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 139

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 139

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seven days' fight about Richmond, after which he participated in most of the hard- fought battles engaged in by the army of Virginia: Fredericksburg, Antietam, South Mountain (where he received a wound Sept. 7, 1862, crushing the right shoulder), Chancellorsville (where his clothing was riddled with balls, and where he received a saber wound across the forehead), Gettysburg, Hagerstown, Mine Run and the Wilderness. In this latter battle he received two severe wounds in the same leg at the same instant, which disabled him from further service, he having to use crutches the remainder of the war, and from which, indeed, he has never fully recovered. Like thousands of other brave soldier boys, Mr. Harri- son at the end of the war found himself penniless and with a shattered constitu- tion to take up the battle for bread. But with that dauntless spirit exhibited on many a battlefield he took hold with, a will and gradually gathered the competency which now makes him comfortable. He has always confined his attention to agricultural pursuits, and now cultivates a 500-acre plantation, well stocked and housed. Mr. Harrison has manifested a keen interest in the interests of the demo- cratic party, and in season and out has given it his hearty and intelligent support. This service was rewarded in 1891 with an election to the legislature to fill an unexpired term and by re-election for the full term in 1892. In 1894 he was elected to the senate. The marriage of Mr. Harrison and Georgia Ann Martin, daughter of W. J. and Mary F., was solemnized in Twiggs county Oct. 5, 1865. But one child resulted from this union-a daughter-Mary, who lived but three years. The Harrison family is from North Carolina, where Zachariah Harrison was born and reared near Smithfield. Elizabeth, daughter of Hardy Avery, be- came his wife, and in 1832 they removed to Wilkinson county, Ga., locating near Gordon. Subsequently they moved over into Twiggs, where they lived out a useful life, the father dying in 1852, and the mother in 1857. The living children are: Wm. Joel, Zachariah, Richard L., Frances-Mrs. W. J. Hardison and Mrs. Stevens. Mr. Harrison is a man of genial social qualities and has that intelligent apprehension of the questions before the public which secures to him the suf- frages of his people whenever he comes before them. He is unquestionably one of Twiggs' best citizens.

DUDLEY M. HUGHES. Any mention of the leading men of middle Georgia would be incomplete without a sketch of this stirring and successful pro- inoter, for such he must be known to an appreciative posterity. Col. Hughes is probably best known in connection with the successful engineering of the M. D. & S. railroad to completion, though he has been equally as active in other lines. To him is due a large amount of the favorable advertising his section has received as a fruit-growing country, and his efforts have secured a large amount of the northern capital which of late years has been so liberally invested in middle Georgia. In connection with his duties as vice-president of the M. D. & S. rail- road, it is due him to say that while he has placed this new institution on a firm basis, he is also actively interested in a large naval store and turpentine farm in Laurens county, a 1,200-acre, 90,000-tree fruit orchard and has at his home at Danville station, Twiggs Co., a large and thrifty nursery. As a promoter and general hustler, Col. Hughes has few equals. He is a very thorough business man and a gentleman whose social qualities make him deservedly popular. He is the son of Daniel G. Hughes and was born Oct. 10, 1848, in Twiggs county. His youth was passed on his father's plantation, his education being received in the country schools and later at the university of Georgia, Athens. He began his business life in 1870 and has since conducted large agricultural interests. Nov. 25, 1873, he wedded Mary Frances, daughter of Capt. Hugh L. Dennard, men-

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tion of whom is made elsewhere. Three children have come to their home: Hugh Lawson, Daniel G., Jr., and Hennie Lou, all of whom are living.

