals and other game with which the woods then abounded. Here he cleared a farm and made a home, encountering and enduring the priva- tions, hardships and dangers incident to frontier life. Some years later he removed to Greene county, and lived to be one of its most substantial and respected citi- zens. The following interesting incident in the life of his grandmother Smith is not unworthy of permanent record here: When she was fifty years of age she gave birth to twin daughters, both of whom lived to be mothers of families, and on her one hundredth birthday were present at the family dinner. She lived to

RUFUS W. SMITH.

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be one hundred and ten years. President Smith's father was born in Lincoln county in 1791, where he grew to manhood. As work on the farm under the circumstances was an absolute necessity, his education was extremely limited. His- maternal grandparents, Walker and Mary (Young) Lewis, were natives of Virginia, came to Georgia about the beginning of this century, and settled in Greene county, where, besides farming, he taught school many years. President Smith was reared on the farm, and what schooling he received was obtained at the "old field" log schoolhouse of the period. When thirteen years old-in 1848 -he went to school to Miss Frances A. Culver, walking three miles. It is a re- markable fact that this lady is still engaged in teaching in Hancock county, which has been her vocation during the entire interval. In 1850 he attended the Long- street institute in Coweta county, and in 1852 the academy at Greenesboro, Ga. In 1853 he entered Emory college, Oxford, Ga., from which he was graduated June 6, 1856, and on June 9 commenced teaching in Haygood academy, Atlanta. With the exception of one year, when he was in the Confederate service, he has been engaged in teaching ever since. He next taught seven months in Barnes- ville, Ga., which was followed by seven years' service as professor at a leading college. Later he was elected to a professorship in Emory college, where he remained a term of years, and was then elected professor in Dalton Female col- lege. In 1886 he was elected president of La Grange Female college, an institu- tion owned by and under the immediate control of the north Georgia conference, M. E. church south. Since his incumbency, and under his wise administration, the college has been wonderfully prosperous. When he assumed the presidency there were only seven boarding pupils, since which time the number has gone as high as 240. President Smith has devoted his entire life to teaching; no one in Georgia-if in the south-has done more for the cause of education, none excel him and none stand higher in the public estimation as an educator than he. Mrs. Smith also is a highly accomplished lady and teacher, who with her husband has an honorable and exceptionally successful experience of thirty-eight years. Presi- dent Smith was happily married Dec. 2, 1856, to Miss Orean, daughter of Rev. Jeremiah D. and Mary J. (Jernigan) Mann, her father at the time one of the leading ministers in the state. Eight children have blessed this union: Euler B., pro- fessor of English in the college, possesses rare classical and linguistic attain- ments, has acquired distinction in Texas as a teacher and besides his profound knowledge of English and Latin, mastered the Spanish language during a year's residence in Mexico; Cecil H., lawyer, Sherman, Tex., for many years county attorney; Hubert M., professor literary department; Alwyn M., vocal director; Clifford L., principal high school, La Grange (for six years teacher of natural science in the college); Leon P., professor Latin and chemistry; Meidee, teacher instrumental music; Claire L., also teacher of music. Alwyn, vocal director, spent fifteen years and thousands of dollars to acquire proficiency and his wife (nee Laura B. Crain), also a teacher, took the second honor at the Boston con- servatory. Euler B. has been president of the Georgia Teachers' association, and his wife teaches geometry. The following orthographical triumph stands to the professor's credit: At a spelling match in La Grange a word was given out front Webster's Blue Book Speller; he did not follow its orthography, and was called out. He seated himself under protest, afterward investigated the matter, cor- responded with the publishers, and since 1886 the word has appeared as he spelled it. La Grange Female college is now equipped equal to any in the state, is located in a city of unsurpassed healthfulness and under the administration of such emi- nent experienced educators as President and Mrs. Smith, aided by a family of such wonderfully endowed children and other excellent teachers, cannot but

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achieve the very highest success. President Smith and his wife are members of the Methodist church, and the school is conducted on a high religious plane.

