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 61

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 61

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lower than for several years past, showing an increase in bulk consider- ably in advance of the percentage in value. His recommendations on the increase of industrial industries and increasing railroad facilities, not only commanded attention at home, but have attracted the attention of capitalists elsewhere. Mr. Young reorganized the old Macon & Atlanta Railway company that was placed in the hands of a receiver with the Georgia Southern & Florida and Macon & Birmingham in 1892-93. He was elected president of the Atlantic Short Line Railway company in 1893. When the property of this company was sold and the sale failed to go through by the objection of a small percentage of the stockholders, he was appointed by Judge Speer of the United States court receiver for the Atlantic Short Line Railway company. He was appointed receiver of the Electric Railway company, of Savannah, by Judge Speer in 1893, and is now managing these properties as receiver. Mr. Young is also a director of the Metropolitan Loan company, of Savannah, of the Citizens' bank and of the Georgia State Building and Loan company, president of the Tattnall Investment company and of the Young Investment company, of Valdosta, Ga.

- EFFINGHAM COUNTY.

ANGUS EUGENE BIRD, educator, Guyton, Effingham Co., Ga., son of Col. Edward and Ann E. (Wilson) Bird, was born in Effingham county, Sept. 12, 1854. His father was a native of Effingham county and was engaged in the timber and turpentine business when the war between the states began, when he enlisted as captain of a company in the Fifth Georgia cavalry, and was afterward promoted first to be lieutenant-colonel, and subsequently to the colonelcy, and as such served until the close of the war. He served in Tennessee, Georgia, and North and South Carolina. After the war he resumed the timber business and the manufacture of turpentine, and died April 15, 1893. His mother was a daughter of James and Eliza Wilson, of Effingham county. They were both active working members of the Methodist church; and to them were born four children: Robert Edward, born in 1852; Angus Eugene; Almeda G., born in October, 1856, wife of Thomas M. Arden, Savannah, Ga .; Ida R., born in May, 1859, wife of James M. Needlinger, Effingham county. After receiving his preparatory education Mr. Bird entered Emory college, Oxford, Ga., in 1874, and graduated in 1878. After leaving college he kept books for his father in South Carolina until early in 1879, when he came to Guyton, where he engaged in farming. The fall of that year he accepted a position as principal of the high school at Guyton, and kept it three years. The three years following he was engaged with his father in the turpentine business, and in 1885 embarked in sawmilling, which he followed until 1890. He was then again elected principal of the high school at Guyton, and retained it until elected to represent Effingham county in the general assembly in 1894. When in college he was a member of the Chi Phi fraternity and of the Phi Gamma Debating society. He has served Guyton two years as alderman, and one year as mayor; and is a member of the Effingham Hussars. He is also a correspondent of the "Daily Morning News," Savannah. Mr. Bird is a gentleman of superior ability, of fine literary attainments, stands high in his locality as an educator, and. withal, is a man of affairs, possessing excellent business qualifications. He is well

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read in the history of the past, and fully abreast with events of the present, public- spirited and progressive. Mr. Bird was married in Oxford, Ga., Jan. 30, 1879, to Miss Kittie, daughter of Joseph S. and Rebecca Stewart, and to them four children have been born: Emmie, born Nov. 30, 1879; Daisy, born July, 1881; Ruth, born Nov. 1, 1886; and Angus Eugene, Jr., born 1888. He is a stanch democrat and a member of the Knights of Pythias, and has filled every office in the local lodge. Mr. Bird and wife are active members of the Methodist church, Mr. Bird especially so, having been a steward twelve years, and recording steward of the quarterly conference since the death of his father, who has filled the office nearly thirty years; has been superintendent of the Sunday school for fifteen years, and is secretary of the County Sunday School association.

JAMES BIRD, farmer, Springfield, Effingham Co., Ga., son of William and Maria

Bird, was born in Effingham county, April 27, 1833. His father was a large planter, who was also engaged in saw-milling, and was a strict member of the Baptist church. Of eight children born to his parents, Mr. Bird was the fourth. He was educated in the Springfield academy, and when eighteen years old engaged in farming and the timber business. When the civil war began he joined the Fifth regiment Georgia cavalry, and in March, 1862, with it entered the Confederate service. The regiment was commanded by Col. Edward Bird, a brother of the subject of this sketch. With his command he saw service from Florida to Vir- ginia and west to the mountains, and was in many engagements of more or less importance, and numberless skirmishes. He was in the battle of Noonday church, Ga., at Murfreesboro, Tenn., Saltville, and Bear Creek station, in the battles near Macon, and that at Aiken, S. C., where he was wounded and sent to the hospital, soon after which the war came to a close. He was sergeant-major of the regiment. Immediately after the war he resumed farming and has engaged largely in the timber and wood business, and has given his undivided attention to this business ever since. Although unambitious of political office, he has served the county as treasurer a number of years. He is a good business man, and a superior man- ager, and has a fine property and nice home a few miles from Springfield, near where he was born. He is one of the county's most upright and substantial citizens, enjoying the confidence of all. Mr. Bird was married to Miss Martha H. Berry, daughter of John B. and Mary Berry, and to them ten children have been born: Leona Irene, Lilla A., Maggie G., Mary Ella, Jennie Lou, Borgia Eugenia, Ada A., Verda Ethlyn, Ramah Jordan and Nollie Viola. He is an active and prominent member of the Methodist church, which he joined when he was fifteen years old, and of which he is a steward and trustee. James Bird is now a member of the First regiment cavalry, Georgia volunteers, and was appointed paymaster of the regiment by Col. W. W. Gordon.

