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 149

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 149

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JAMES A. WOOD, deceased farmer, Warren county, Ga., son of Joseph and Rebecca (Hamilton) Wood, was born in Warren county in 1823. He was reared on the farm, and educated at the common schools of the county; and when he attained his majority engaged in farming as a life-occupation. He supple- mented his farming business by dealing in fine horses, for which he had a real passion, and was accounted one of the best judges of horse-flesh in all that part of the state. He was a man of great energy of character, enterprising and pro- gressive in his farm management, and the matter of improvement of stock-in which he was regarded as high authority. He was one of the most happily constituted of men, genial and companionable-everybody's friend, and, appar- ently, everybody was his friend; if he had an enemy it was never known to him. During the disastrous war he was a member of the state militia, gallantly partici- pated in the defense of Atlanta, and was in the service at the time of the surrender. After that event he returned to his farm, which he conducted with his accustomed success until his death, which occurred Jan. 12, 1884. He was an enthusiastic member of the masonic fraternity. He was married twice, the wife surviving him being the daughter of Hon. Joseph Adkins, late senator of the Georgia legislature. Mr. Wood was a Christian and a kind and affectionate husband.

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WASHINGTON COUNTY SKETCHES.

WASHINGTON COUNTY.

I OUIS COHEN, banker, Sandersville, Washington Co., Ga., son of Samuel and Adaline Cohen, was born in Bromberg, Prussia, Jan. 7, 1849. In 1852 his parents migrated to Georgia and settled in Irwinton, Wilkinson Co. After four years' residence there they removed to Americus, Sumter Co., Ga., where he grew to manhood. His primary education was as good as the unsettled condition of the country at that time could afford, and this was supplemented by a business course in the Bryant and Stratton school in New York. While yet a mere boy he went to Bainbridge, Ga., and opened a store, but after running it a few months he returned to Americus and transacted a general merchandise business until 1877, when he transferred his business interests to Sandersville and continued them with exceptionally good success for ten years. Then (1887) he discontinued mer- chandising and in company with Morris Happ, now of Macon, Ga., established a banking house, which has grown to be one of the best of its class in the south. In 1890 Mr. Happ retired and left Mr. Cohen the sole proprietor, who, since then has conducted the business under the commercial designation of The Banking House of Louis Cohen. The success he has had, not only in this, but his other financial ventures, is due to his integrity of character, and the strictly business principles which govern him. Besides being at the head of the Sandersville financial institutions, he is president of the Sandersville & Tennille railway, the construction of which is due almost entirely to the pluck, perseverance and finan- cial ability of Mr. Cohen. Under discouragements and a persistent opposition, growing out of certain local and railway influences, and obstacles which would have appalled one of a less indomitable spirit, he persevered until the work was accomplished-a work which has been of inestimable advantage and benefit to the business interests and people of Sandersville, a service for which the people hold him in high estimation. As might be expected a man of Mr. Cohen's progressive views and exuberant public spirit could not be overlooked when citizens must be chosen to manage public affairs; so when a citizen of Americus, and hardly of legal age, he was elected a member of the board of aldermen, and was continued as such until his removal to Sandersville. Here, also, his public spirit and recognized ability brought him to the front, and he has served as mayor of the city several terms and he is now a member of the county board of educa- tion. He is a conspicuous and worthy representative of that class of American citizens, native-born and naturalized, who have done so much towards rehabili- tating the south and developing her magnificent possibilities. Mr. Cohen was married July 29, 1874, to Miss Annie, daughter of P. Happ, one of the leading merchants of Sandersville, by whom he has had two children: H. Edward and Florence, whose bright qualities fitly adorn their beautiful home.

I EON A. GRAYBILL, physician, Oconee, Washington Co., Ga., son of Tully and Anna (Tucker) Graybill, was born in Washington county March 10, 1853. His grandfather, John Graybill, migrated from Pennsylvania to Georgia and set- tled in Hancock county, whence, in 1849, he moved to Texas. Dr. Graybill's