SETH TATUM, farmer, retired lawyer, La Grange, Troup Co., Ga., son of Peter and Nancy E. (Sledge) Tatum, was born in Putnam county, Ga., in 1822. His father was born in North Carolina, came to Georgia when a young man, married in Hancock county, and settled in Putnam county. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. His wife was born in Hancock county, Ga., in 1795, and to them these children were born: Mius S .; Holmes; Seth, the subject of this sketch; A. J .; Matilda; Risilla, and Elizabeth. Of these, Mius S. and Seth served in the late civil war. Mr. Tatum's maternal grandparents, Mius and Rasilla (Hamlet) Sledge, were natives of North Carolina, migrated to Georgia thie latter part of the last century, and settled in the woods in Hancock county. He was born in 1767 and died in 1847, aged eighty years, in Troup county. Mr. Tatum was reared in Troup county, and educated in the common schools of the county until he was thirteen years old, when he went to La Grange and attended the high school, of which Otis Smith was principal. In 1841 he went to Mercer university, where Mr. Smith was president, and when the president came back to La Grange, he came also, and finished his preparatory course under him. In 1844 he entered Harvard college and took a law course, graduating in 1845. While there he boarded at the same house with ex-President Rutherford B. Hayes. In 1847 he was admitted to the bar in La Grange, and formed a partnership with N. G. Swanson, which continued until the beginning of the civil war. In 1862 he enlisted in Company E, Capt. J. C. Cutright, Forty-first Georgia regiment, and was assigned to Gen. Bragg's command. He was made ordnance sergeant in the regular service, and received notice of promotion to a lieutenancy, but the commission never reached him. He participated in several hard-fought battles, being in those of Perryville, Baker's Creek, and the siege of Vicksburg, where he was captured and paroled. At the end of three months he returned to the army, reaching it just after the battle of Chickamauga. He was in the battle of Mis- sionary Ridge, and was more or less engaged from there to Atlanta and in defense of the city. He then went with Gen. Hood into Tennessee and was in all the fights in that campaign, and followed the fortunes of the army until the last battles of the war at Bentonville and Smithville, N. C. Returning from the war to Troup county he engaged in farming, and has since made that his life-business. Mr. Tatum is a man of extensive information and progressive ideas. Unambitious of political preferment he has been content to enjoy undisturbed the quiet pleasures of domestic life. In 1890, however, he was elected to represent his senatorial district in the general assembly without opposition, a significant indication of the esteem in which he is held. Mr. Tatum was married in November, 1865, in Troup county, to Miss Sarah E. Stinson, born in Warren county, Ga., in 1837, daughter of Michael F. and Martha A. (Hardaway) Stinson. Her grandparents, Michael and Elizabeth (McKinley) Stinson, were North Carolinians; and her father, born in North Carolina, came south early in life. Her great-grandfather Hardaway was killed in the war of the revolution in Virginia and her great-grandmother died in Virginia nine days after giving birth to her grandfather, her death being~ caused by exposure in consequence of having to be removed beyond the range of the guns of the British. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Tatum: Frank S .; Seth S., civil engineer; James M .; George H .; Mary K., and Mattie E. Mrs. Tatum is a consistent member of the Methodist church. Mr. Tatum has through life endeavored to observe the parting injunction to him of Judge Joseph Story, "When you stand well, stand still."

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J. J. THRASH, farmer, Mountville, Troup Co., Ga., son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Roe) Thrash, was born in Putnam county, Ga., June 12, 1820. His paternal grandparents were Jacob and Martha (Stubblefield) Thrash, and the grandfather was born in Wilkes county. His maternal grandparents, Shadrach and Elizabeth (Hudson) Roe, were natives of North Carolina, came to Georgia on horseback and in ox-carts, and settled on the Oconee river in Hancock county about the time the county was organized. There was a ferry at the point where he settled, which he bought and operated a number of years. He had a brother, John Roe, who, when a boy, was taken by the British in 1812 and sold to the Indians. He made several attempts to escape but was recaptured. Finally the Indians de- termined to burn him alive. They made all their preparations and had actually gathered and piled up the faggots, and had everything ready to execute their horrible design. Fortunately for him they got drank, and while they were besotted he made his escape, after having been in worse than slavery for seven years. Mr. Thrash was reared and educated partly in Putnam and partly in Troup county, his parents having moved to the last-named county when he was fourteen years old and settled on the farm where he now lives. When grown he engaged in farming, a vocation he has followed through life. He has been a successful farmer, is comfortably fixed, and has an excellent, well-improved farm. During the late unpleasantness he was in that state military organization known as "Joe Brown's Pets," and was captain of his company. Mr. Thrash was married in 1864 to Miss Nellie Evans, born in Meriwether county in 1837, daughter of Thomas and Martha (Harmon) Evans, who has borne him eleven children: John W., George E., Martha E., Leroy T., Mary, Scott, Charlotte, Isaac, James, Joseph and Rebecca. Mrs. Thrash is a devoted member of the Methodist church.

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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 137

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