H. W. M'CREARY, merchant, of Jeffersonville, was born March 28, 1858, in Talbot county. He is the son of Wm. McCreary, who was born in Jones county, Ga., in 1813, and married Nancy Cox, of the same county. Their family consisted of Burgess, who was killed in the war; Josephine; W. Augustus, de- ceased; Nannie, deceased; J. W., Butler, Ga .; Lee, now Mrs. Gus Cook, Talbot county, Ga .; H. W .; Emmett S .; Alice A., and Charles. H. W. McCreary was reared on a plantation and at the age of eighteen began his business career as a clerk in a mercantile establishment. In 1879 he embarked in a business of his own, which he has continued with varied success and at different places to the present time. He located at Jeffersonville in 1886 and has since conducted a mercantile business. Mr. McCreary is a democrat, but takes only a voting in- terest in politics. The marriage of Mr. McCreary was celebrated in Twiggs county, Jan. 8, 1880, when Martha J. Chapman became his wife. Mrs. McCreary is a member of an old and honored family, a brief outline of which is appended: She is the daughter of John and Mary (Carleton) Chapman. John Chapman was the grandson of William Chapman, a centenarian soldier of the revolu- tionary war, and of Edmund Burke, an emigrant from Ireland, was born in Twiggs county, Ga., Jan. 6, 1820, and died Oct. 8, 1892. He was among the most prosperous and successful planters in his county, both before and subse- quent to the civil war, as well as one of her most useful and esteemed citizens. Perhaps not one was more esteemed for energy, industry and integrity of character by business men with whom he had dealings. His home was and is one of culture and refinement, the mothers of his children (for he was several times married) showing the deepest and most active maternal interest in the education and training of his children, for which they were nobly fitted. John Chapman was the father of nine children, to the most of whom he gave a liberal educa- tion. Those surviving are William T. Chapman, of Whigham, Ga .; Mrs. W. E. Carswell and Mrs. H. W. McCreary, of Twiggs county; Prof. C. B. Chapman, principal of the boys' and girls' high school, Macon, Ga .; Dr. G. E. Chapman, of Pulaski county, Ga., and Paul Herbert and Lucy Carleton Chapman, who reside with their widowed mother at the old homestead. Paul H. ably illustrates his father's business qualities. Of the deceased children, John Iverson died a youthful soldier in the civil war and John Edwards in the beginning of a promis- ing business career, for which he received his preparation and training at the Eastman Business college, Poughkeepsie, N. Y. Mrs. McCrcary descends from distinguished colonial and revolutionary stock, her grcat-grandfather on her mother's side, Jeremiah Carleton, of Vermont, having participated in the French and Indian and in the revolutionary wars, and of three great-grand-uncles one was killed in the battle of Bunker Hill, a second was a member of Gen. Washington's life guard, and a third, Capt. Osgood Carleton, was employed by the government to transport about $40,000,000 between Philadelphia and New England. And a first cousin, Judge Hiram Carleton, Montpelier, Vt., is president of the Vermont Historical society. Five bright and interesting children crowned the union of Mr. and Mrs. McCreary, three of whom-Walter H., Mattie L. and Lucy A .- are living, and two-Anna L. and John W .- are deceased.

ISAAC NEWTON MAXWELL, merchant and planter, Danville, Twiggs Co .. Ga., is clearly entitled to representation in these volumes. From poverty and obscurity as a young man he has, unaidcd, taken position both financially and

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socially among the best men of his county. His people were from the old tar-heel state, where his father, Uriah, was born in 1806, the son of Wm. Maxwell, he being of Irish-Swiss extraction. Uriah married Mary A. Walkins and moved to Twigg's county, where a family of eight children were reared. A daughter and three sons died in youth, the latter during the war, either in battle bravely defending their southland, or of disease contracted in the service. The four children living are: Mrs. Lucinda Kennington, Charity, Susan and Isaac, all in Twiggs county. The last-named was born Sept. 22, 1847. The war found him still in his "teens" with a limited education, but loyal to his section, and anxious to do battle for an idea. He became a member of Capt. B. D. Lusman's company, which went out from Macon, and served faithfully to the end of the war. With naught but his two hands and a willing heart, in 1865, he began the new battle, this time with the world, which is yet on, though he has long had the enemy on the run. As a tiller of the soil on rented land, then, as overseer of the large plantation of D. M. Hughes, and subsequently as an owner himself, he has continued to prosper, has reared and is educating an interesting family, and as before remarked, has taken position in the front rank of the best families of his section. He added merchan- dising to his farming interests in 1890, and has met with good success in the venture. He is in politics a democrat and in faith a Baptist. Is a great reader of good literature and has thus added to the limited education received in his youth. In 1865 Mr. Maxwell was joined in matrimony to Mary J. Champion, to whom has been born the following children: Lula, Mrs. J. C. Johnson, Leona, John T., Harvey H., Oscar N. and Edgar E.