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father was the only member of the family who remained in Georgia. He had graduated in medicine at Lexington, Ky., and had located near Oconee in Wash- ington county, where he had established himself in a good practice, and where he continued most of his lifetime. He had received an excellent education and was a man of fine natural ability and taste. He was an "old-line whig" in politics, and represented the county in the general assembly a number of terms. During the closing years of his life his health was very much impaired. He was an active member of the Baptist church, and died in October, 1883. Besides the subject of this sketch-an only son-his parents had three other children: Mary, Mrs. V. S. Joyner, Sandersville; Emma, Mrs. Dr. J. S. Wood, Irwinton, Ga., and Laura, Mrs. Robert J. Moye, Harrison, Ga. Dr. Graybill received a good pri- mary and preparatory education, and having studied medicine under his father, attended lectures at the Bellevue Hospital Medical college, New York, from which he was graduated in 1880. He immediately located at Oconee, where he has lived ever since and built up an extensive and remunerative practice; in ad- dition to this he has been interested for a number of years in a large general merchandising business. In 1892 he was selected as one of the democratic stand- ard-bearers to represent Washington county in the general assembly, but, although he made a good race, he was defeated. Dr. Graybill was married in Washington county in 1882 to Miss Mary, born and reared in the county, daughter of M. G. Wood, Sr., who has borne him five children: Anna Lou, Nina, Mary, Leon A., and Laura.

J. H. JACKSON, planter, near Davisboro, Washington Co., son of Josiah and Sallie (Harris) Jackson, was born in Franklin county, N. C., May 12, 1830. His father was sheriff of Franklin county many years, and was also a soldier during the Seminole war and in the war with Mexico. In 1849 he migrated from North Carolina to Georgia and settled near Davisboro, where he died some years afterward of cancer. He was a good and thrifty farmer, a good manager, and accumulated considerable property. Of nine children born to him four sur- vive: J. H., the subject of this sketch; John, planter, Palmer, Tex .; Catharine, single, with J. H .; Carrie, wife of John Huff, Griffin, Ga. Mr. Jackson remained on the farm some years after arriving at maturity and then went to Savannah, where he spent some six years previous to the outbreak of the unpleasantness. He enlisted in Company K, of which he was made second lieutenant, First Geor- gia regiment. He did so believing that Georgia would not go out of the Union, but when Fort Pulaski was fired upon he resigned and returned home. When Atlanta was besieged, however, he joined the state troops and participated in the defense of that city. After the surrender he rented land one year, and then bought a small tract, to which he has gradually but steadily added until now he owns a splendid 900-acre plantation, and is accumulating property very fast. He is one of the largest, and is credited with being one of the best and most successful plant- ers in the county, and is a pushing, energetic, go-ahead manager. He works the county convicts and has done so for fourteen years. Mr. Jackson was married in Sandersville in 1854 to Miss Martha, daughter of George Franklin, a member of an old and very wealthy Georgia family. She was reared and educated in the county. Several children have been born to them: Ellen, wife of W. H. Kitchen, Washington county; J. A., Palmer, Tex .; Vita, wife of W. S. Grubb, Davisboro, Ga .; Sallie, deceased; Joe S., Palmer, Tex .; Carrie, deceased. He is a very enthusiastic and active member of the populist party, a master Mason and an influential member of the Christian church. Mr. Jackson is especially and justly

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proud of his two boys in Texas. The oldest went there a few years ago, settled a few miles from Dallas, and put up a gin. He now has a large ginnery and oil- mill, and is worth about $50,000-the result of remarkable business sagacity and management. His brother joined him last year.

