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 145

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 145

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R. P. Bird

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WARE COUNTY SKETCHES.

Duke. Jan. 30, 1877, Mr. Bailey married Miss Margaret Elizabeth Hilliard, daughter of Cuyler W. Hilliard, of Hilliard, Fla. After her death he married, in August, 1890, Miss Mattie May Taylor, daughter of Rev. John R. Taylor, of the Florida conference. Mr. Bailey's two partners, Walter T. Lott and Calvin L. Thigpen, are his brothers-in-law, having each married one of his sisters.

ROBINSON PULASKI BIRD is the third son of James Robinson and Mary Holmes (Daniels) Bird, and was born Dec. 12, 1842, at Taylor's Creek, Lib- erty Co., Ga. His father was a leading Methodist of that region and also quite prominent in public affairs, being for a number of years justice of the inferior court. The father of Judge Bird was a soldier in the war of the revolution and a witness of the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown. Mr. Bird's grandfather, Daniels, also served in that memorable struggle. Mr. Robinson was educated in an insti- tute in Liberty county, at the age of nineteen years entered the army as a non- commissioned cavalry officer, and at the close of the war was second sergeant, having declined further promotion. He served throughout the war, participating in many engagements, being in the Fifth Georgia cavalry, commanded by Gen. R. H. Anderson, now only seventy-five strong, but with 200 left out of the six regiments in his brigade. He also served on Gen. Anderson's staff in the Florida campaign of 1864. After the war Mr. Bird engaged extensively in the mill and lumber business until the product declined to ruinous prices. In 1876 he engaged in teaching, alternating it with mercantile and other business, his health precluding constant teaching. He established schools in Bulloch and Jefferson counties, which are still flourishing, and was largely influential in the elevation of the schools in these sections. In 1888 he moved to Waycross, where he has con- tinued the work of education, and has also been engaged in contracting for the construction of buildings and in newspaper work with the "Herald." During the years 1893 and 1894 Mr. Bird has served as clerk of the city council, and is clerk of the water-works commission and of the board of health. He is a devoted Methodist and has been secretary of the St. Paul Sunday school for many years. He is a member of the Society of Confederate Veterans, and is also an active temperance worker-a member of the Good Templars. July 25, 1866, Mr. Bird was married to Miss Josephine Sarah Hines, whose father, Judge Thomas R. Hines, of Savannah and Effingham, was many years a member of the general assembly. He is a large land and mill-owner, notwithstanding he lost probably $50,000 by destruction of property during Sherman's march through the state. Mr. and Mrs. Bird are the parents of three sons and three daughters, all now at home. The sons are all promising young men, rising in business, and taking a place in the foremost ranks of society. The oldest, Charles R., is farming; the second, Thomas P., is foreman of a railroad department; the third, Joseph Gor- don, a namesake of Gen. Gordon, is a dealer in beef. Mr. Bird has a sword which was carried through the war.

STEPHEN LINCOLN BISHOP, Waycross, Ware Co., Ga., is the eldest son of Ephraim and Hannah (Hendrickson) Bishop, and was born in Champaign county, Ill. He received his early education in the common schools of his native county and later attended a business college in Wellington, Kas. He then began business for himself, farming one year, and after that teaching for four years in the schools of Summer county, Kas. He came to Waycross in March, 1888, and accepted a position with the Cherokee Farm and Nursery company, with which he has continued his connection, and is now a stockholder and secretary of the company. Mr. Bishop has been active politically in connection with the Farmers'

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MEMOIRS OF GEORGIA.

alliance, and subsequently with the people's party, and is at present chairman of the county committee. Mr. Bishop was married Jan. 29, 1888, at Anson, Kas., to Miss Stella Blanche Cromer, daughter of Joseph P. and Margaret M. Cromer, of Summer county, Kas. The father was a farmer and a soldier in the Federal army during the late war and marched with Sherman from Atlanta to the sea. Mr. and Mrs. Bishop have been blessed with two daughters.