REV. JAMES MADISON CROSS, Baptist minister, Guyton, Effingham Co., Ga., son of Sardis Eason and Delano (Hayslip) Cross, was born in Burke county, Ga., Sept. 9, 1834. His father was a prosperous farmer, who died when he was eighteen months old, and he had the misfortune to lose his mother by death when nine years old. Being an only child he was left to the care of Alexander E. Cross, a cousin. He was given a good primary education, and then prepared for the junior class at college at the Louisville academy, in Jefferson county, Ga. But when eighteen years of age he left his studies in the school room and entered upon the study of law under the direction of T. H. Polhill of Louisville. When twenty years old he was admitted to the bar, located in Louisville, where he practiced his profession four years. But his health failing, acting under the the advice of a physi- cian, he abandoned the practice. On his restoration to health he determined to

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enter the ministry, and accordingly was ordained a minister of the Baptist church (of which he has been a minister thirty years), Revs. W. L. Kilpatrick, W. H. Davis and William J. Hard officiating. He served as pastor of country and village churches in Burke, Jefferson and Screven counties until 1883, when he was called to the Waycross church. He preached there three years, after which he accepted a call to Sanford, Fla. He returned to Georgia in 1887, and permanently settled near Guyton. He is now the regular pastor of the churches at Sardis, Burke county, and at Coopersville, Screven county, and Eden and Spring- field, Effingham county. He has always been recognized as among the ablest preachers of his denomination, but from choice has preferred to labor in unpre- tentious fields. Although of far more than usual usefulness in the pulpit, he has been among the most active and efficient in the quite as important ministerial duties involved in a pastorate of visiting his charge and cultivating intimate social relationship between the members and them and himself. He has been untiring in his efforts in organizing churches everywhere that there seemed to be any opportunity for planting or strengthening one; and it is claimed for him that no ministers of any denomination have done more effective work, or more of it in this respect than Rev. Cross. Very many of the most prosperous churches in the state have been organized by him, by his aid, or through his instrumentality. His unceasing, unselfish work in behalf of Christianity has endeared him to thousands outside his own congregations, who love him and hold him in the highest esteem. He labors independently of compensation, as he owns a splendid farm near Guyton, well equipped throughout, which is very successfully conducted by his sons. Rev. Cross was married Nov. 22, 1855, to Miss Julia, daughter of Rev. Joseph Polhill of Burke county. Of the children born to them eight survive: James Joseph, Julia M., Helen A., Lou E., Lloyd W., Samuel E., Kilpatrick and O. M. All his daughters and his eldest son are married. He is a master Mason, member of Bartow Lodge No. 274, of which he was worshipful master for eight or ten years.

BENJAMIN J. DASHER, farmer, Tusculum, Effingham Co., Ga., son of Samuel and Jane Maria Dasher, was born in Effingham county, March 14, 1825. His paternal great-grandfather came with his family from Salzburg, Germany, to Georgia in 1775 and settled in Effingham county. His grandfather was a soldier in the patriot army during the revolutionary war. Mr. Dasher's father was a farmer, and was a volunteer soldier in the Seminole war. He and his wife were members of the Lutheran church; first of the old Ebenezer congregation, and later of the church of Bethel. They were the parents of twelve children-seven boys and five daughters-of whom Mr. Dasher was the second born. He received his education at the common schools of the county, and on attaining to manhood he engaged in the timber trade and industriously and profitably pursued it many years. Of late years he has given his attention almost exclusively to his farming interests. He was twice elected a justice of the inferior court-during his second term the court was abolished. Content with the quiet life and the more than sustaining profits of a well managed farm, he has had no ambition for office. Mr. Dasher was married Oct. 17, 1849, to Miss Mary S., daughter of Joshua and Mary Ganann. His wife was a schoolmate at Springfield of Hon. Richard H. Clark, the distinguished judge of the criminal division of the superior court of Fulton county. Mr. and Mrs. Dasher are the parents of five children: Mary Ella, deceased; Jane Florence, wife of Charles Chunn; Solomon Franklin, Fort Valley, Houston Co., Ga .; Charles Emerson, locomotive engineer, Fort Valley; Benjamin J., Jr., farmer, Effingham county. He has been a member of the Lutheran church forty years, and was an elder many years-until he resigned.