NATHAN H. JORDAN, planter, Davisboro, Washington Co., Ga., son of Cor- nelius and Hearty (Haines) Jordan, was born in Washington county March 19, 1846. His grandparents on both sides-Thomas Jordan and Nathan Haines -migrated from North Carolina to Georgia and settled in Washington county in the early part of this century. They were thrifty and successful planters, became quite well off in property and themselves and wives lived to a ripe old age. His grandmother Haines was noted for being very religious. Mr. Jordan and Mr. Haines were whigs in politics, and the Jordans were ardent Baptists, while the Haines were enthusiastic Methodists. Mr. Jordan's father was born in Wash- ington county, where he was reared a planter, continued one all his life, and married and reared his family. His parents reared to maturity several children: Catharine, wife of Miles Tanner, Sanford, Fla .; Jane, Mrs. Dr. J. H. May, Wash- ington county, deceased; Luna Ann, Mrs. W. H. Fulgham, Riddleville, Wash- ington county; Amos A., John county, Ga., deceased; Stephen Thomas, Lees- burg, Ga .; Nathan H., the subject of this sketch; Cornelius, Atlanta; Sarah E., widow of Sol. Wilson, Riddleville; Araminta, unmarried, Tennille; Roberta, Mrs. W. N. Harmon, Tennille; A. Y. H., Washington county. His father was considered a very excellent farmer and accumulated a quite large property. He gave all his children a common school education and a fair start. His wife died in 1860, and himself in 1870. Mr. Jordan was reared a planter on the old planta- tion, and has lived in Washington county all his life. He enlisted as a private in Company B, Twelfth Georgia battalion, and served in the army in Virginia, about Richmond, and was seriously wounded in his left knee in the battle at Cold Harbor. When he was able to get about he was sent to Augusta, Ga., where he was on guard duty at time of the surrender. The vigilant attention and care ex- ercised by him in the management of his business interests may be conceived when it is stated that he conducts five different plantations containing in the aggregate 2,600 acres. He lived on one of these until about five years ago, when he moved to Davisboro, where he has lived since, taking much interest in the affairs of the town and county, and exercising a wide and strong salutary influence-the extent and value of which may be estimated when it is remembered that his family and connections are old settlers, numerous and wealthy. Mr. Jordan is also vice- president of Davisboro bank. He is a strong teetotaler and an enthusiastic ad- vocate of the temperance cause, always willing and ready to work for it. Mr. Jordan was married in Washington county in 1881 to Miss Nancy, daughter of Hopewell and Sarah Hooks, who, including Mrs. Jordan, reared ten children, the others being: Lucinda Olivia and Martha, unmarried, who make their home at the old homestead near Warthen, with Nathaniel H., also unmarried, who is considered one of the best fariners in the county, has accumulated a good prop- erty and who strives always to make his home a pleasant resting place for the weary traveler; Bennett, Gibson, Glascock Co .; Gabriel S., Dublin, Ga .; Sarah J. Kelley, deceased: Mary Harris, Texas; Winnifred H. Smith, Sanders- ville, Ga., all highly respected citizens. Mr. and Mrs. Jordan have not been blessed with any children. He is an uncompromising working democrat and an enthusiastic master Mason, having been instrumental in organizing the local lodge of which he is worshipful master, and himself and wife are prominent and in- fluential members of the Baptist church.

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MEMOIRS OF GEORGIA.

STEPHEN B. MILLS, physician, Dwight, Washington Co., Ga., son of Stephen and Mary (Gladin) Mills, was born in Washington county Nov. 24, 1829. His grandfather, John Mills, migrated from North Carolina to Georgia when a young man, and settled in Washington county. He married and farmed, reared a family of ten children, and when he died was eighty-four years old. Dr. Mills' father was born in the county, and grew to manhood on the farm. He was a man of great energy and a good manager, and accumulated a quite large property before the war. But when Sherman was "marching through Georgia" his mills were burned, his stock "confiscated," and his plantation almost ruined. It so preyed upon his mind that it was believed to have hastened his death. He was a very earnest democrat, and early in life was a captain of the militia -- when it was a coveted local distinction. He was the father of ten children: James W., Washington county; John F., deceased; Solomon L., died during the war; Stephen B., the subject of this sketch; Mary E., Mrs. A. W. Jackson, Sandersville, Ga .; Patience A., widow of H. B. Hooks, Washington county; Martha J., deceased; Lydia A., deceased; Julia Ann; and Julia Frances, deceased. He died Sept. 6, 1873, aged seventy-four, and his widow died July 3, 1880, aged seventy-nine years. Dr. Mills was reared on the farm, and received a fair educa- tion, read medicine under Dr. John Stone, then attended lectures at the Medical college of Georgia, Augusta, from which he graduated in 1858. He returned home after his graduation, remaining about a year, and then practiced with his preceptor a short time. When the war between the states began he enlisted in Company C, Forty-ninth Georgia regiment, as a private, and after serving as such a few months was assigned to duty as assistant surgeon, in which he continued during the war, mostly in Virginia. Returning from the war he settled in the present neighborhood, where he has continued since, having a very large practice, and conducting a large farming interest, which from small beginnings has increased to 1,200 acres. He is very popular as a citizen and as a medical prac titioner, and has been very successful. Dr. Mills was married in Washington county July 21, 1864, to Miss Mattie Lee, daughter of Green and Charity (Bate- man) Mills, by whom he has had no children. Her grandfather, Jesse Mills, came from North Carolina to Georgia, settled in Washington county, where he married, and after rearing a family moved to Crawford county, Ga., where he died. Her father reared three children: Mrs. Mills; Andrew, who was killed in the battle of Seven Pines; and William G., now living in Washington county. Dr. Mills is a democrat and a prominent member of the Baptist church.