WILLIAM J. CARSWELL, Waycross, Ware Co., Ga., is the third son of Matthew and Harriet Eliza (Kilpatrick) Carswell, and descended from Scotch and Irish ancestors who several generations ago settled in St. George's parish. His grandfather was a captain in the revolutionary army, and the land on which he lived is still in the possession of the family. Matthew J. was a farmer, but a man of public spirit who for a number of years was on the board of education. He served in the Confederate army during the last year of the war; his eldest son was also a soldier and surrendered with Johnston's army. Another son, Dr. Alexander Washington Carswell, came from Burke county to Waycross in 1884 and established a very successful practice. He was a prominent and influential citizen and mayor of Waycross in 1889; he had just been re-elected for 1890 when he died, leaving three children and his widow, now Mrs. George L. You- mans. William J. Carswell, who was born in Whitfield county, Aug. 19, 1854, was educated in the common schools at Hephzibah. In 1873 he began clerking, but after four years was obliged to give it up on account of his health, and engaged in farming. This was followed by two years of school teaching, and then he entered the mill service, which business he still follows. He has been for six years a member of the board of education. He is a deacon in the Baptist church, which he has several times represented at conferences. He has been an Odd Fellow, but his other duties preclude his giving much attention to this. April 20, 1877, Mr. Carswell married Miss Mamie Lyon, who died four years later, leaving one daughter. April 13, 1882, he married Miss Lilla T. Jones, daughter of Thomas F. and Eliza J. Jones, and by this union has another daugh- ter. Mr. Carswell is warmly interested in the welfare of Waycross and active in every effort for the city's advancement.

STEPHEN EDWARD CRIBB, Glenmore, Ware Co., Ga., first-born son of John Thompson and Annie (Williamns) Cribb, was born Aug. 21, 1853, in Georgetown district, S. C. His father, who was a farmer, died when he was but eight years old, and two years later he was obliged to earn his own living, having obtained such education only as a boy of that age could acquire in the common schools. But he must have made excellent use of his opportunities, as at this early age, ten years, he entered as clerk into a store connected with a turpentine firm, where he remained for six years. He then engaged in the turpentine business on his own account until 1883. Up to this time Mr. Cribb had remained in luis native county, but that year he moved to Georgia, making his home in Glenmore, Ware Co., where he still remains. The next year he engaged in mercantile business, and also as agent for the Savannah, Florida & Western railroad. At the end of three years he discontinued the railroad agency, engaging instead in the turpentine business, and also continuing his traffic in general merchandise. In November, 1893, he added a saw-mill plant, which he now operates in connec- tion with a planing mill and barrel stave machine, as well as his turpentine still. Mr. Cribb has also an interest in a store in Jennings, Fla., in partnership with M. L. Harton, under the firm name of M. L. Harton & Co., an enterprise which was originally undertaken by Mr. Cribb himself some three years before. Mr.

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WARE COUNTY SKETCHES.

Cribb's specialty is the turpentine business, he having a farm of 6,000 acres, with about 4,000 acres in operation. The store, saw-mill, etc., are merely adjunct to this, the staves and lumber being mostly on orders from others. In all these different enterprises he employs about seventy men. Mr. Cribb is also a justice of the peace and notary public. He was married in 1877 to Miss Mary Jane Newton of Horry county, S. C. Her father, William Newton, a first lieutenant in the Confederate army, was killed near Richmond. Mr. and Mrs. Cribb have four boys and one girl living.