SARAH M. NEWBY. The grandfather of the above-named lady came to Georgia in 1791. He was a farmer and a native of Maryland. Married to Elizabeth Goss, of Elbert county, Ga., he became the father of sixteen children, eleven of whom reached maturity-five sons and six daughters. His death oc- curred in 1843. The fourth daughter, Nancy, born in 1813, became the wife of William H. Andrews, of South Carolina. Mr. Andrews was born in 1803, and when quite a young boy entered the Baltimore navy yard as an apprentice. After serving his full time, in 1824 he came to Georgia, locating in Twiggs county. From there he went to Dooly county, where he erected a large saw and grist- mill. He died in 1844, and his widow married John G. Overtree, both now de- ceased. Four children were born to the first marriage: I. R., Gadson county, Fla .; Elizabeth and Mary J., deceased, and Sarah M., Mrs. Newby. Mrs. Newby was born Feb. 3, 1836, in Houston county and reared in Twiggs county. In 1856 she married William E. Hunter, of Ft. Valley, who died at twenty-eight. To this union two children were born: William E. and William J., a daughter. The last-named married Jackson Newby and at her death left seven children, five of whom Mrs. Newby reared. A second marriage was solemnized, Mrs. Newby becoming the wife of Bryant Asbell, son of John and Abigail Asbell, of South Caro- lina, who were among the early settlers of Twiggs county. He was a man well known and of most excellent character. By this union four sons were born, three of whom are living: Clayton M., Bartow F. and Bryant. Mr. Asbell was born in 1813, was a democrat in politics and died at the age of sixty-one. He was a man of deep religious convictions and of a singularly perfect character as re- gards morals. Mrs. Newby's third marriage, which occurred Oct. 31, 1869, was to Hilliard A. Newby, who died March 13, 1890. His father came to Georgia in 1814 and reared three sons: H. S., T. R. and Josiah Newby. To Mr. and Mrs. H. S. Newby were born the following children: Jessie J., Benjamin S., James C., Sarah M., Mary E., Maud N. and Rose L., the last-named killed in an accident

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when three years old. Mr. H. S. Newby had ten children by a first marriage and eight by his marriage to the subject of this Memoir. Sixteen of these lived to be grown. There are living thirty-nine of his grandchildren and six great-grand- children. Mr. Newby was converted at seventeen years of age and lived in re- ligious faith for eight years. He afterward strayed from the fold, but before his death found hope in forgiveness as did he who came in at the eleventh hour and received full wages, and died perfectly happy trusting in our Lord as his savior. Mrs. Newby has assisted in rearing forty-two children, nineteen of whom were step-children and fifteen of her own. She has reared six sons-three Asbells and three Newbys-all married but two. One of these, F. B. Asbell, is a Baptist preacher, given to her, she says, in answer to her prayer. "Mrs. Newby is grand- mother of fourteen children and great-grandmother of one son. A large planta- tion of 2,000 acres is conducted by her boys. It is not an uncommon thing to hear of a double wedding, but in Mrs. Newby's family occurred a singular wedding, two of her daughters and one son being married on the same day. The members of the family are Baptists. Mr. Newby was a Methodist and a democrat.

WILLIAM O'DANIEL. Well-known to the medical profession of Georgia as a man and physician, for his good qualities and high mental attainments, is Dr. William O'Daniel, of Twiggs county. He was born May 2, 1839, in that county, and has always lived there, excepting four years' residence in Atlanta, when holding a public position. His grandfather was born in Ireland and set- tled in Georgia when Daniel O'Daniel, his father, was born. Daniel O'Daniel lived all his life in Twiggs county, dying there, aged sixty-five years. Dr. O'Daniel received his education in the "old field" schools of Twiggs county, and at Auburn institute, taught by James E. Croslend, located near his home. He then taught several years in Marion academy in Twiggs county. In 1862 he laid down the ruler and the rod and enlisted in the Confederate service as a non- commissioned officer in the commissary department, in Col. D. G. Hughes' regi- ment. After the war he continued the study of medicine, which he had begun when officiating as an educational instructor, and in 1866 was graduated from the Atlanta Medical college. He returned to his old home in Twiggs county, where he has since practiced his profession. Dr. O'Daniel is a member of the State Medical association, of which he is ex-president; a member of the American Medical association, of the Tri-state (Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee) Medical association, member of the National Association of Railway Surgeons, was a member of the Ninth International Medical congress, and was a delegate from Georgia in 1893 to the Pan-American Medical congress, which met in Washing- ton, D. C. He has frequently been a delegate from Georgia to the meetings of the American Medical association, and is a member of the Macon Medical associa- tion. Dr. O'Daniel has been a frequent contributor to medical journals, princi- pally the "Atlanta Medical and Surgical Journal," and has read many valuable papers before the State Medical association. He received the honorary degree of A. M. some years ago from Emory college of Oxford, Ga., and the degree of M. D. from the medical department of the university of Georgia, located at Au- gusta, and the honorary degree of M. D. from the Kentucky school of medicine in 1885. Dr. O'Daniel for many years solicited by friends to permit his name to be used for public office, always declined, but finally gave in in 1875, when he was elected state senator from the twenty-first senatorial district, serving during the sessions of 1875-76-77. He also served two years as clerk of the superior court of Twiggs county. In April, 1891, Dr. O'Daniel was appointed by Gov. Northen principal physician to the state penitentiary, which position he held until