M. NEWMAN, county ordinary, Sandersville, Washington Co., Ga., son of David and Hinda (La Zelle) Newman, was born in Posen, Prussian Poland, Jan. 9, 1827. Having been liberally educated and his father a broker, he acquired an intimate practical knowledge of business methods. When nineteen years of age, in order to escape the military service exacted by the government, he deter- mined to emigrate to the United States, which he did and landed in New York in May, 1846. He soon obtained employment in a large wholesale and retail clothing establishment in that city. The following year he came to Savannah, Ga., and thence in the fall to Sandersville, and entered upon his mercantile career, has lived a much respected and honored citizen, and established a large and successful business. In March, 1862, he enlisted in Company C-of which he was made second lieutenant-Forty-ninth Georgia regiment, and with his com- mand participated in many of the bloodiest and most stubbornly contested battles of the conflict, among them: Seven Pines, Mechanicsville, Cold Harbor, Frazer's farm, Malvern hill, Cedar run, second Manassas, Ox hill, Harper's ferry, Shep-

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WAYNE COUNTY SKETCHES.

herdstown, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Mine run, Wilderness, Spottsylvania court house, Jericho, Nance's shop, and Petersburg. He was slightly wounded once and captured twice; the first time at Ox hill, but was soon exchanged, and the second time at Fort Gregg, April 2, 1865, where his command made a gallant and desperate charge-entering with 250 men, and coming out with only 34 alive, who were taken prisoners. He has many highly appreciated testimonials of his efficiency and popularity as an adjutant while in the service. As an evidence of the respect had for his judgment by his superior officers one instance will be given. Invited to a consultation-as was frequently done-in regard to enlisting negroes in the Confederate service, he promptly and unre- servedly advocated it; in fact he was the first person to urge the policy. He drafted a plan for carrying it practically into effect and submitted it to his ranking officer, who endorsed it and started it to headquarters. It was endorsed by every officer up to the immortal Confederate commander-who approved and returned it. After the surrender he returned to Sandersville and resumed busi- ness, which he continued with increasing expansion and success until 1881, when, responding to the call of his appreciative fellow-citizens, he accepted the office of ordinary of Washington county- to which he has been successively re-elected and holds to-day. Bringing to the discharge of its important duties the system and punctuality of a thoroughbred and thoroughgoing business man, he is rec- ognized as one of the best officials in the state. As an honorable and reliable merchant he ranked among the foremost; as a soldier none exhibited greater courage or faithfulness; and as a public officer he is without a superior. Of progressive proclivities, and development on all lines, he has bestowed much study and thought to scientific agriculture. Consulting the best publications on the theory and practice of cultivating the soil, he is accepted as authority on the subject. Mr. Newman, though of Jewish faith, married Ann M. Ainsworth, a member of one of the oldest and best Gentile families in the county. Four children have blessed the union, two of whom are living: James D., and Isadore W., who succeeded their father in business, and are now one of the strongest firms in the city.

WAYNE COUNTY.

JOHN W. BENNETT, a promising young lawyer at Jesup, Ga., and son of John T. and Rebecca Jane (Akins) Bennett, of Wayne county, was born Sept. 15, 1865, about sixteen miles south of Jesup. His great-grandfather came from England to America probably toward the close of the last century. His grand- father, Braxton Bennett, was one of the early settlers of Wayne county, and was a soldier in the war of 1812. John T., Mr. Bennett's father, was, in early life, elected receiver and collector of taxes, and subsequently served eight years as treasurer for the county of Wayne. John W. Bennett was married to Charity Gertrude, daughter of Lewis and Sarah (Geiger) Price, of Liberty county, Ga., Dec. 31, 1889. Mr. Price was a Baptist minister of considerable note, a farmer and stock-raiser, and has served Liberty county as school commissioner. Mr. Bennett's early education was limited to that obtainable at the "old field" schools in that section. When of age, with means of his own, he paid the expenses at the State university at Athens for a two years' literary course and a one-year