BURRELL SMITH FISHER, an active business man of Millwood, Ware Co., Ga., was born at Whiteville, Columbus Co., N. C., March 25, 1857. His father, Bryant Fisher, was a farmer, engaged in the turpentine business and served in the Confederate army during the civil war. He was captured in the seven days' fight before Richmond, but soon after was exchanged. Mrs. Fisher was Miss Nancy Jane Dyson, the daughter of a wealthy farmer, who died at the beginning of the war, but her brothers were in the service of the Confederacy, and one of them, Benjamin Dyson, received a wound in the shoulder, which resulted in his death. Young Fisher enjoyed but meager educational priviliges, attending school less than a year, but made good use of these. He worked for nine years at the cooper's trade in his old home, then, at the age of twenty-six, came to Worth county, Ga., and for three years ran a turpentine still for H. Woodman & Co. He then removed to Ware county and engaged in farming and operating a ginnery for D. K. Coleman, with whom, in December, 1889, he embarked in the manufacture of naval stores. In December, 1892, he bought out Mr. Coleman, and has since then carried on the business alone. He works some twelve lots, only one of which he owns, the remainder being on lease; he employs about sixty men and nine mules and horses, and has his own cooper-shop for making pine barrels. Beginning without education or means, he has by untiring industry and energy, strict economy and prudent investment, under what he is pleased to acknowledge a "smiling Providence," prospered, and is thankful that what he terms a "bright little bunch of children" have always been amply provided for. Dec. 7, 1875, he was married to Miss Nancy Catharine Guinn, daughter of John and Nancy Guinn of Onslow county, N. C. Mr. and Mrs. Fisher have been blessed with eight children: Lillie P., naval stores manufacturer; a son, sixteen years old (name not given), who manages the commissary department for his father; Eddie Franklin; Burrell B .; Willie Lee; Henry Grady; Chester Arthur, and Ruby Pearl. Mr. Fisher is a stanch democrat and a member of the masonic fraternity.

WILLIAM BARDEN FOLKS, M. D., who died in Ware county in April, 1886, is well worthy of commemoration, for his influence was not only wide- spreading but enduring-being still felt, although he has passed from earth. Dr. Folks was born in Jefferson county, Ga., Nov. 6, 1830. He received a good common school education, and then devoted himself to the study of the healing art, and in 1855 graduated from the medical college at Savannah. After a year's practice in his native county he established himself in Ware county in a practice of wide extent and very lucrative. The first few years of the long period of his residence in Ware county, his home was in Waresboro, at that time the county seat; later for many years he lived at Waycross, where he was not only prominent and popular as a physician, but as a citizen, honored and well-beloved; for a number of years he was mayor of Waycross, and for a term was senator from the Fifth district in the general assembly. During the war he was a surgeon in the

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MEMOIRS OF GEORGIA.

Confederate army, in which service he contracted the disease which ultimately terminated his life. In December, 1849, Dr. Folks married Miss Mary Jefferson Miller, and to them were born three sons: F. C., G. P. and W. B.

FRANK CLINGMAN FOLKS, M. D., the first-born son of Dr. William B. Folks, and the worthy heir of his honorable name, was born in Jefferson county, Oct. 13, 1852, and came with his parents to Ware county in 1857. The following years were passed at Waresboro, Tebeauville, Whigham and Valdosta, Ga., successively, at each of which the education of the youth in the elementary branches progressed rapidly, so that on reaching manhood he was well fitted to act well his part in life, and finally entered the employ of the Atlantic & Gulf railroad at Savannah. But with a natural and laudable interest in the profession so long and honorably represented by his father, he began the study of medicine in 1874 in the office of Dr. William Duncan, and took a course of lectures in Savannah Medical college, graduating in March, 1876. The young physician began practice in Homerville, Clinch Co., and after two years there and one year in Jasper, Fla., he removed to Waycross in 1880, where he has since remained. Dr. Folks emulates his honored father not only as an eminent physician, but as a valued citizen of his town and state, ever watchful for whatever may be for their best interest. His disinterested efforts in their behalf are recognized by his fellow-townsmen, and Dr. Folks is at present mayor of his city, a dignity which has also been conferred upon him in former years. In 1888 and 1889 he was honored with the election as state senator from this district, the Fifth. Dr. Folks is local surgeon for the Plant system, and member of the National Association of Railway Surgeons; he is also a member of the masonic fraternity.