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the spring of 1895, when he resigned and returned to his farm. The compliment of his selection was of the dignity of an honor, as there were a number of candidates for the position. Dr. O'Daniel gave an excellent administration, his wide experience and professional skill, together with his kind nature, enabling him to effect several reforms which have long been commended by humanitarians and the national prison reform congress. He is a Knight Templar Mason and for many years was worshipful master of Twiggs lodge No. 164, F. & A. M. He also belongs to Constantine chapter No. 4, royal arch Masons, and St. Omar commandery No. 2, Knight Templars. He is a steward of Beech Spring Metho- dist church in Twiggs county. Dr. O'Daniel was wedded Nov. 4, 1860, to Eliza- beth M., daughter of Henry Sand, a leading farmer of Twiggs county, and to them were born two sons and one daughter, who now survive. His sons are Dr. Mark H. O'Daniel, of Macon, who was for eight years assistant physician in the insane asylum at Milledgeville, and Dr. William O'Daniel, who succeeded his brother to the place mentioned. His daughter is Miss Mollie L., who was grad- uated from the Wesleyan Female college at Macon. A fine country residence is the home of this eminent citizen and physician who, when desirous of freeing himself from the exactions of a public career, can find retirement by his fireside and the enjoyment of all the pleasures and contentment of a happy domestic life.

JOHN CAREY SHANNON, planter of Jeffersonville, Ga., was born in Colum- bia, Mo., July 22, 1853. His father, James Shannon, was born in 1799 in Ire- land, and in 1821 came to Liberty county, Ga. He there began a career which proved to be one of exceptional usefulness, through a period of years ending in 1859. He had been well educated in the Royal institute at Belfast, and at the time of his coming to America was preparing for the ministry in the Presbyterian church. He is described at that time as being "quite youthful in appearance, very affable and refined in manners, and deeply pious. He was fond of company and took great pleasure in vocal and instrumental music, being an excellent per- former on the violin." He was very popular as a preacher and teacher. He acted as assistant at the Sunbury academy the first year and in the fall of 1822 took sole charge. As stated, he was preparing for the ministry of the Presbyterian church, and the presbytery had set the time for his ordination. It had been sug- gested to him by his pastor, Dr. McWhir, to select for his ordination sermon "Was John's Baptism Christian Baptism?" In his study of this theme, and in his preparation for the sermon, the young professor succeeded in thoroughly convincing himself that he should be ordained to the Baptist ministry, rather than the Presbyterian, and so announced his determination, much to the surprise of his friends. He was baptised soon after, and was received regularly into the Baptist ministry. He taught and preached until 1825 in Liberty county and then took regular work in Augusta, where he preached four years, receiving the largest salary ever given to a Baptist minister of Georgia up to that date, and also taught as principal of Richmond academy. He was then elected to the chair of ancient languages in Franklin college, Athens, Ga., being the first Baptist to hold a position in that institution. Serving in that capacity several years, he was then made president of the state university of Louisiana at Jackson, and later of Bacon college at Haroldsburg, Ky. From this place he removed to Columbia, Mo .. where he acted as president of the state university until his death, which occurred in February of 1859. Of him the Rev. J. H. Campbell, who knew him intimately, says: "He was the best general scholar I have ever known. He took most pleasure in the dead languages, but there was no field of literature, nor a branch of science, with which he was not familiar." In the fall of 1823 he was married to Evelina Dunham, in Liberty county, and they became the parents of three chil-

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dren, only one now living, Mrs. Ann M. Douglass, of Columbia, Mo. His wife died at Jackson, La., November, 1836, and in the following June of 1837 he was married to Miss Frances Carey Moore, daughter of Alsa Moore, of Athens, Ga., and by this union are the following living children: Dr. Richard Shannon, of Joplin, Mo., eight years state superintendent of public schools of that state; John C., Jeffersonville, Ga .; L. D., of Jeffersonville, Ga .; and Mrs. W. N. White, of Centralia, Mo. The mother of these children died in March of 1865, and both parents lie buried at Columbia, Mo. John C. Shannon was reared in Columbia. After his mother's death he came to Georgia, and entered the employ of Col. Daniel Hughes, of Twiggs county, with whom he remained a number of years, finally settling on the beautiful plantation he now cultivates. Dec. 1, 1878, he married Virginia F., daughter of Wm. Faulk. This gentleman now lives with Mr. Shannon. He was born in Twiggs county Aug. 1, 1822, and is the son of Mark Faulk. During the late war he served in the state legislature, and relates many incidents of that stirring time. He married Virginia Solomon, a daughter of Henry Solomon. She died in 1861, the mother of three children, of whom Mrs. Shannon and another sister survive. To Mrs. Shannon have been born six children, of whom there are five living: J. C., Jr., Ethel B., Wm. F., Jas. S., and Laura. Mr. Shannon is one of the most extensive planters in the county, and also a leading factor in its public life; is a democrat in politics, and a member of the Christian church.