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course in the law department. In August, 1889, he entered upon the practice of law at Jesup, meeting with excellent encouragement and obtaining his share of verdicts in suits brought. He is paying particular attention to criminal and corporation practice. In 1889 he was appointed prosecuting attorney by Judge Fort. He soon after drafted a bill investing the governor with the authority to make such appointment, and placed it in charge of the member from Wayne, by whom it was introduced into the legislature, and it became a law. Under the law he was subsequently appointed prosecuting attorney for the county by Gov. Northen. He held the office from the time he entered upon the practice until he was elected a member of the general assembly in 1892. For a young man and youthful member, he was given no little prominence and made a splendid record. He was always at the post of duty-in committee or on the floor of the house --- prompt and efficient. He was complimented with the chairmanship of the committee on wild lands, and did equally excellent and efficient service on several other committees. Mr. Bennett introduced a bill providing for the employ- ment of the state's convicts on the public highways; but as the contract system would not expire until 1896, it was regarded as premature by the committee to whom it was referred, and in compliance with the request of the committee, who did not wish to make an adverse report, he withdrew the bill. Mr. Bennett also took a conspicuously active part in having the bill passed providing for the pay- ment of the public school teachers quarterly instead of at the end of the year. Pro- fessionally and politically, Mr. Bennett seems to have a bright and honorable career before him. Such is his popularity, and so high the estimation in which he is held, his fellow countrymen had him to represent them again in the general assembly. He enjoys the honorable distinction of being the only representative who has been elected for a second term in the general assembly since the war. He is president of the school board of trustees. Mr. Bennett is an ardent democrat, a member of the I. O. O. F. and the Knights of Pythias, and a Missionary Baptist in religious faith.

A. H. CHANCY, Dale's Mill, Wayne Co., Ga., is one of the busy men in his community, being a member of the mercantile firm of Nicholas & Chancy, runs a farm and wood and turpentine business, and is postmaster, having been appointed in 1892. A. H. Chancy was born Sept. 19, 1867, and is a son of James and Elizabeth (Hilton) Chancy, natives of Wayne county, being one of six chil- dren born to them. Mr. Chancy's father, who was a merchant-farmer, died about 1880. His mother afterward married Willard Goodye, by whom she had no chil- dren. Dec. 5, 1890, Mr. Chancy married Carrie, daughter of James H. and Fan- nie (Hopps) Nicholas, both Georgians. To them two children have been born: James A. and Vernon N. Mrs. Chancy is an active member of the Missionary Baptist church. Like many others in this part of the state, Mr. Chancy had a poor start in life, but he is now making good headway for a good competency in the not distant future. Besides his interest in the store, he has a one-third in- terest in a large body of land and owns a fine lot of live stock. In politics Mr. Chancy is a democrat.

G. W. DRAWDY, M. D., is a prominent physician and surgeon, for many years a citizen of Jesup, Ga. He is a son of William Thomas and Eliza (Coursey) Drawdy, and was born in Wayne county April 12, 1855. His great grandfather, William Thomas Drawdy, was a native of South Carolina, and lived there and served in the patriot army in the war for independence. When he died he was ninety-seven years of age. William, Dr. Drawdy's grandfather, was a farmer

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and stock-raiser, and settled in southern Georgia early in this century. The doc- tor's parents were natives respectively of Wayne and Tattnall counties. The early education of Dr. Drawdy was obtained in the public schools of Wayne and Liberty counties, and when a young man he taught three terms. In the spring of 1883 he graduated from Atlanta Medical college, and afterward attended one course of lectures at a medical college in New York, and one at Jefferson Medical college, Philadelphia. In April, 1883, he located in Jesup, where he has since continued in the practice, excepting the intervals of absence attending medical lectures in New York and Philadelphia. His reputation for skill in the different branches of his profession is excellent, and he has established an extensive prac- tice. April 12, 1887, Dr. Drawdy celebrated his birthday by his union by mar- riage with Jennie Irene, daughter of John D. and Mary E. (Manning) Rumph, natives respectively of Glynn and Wayne counties. Mr. Rumph was a lawyer who attained to some distinction in his profession, enjoyed the confidence of a numer- ous and wealthy clientage, and represented Wayne county in the general assembly. To Dr. Drawdy and his wife one child only, Essie Lee, has been born. Dr. Drawdy is a democrat, is at present chairman of the democratic central con- mittee of Wayne county, and has served Jesup as an alderman one year. He is a Mason and has acceptably filled all the important offices in the blue lodge, and is past high priest of the R. A. chapter. He has also filled the important offices of the I. O. O. F. and the K. of P. fraternities, and represented all three in their respective grand lodges. He is also surgeon of the Georgia volunteers, with the rank of lieutenant. Mrs. Drawdy is a valuable and consistent member of the Methodist church. The many fraternal and other honors bestowed show the appreciation of his fellow-citizens, while the ample competency he has accumu- lated, and his management of it, demonstrate his unquestionable financial ability.

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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 149

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