G. P. FOLKS, physician and surgeon, Waycross, Ware Co., Ga., is a son of W. B. and Mary E. (Jefferson) Folks, and was born in the county where he now lives March 24, 1866. He attended the common schools and helped his father in the drug business in his early years, later conducting a drug store of his own. He applied himself to the study of medicine and was graduated with high honors at the Louisville Medical college in 1889. He began the practice of his profession at Dupont, Ga., but a year later moved to Waycross, where he has been eminently successful, having established a large and remunerative practice. He married Miss Bell Knox, daughter of Capt. J. Knox, a prominent citizen of the county, and they have two children, Helen D. and Franklin P. Dr. Folks belongs to the Methodist church, while his wife is a Presbyterian. He is an enthusiast in his profession, and belongs to local as well as national medical associations. Dr. Folks is a member of the Knights of Pythias and I. O. O. F. fraternities, taking great interest in each. In politics he is a democrat. In connection with his practice Dr. Folks owns a fine farm in Ware county, which he profitably manages. With his interesting family he lives in a fine new resi- dence in Waycross.

JAMES HENRY GILLON, a well-known business man of Waycross, Ware Co., Ga., is a native of Macon, born Feb. 28, 1859. His parents were James Henry and Mary Frances (Hobbs) Gillon, the former a master mechanic of the old Macon & Brunswick railroad, a Mason of high degree, and also an Odd Fellow. The son, James Henry, received a common school education, after which he served an apprenticeship to E. Crockett, Macon, Ga., as founder and moulder. After the termination of this apprenticeship in 1880 he continued some years in the employ of Mr. Crockett, then moved to Brunswick, Ga., where for

W. D. HAMILTON.

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WARE COUNTY SKETCHES.

four years he worked as foreman for E. Briesewick. In May, 1887, he came to Waycross and started a foundry and machine shop, which he continues to operate with success. July 1, 1894, he formed a partnership with Gordon G. Parker, under the firm name of Gillon & Parker; they are constructing a plant in order to increase capacity and supply the growing demand, and expect to at least double their productions this year. Mr. Gillon has purchased the site for the new plant, and a home in Waycross, in the advancement of which city he mani- fests a hearty interest. For three years he was a member of the Waycross city council, 1888-89-90; and is now first lieutenant of the Waycross Rifles, in rank the second company in the state. He is a member of the Episcopal church, in which he is a vestryman, and a lay reader; he is also a member of the Knights of Pythias, of which order he has been an officer. Feb. 16, 1882, Mr. Gillon married Miss Alice Margaret Hudson, daughter of Richard B. and Sallie Hudson, of Macon, Ga. Mr. and Mrs. Gillon have two daughters.

CHARLES MARVIN GRIFFING, of Waycross, Ware Co., is the second son of David Combs and Marilla (Hilliard) Griffing, of Norwich, N. Y., in which place he was born Oct. 10, 1870. He was educated at home and in the common schools of his native town and in 1892 began for himself by engaging in a news- paper enterprise at Macclenny, Fla. After eight months he sold out and came to Waycross, where in November he engaged with the Cherokee Farm and Nursery company, in which he has been very successful, having had previous nursery experience. He is now a stockholder and manager of the Cherokee business. Mr. Griffing is still unmarried. A young man of courage and perseverance, he is on the highway to success.

WILLIAM DYSON HAMILTON, a well-known citizen of Waycross, Ware Co., is a native of Washington, Wilkes Co., Ga., and was born June 9, 1832. He is the only one living of the ten children of George and Elizabeth (Dyson) Hamilton, the former a planter who died before the late war. Mrs. Hamilton is of English ancestry, an early progenitor of hers being a clergyman, Rev. Dyson, who came over with Oglethorpe. The Dyson family for generations has been prominent in Wilkes county. Young Hamilton was educated at his birthplace, where he remained until 1856, in the fall of which year he went to Augusta to accept a position in the clerical department of the Augusta & Savannah railway, under Dr. Francis T. Mills, who was the president of the company. A year later he resigned this position and in 1858 moved to Screven county and engaged in merchandising, together with farming; he was the owner of Station No. 5, at Halcyon Dale, and owned the place, controlling the agency until 1875. At the outbreak of the war Mr. Hamilton raised a company-"Brown" Light infantry- with which, as its captain, he entered the service of the Confederacy, Aug. 9, 1861, and was assigned to coast service on Tybee island, being a part of the Twenty-fifth Georgia regiment, which he had helped to form, and which was commanded by Col. (later general) Claudius C. Wilson. Upon the fall of Fort Royal the island was evacuated and the regiment returned to duty about Sa- vannah. In January, 1862, Capt. Hamilton was so injured, his foot being crushed by the fall of a horse, that in May he was obliged to leave the service and return home. He afterward recruited a part of a cavalry company designing to re-enter the service, but was not able to do so, and was at home at the time of Sherman's march, the camp of the latter at one time being for three days within three miles of Mr. Hamilton's home. In 1877 Mr. Hamilton moved from Screven to Effingham county, still making farming his business, and in 1884 he moved to Waycross,