I ENOIR DOUGLAS SHANNON, lawyer, Jeffersonville, Ga. This gentleman is the son of Dr. James Shannon, for long years a leading educator of the south and later of Missouri, mention of whom is made elsewhere, and was born in Canton, Mo., April 30, 1860. He was reared in Columbia, Mo., and there received his early education at Christian college. Later he attended the academy at Cabaniss, Monroe Co., Ga., and the state university of Missouri, and thence came to Jeffersonville, where he was admitted to the bar in 1886. He has since pursued his profession with a marked degree of success. Though not a politician in the sense of seeking office Col. Shannon is looked upon as a man of note in his county and with a future before him. In 1888 he was chosen by the democratic electors to represent his district in the senate of the state, and did so in the follow- ing sessions with marked ability. He later served on the state democratic execu- tive committee; the senatorial democratic executive committee; and also on the county executive committee. He, however, displays greater interest in the prac- tice of his profession, and is rapidly acquiring a state-wide reputation. He bids fair to honor the name of his illustrious father.

JOHN GEORGE SLAPPEY. Robert Rutherford Slappey, the father of the above, was a native of Jasper county, Ga., and was born May 5, 1813. His mother soon after the death of his father moved to Twiggs county, and here Robert R. was reared and received his education. He married Miss Martha, daughter of Matthew Exum, who, having borne him two children, one of whom is living and resides in Twiggs county, died. To his second marriage eight children were born, four of whom are living: R. R., Mark F., Henry Hubbard, and John G. The wife of the second marriage was Mary, daughter of Mark and sister of Wm. Faulk. Mr. Slappey took an active interest in politics, and was for several years a member of the state legislature. He was among the foremost men of his county and assisted in the development which made Twiggs county among the most prosperous in the state, prior to the war. He was an old time whig, and for many years the only citizen of Twiggs county who was the son of a revolutionary soldier. By economy and industry he amassed quite a property

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during his life, and at the time of his death, which occurred Nov. 15, 1890, he was considered one of the wealthiest men of his section. John George Slappey was born in Twiggs county February, 1854. He had the best educational advan- tages the state afforded, and is a graduate of the Atlanta Medical college. In 1875 he located in his native county and began the practice of medicine, which profession he still follows. He is a very successful practitioner, and has estab- lished an enviable reputation for himself both as a physician and a citizen. Aside from his practice he has the care of a plantation of some 300 acres. Married to Anna, daughter of Henry Carter, he became the father of three children: Mark F., Henry C., and John G. The mother died November, 1892. A second mar- riage was solemnized-the wife of this instance being a daughter of Capt. John A. Coffee (see sketch elsewhere). One child has been born to this union, Mary Anna.

ROBERT R. SLAPPEY. This gentleman is the eldest of eight children of Robert R. Slappey, and was born in March of 1845. He was reared in his native county of Twiggs and received but an ordinary schooling. In 1861, when the call came for men to fight for the rights and protect the homes of the southern people, he was among the first to respond by enlistment. A member of the Twiggs guards under Capt. Barclay, he participated in some of the most hotly contested battles of the war, Yorktown, Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Richmond, Malvern Hill and Fredericksburg being among the most important of these. In 1863, on account of ill health, he was discharged, but again enlisted after four months as a member of Company E, Hampton cavalry of Bibb county, and served till the close of the war. After the surrender he returned home, and in November of 1865 he accepted the position of agent of the Southern Express company, and of the then E. T., V. & G. railroad, in which capacity he still serves, much to his credit and the satisfaction of his employers. He also conducts a plantation of 2,500 acres. By the good management of Mr. Slappey, his father's estate, which at the close of the war was in an impoverished condition, was saved to the family. He is one of the substantial democrats of his county, and in faith a Methodist. His wife was Miss Virginia Nelson of Twiggs county. She is a daughter of John A. Nelson of that county, who is very highly esteemed as a citizen and neighbor. To the marriage, which occurred in January of 1865, six children have been born: Mary Lou, Wm. F., John Nelson, Robert R., Virginia P., and Jarrot M., who died in infancy.

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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 139

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