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MEMOIRS OF GEORGIA.

his present home. As well as being a successful manager of his own private affairs, Mr. Hamilton has been prominent for many years in the public affairs of his native state. For three years, 1868-69-70, he represented Screven county in the state legislature, where he was on several important committees. Since coming to Waycross he was for three years clerk of the city council, and has been connected with city and county courts and is now justice of the peace; he has also been a member of the board of education for Waycross and is president of the Ware County Veterans' association. Mr. Hamilton is a faithful member of the Baptist church; in politics he is a democrat, and is a prominent Mason, and for six consecutive years served as worshipful master. July 16, 1857, Mr. Hamilton married the daughter of Maj. Willis Young, of Screven county, Miss Alice Young. She has since died, leaving one daughter, married, and having one child. Oct. 12, 1874, Mr. Hamilton married Miss Florence E. Brewer, daughter of George Brewer, and they have been blessed with two sons and four daughters. Mr. Hamilton and his family live happily in their pleasant home, and are greatly es- teemed in the community.

JOHN HENRY HILLHOUSE, a progressive citizen of Waresboro, Ware Co., Ga., was born in Randolph county, Ga., Sept. 14, 1864. He is the second son of Richard Henry and Georgia Amanda (Roper) Hillhouse, the former a prominent architect and builder of Cuthbert, Ga., who served in the Confederate army, was wounded, and returned home and died before the close of the war. The father of Mrs. Hillhouse was the owner of a large plantation in Calhoun county, Ga., and was killed by one of his slaves who, when on the scaffold about to be hung, confessed that he had stolen up behind his master, who was reading under a tree and had slain him with his hoe. The education of young Hillhouse was obtained chiefly in the common schools of Shellman, Randolph Co., Ga. In 1876 he entered a store at Poland, Ga., as salesman, and after remaining there two years, accepted a position as operator and agent with the Brunswick & Western railway, in whose employ he has since remained, working at different points, but since April 5, 1889, at Waresboro. He is agent both for the express and railway companies, as well as telegraph operator, and deals somewhat in real estate. He manifests great interest in public affairs and is a member of the city council and of the school board. Mr. Hillhouse is a member and deacon of the Missionary Baptist church. Nov. 3, 1886, he married Miss Orrie Louise Costellow, daughter of William H. and Louise Costellow, a union which has been blessed with three children: Charles H., Louise M. and Frank B.

HON. LEMUEL JOHNSON, one of the most highly estecmed citizens of Way- cross, Ware Co., Ga., and a successful merchant and lumber dealer, was born in Appling county May 5, 1844. He is the son of Hon. Duncan and Lujoyce (Sellers) Johnson, both natives of Georgia, their parents having come to this state from North Carolina in the early days when settlers were few and the Indians numerous. Duncan Johnson was a farmer who represented his county in the general assembly two terms; was justice of the inferior court many years, and served in the Indian war. He was a man of unswerving integrity and honor, and was among the leading men of his county. He died June 27, 1857, aged sixty years; his widow died June 17, 1867, aged fifty-four years. They were the parents of eleven children, of whom nine grew to maturity, and eight are still living: Samuel D .; Silda, now Mrs. Matthew Smith, of Appling county; Mary, now Mrs. B. O. Quinn, of Wayne county; Sophronia; Lemuel; James M., living in Pierce county; Keziah, now Mrs. Joseph Corson, of Appling county; Duncan,

H. Hillhouse

B. Johnson

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WARE COUNTY SKETCHES.

now living in Florida; Ellen, now Mrs. John H. Sweat, of Pierce county. Lemuel Johnson enlisted Aug. 12, 1861, in Company F, Twenty-sixth Georgia regiment, Col. E. N. Atkinson. He was a musician, but volunteered for the seven days' fight around Richmond, and served through the war; still has his parole, dated at the surrender, April 9, 1865. In 1867 he began business for himself in the town of Sellers, twenty-five miles from the railroad, carrying on a mercantile busi- ness in connection with his farm with splendid success. Three years later he moved to Pierce county, and carried on the same business for a like period of time. He then added the lumber business to his trade in general merchandise, and these two lines of business have engaged his attention ever since. In 1880 he moved to Appling county, and later to Ware county, with constantly increasing success, becoming the possessor of wealth, the merited reward of sturdy effort and strict integrity. His responsibilities are numerous and weighty, as an enumera- tion of them will show. He is a member of the firm of Stillwell, Millen & Co., Sa- vannah; L. R. Millen & Co., New York, and Benrick Lumber Co., Hazelhurst. He is also general manager of the Waycross Lumber Co .; president of the Augusta Lumber Co .; general manager of Waycross Air-line Railroad Co .; part owner of Millen & Son's railroad from Millen to Stillmore, Ga .; a stock- holder in the Satilla Manufacturing Co .- electric light, ice factory and planing mill; a stockholder and director of the First National bank, and also in the bank of Waycross; a stockholder in the C. C. Grace Co., which is doing an im- mense wholsesale and retail business in Waycross. The Waycross Lumber Co., mentioned above, is the most extensive lumber-dealing concern in the state, owning 360 lots of land of 490 acres each, and manufacturing and shipping to all parts of the world. But Mr. Johnson has too much public spirit to confine his efforts entirely to the accumulation of wealth, and is known far and wide for his interest in every good and noble cause. He represented his district, Appling, Wayne and Pierce counties, in the Georgia senate from 1880 to 1884, and his rec- ord was a most excellent one. He has refused further legislative honors, but gladly furthers the interests of his home city. Here he is a member of the school board, one of the trustees of school property, and a member of the sanitary and waterworks commission. He was on the building committee of the fine new M. E. church, of which he is an ardent and faithful member, has been steward, and is on the board of trustees. Has been for four years one of the trustees of Emory college, Oxford, one of the best equipped educational institutions of the Methodist church in the south. Besides all this he finds time to keep up his standing in the orders of Knights of Pythias and Knights of Honor, of which he is past dictator, and of the masonic fraternity, in which he holds one of the highest offices in the gift of the chapter, and is one of the trustees of the property-a fine block. Feb. 3, 1869, Mr. Johnson married Miss Anna J. Youmans, daughter of Charles and Eliza (Lagg) Youmans, of Pierce county. Mr. Youmans, a prominent farmer, was justice of the inferior court for many years, and filled other offices of trust and honor to the satisfaction of his constituents. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are the parents of nine children: Marie, wife of Prof. Wm. S. Branham, of Oxford, a graduate of Emory college, and now teaching school in Gordon; Mrs. Branham is a graduate of the Wesleyan Female college at Macon, class of 1887; Herschel V., who was a student at Emory college, when he died, in his sophomore year, Jan. 22, 1888, at the age of only sixteen years; he was a boy of remarkable talent, beloved and respected by all who knew him; Ida Lester, Alvin, Kate, Jeannette, Clifford C. and George L. Alvin is an unusually talented youth; though but seventeen years of age he has had charge of a locomotive for two years-the youngest engi- neer on record. Mr. Johnson's educational opportunities were quite limited, yet

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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 145

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