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PAUL M. EDWARDS, farmer, Eden, Effingham Co., Ga., son of S. A. and Tabitha Edwards, was born in Effingham county, Sept. 14, 1842. His father was a farmer, also engaged in the timber business; and was an ordained minister of the Baptist church. He raised a family of seven children: Indiana Jane, Vernanda D., Paul Marlow, Robert S., Martha Emily, Tabitha Ellen and Rosa Annis. Mr. Edwards was educated at the common schools of the county. He enlisted March 12, 1862, in a company in the Fifth Georgia cavalry, Col. Edward Bird, under command of Gen. Anderson. He was a participant in the battle of Noonday Church, and the battle of Atlanta, and for a long time was courier for Col. Bird. He served in the army throughout the war, and after it was over came home and went into the timber business in connection with farming. He con- ducted these two interests about nine years; then, continuing his farm, he abandoned the timber business and cut wood for market instead, and is still engaged in it. Mr. Edwards was married Nov. 25, 1874, to Miss Annie E., daughter of Alexander C. N. Smets, of Savannah, Ga., and these children have been born to him: Marie E., Sylvester A., Paul Macrae, Anna Cornelia, Pauline Elizabeth, Gordon, Robert Smets and Henry Marlow. Mr. Edwards is a member of the Baptist church in Eden, and his wife and eldest daughter are members of St. John's church at Savannah.

ABRAM J. FUTRELL, merchant, Guyton, Effingham Co., Ga., son of Christopher and Sarah (Blitch) Futrell, was born in Effingham county, Feb. 15, 1842. His father was a farmer and died when he was only five years old, but his mother is still living at the advanced age of eighty-two years. They had seven children: Abram J .; Georgia, wife of Andrew Hanson, born in Denmark; M. B., farmer, Effingham county; Obedience, deceased; John Thomas, died dur- ing the war in the Confederate service; Alzada, wife of James Farris, Laurens county, Ga .; Christopher, killed by a horse when nine years old. Mr. Futrell was reared on a farm and was educated in the common schools of the county. As soon as the civil war began he left school and enlisted in the Georgia militia for six months, and at the expiration of that time enlisted in the Fifty-fourth Georgia, which was assigned to Gen. Mercer's command. He was in quite a number of important engagements and many skirmishes, participating in the battle near Atlanta July 22, 1864, and served until the surrender. After the war he engaged in farming and timber cutting, and continued it ten years. He has since, while continuing his farm, engaged in merchandising in Guyton, and has established a very good and profitable trade. He is a member of the board of county com- missioners. Mr. Futrell was married in 1870 to Miss Lucinda, daughter of Rob- erson and Joanna Newton, and to them the following children have been born: Joanna, deceased; Louisa Gertrude, wife of H. P. Stronge, lawyer, Statesboro, Bulloch Co., Ga .; Canaro Lisette, wife of Walter Aaron, lawyer, Ashburn, Worth Co., Ga .; Florida, unmarried; Victor Harley and Myrtie, both at home. The mother of these children died May 9, 1886, and in September, 1888, Mr. Futrell contracted a second marriage with Miss Lillian, daughter of Edward Sowell, who has borne him four children: Donald Edward, Cattie B., Frank and Abram J. Mr. Futrell is a populist politically and a member of the Baptist church, takes an active interest in all church matters, and has been superintendent of the Sun- day school many years.

ANGUS N. GROVENSTEIN, merchant, Guyton, Effingham Co., Ga., son of Shadrach and Susannah (Keiffer) Grovenstein, was born in Effingham county, Oct. 2, 1852. His family is of German descent, and ancestors of his, Salzburg-

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ers, settled in what is now Effingham county in 1733. His father was a farmer, was a member of the Effingham hussars for many years previous to the war, and enlisted in 1862 with his company (Capt. Stroborn) in the Fifth Georgia cavalry (Col. Edward Bird), with which he served till wounded and discharged. Himself and wife are members of the Lutheran church. A. N. Grovenstein's grandfather, Ephraim Keiffer, was a Lutheran minister and was pastor of the church at Eben- ezer, in Effingham county-the oldest of that denomination in the state. The old church building erected in 1769 is still standing, and the worshipers were organ- ized as a church in 1774. Shadrach and Susannah Grovenstein were the parents of seven children: Angus Nesbitt, Hubert, deceased; Homer, deceased; Alice, deceased wife of W. A. Davis, Savannah; Ella, wife of L. C. Tibeau, Jr., Effing- ham county; Victoria, wife of J. J. Jenkins, Effingham county, and one child who died in infancy. Mr. Grovenstein received an academical education, attend- ing first the school at Guyton, and then two years under Prof. J. J. Jenkins at Groverville, Brooks Co., Ga. After finishing his education he taught school in Camden and Chatham counties, Ga. In 1874 he accepted the position of freight train conductor on the Central railway, and held it between three and four vears. He was then made conductor of a passenger train, and was conductor on the first through train from Atlanta to Savannah. After ten years' faithful service in this capacity he was promoted to the position of pay train conductor and assistant paymaster for the Central railway on all of its lines. He held this hon- orable and responsible position four years-until the Richmond & Danville com- pany took charge, when that service was discontinued. Mr. Grovenstein was tendered a situation as passenger train conductor, but declined it, as he had deter- mined to become a merchant. In 1892 he entered into partnership with Bartemus J. Cubbedge and embarked in a general merchandise business in Guyton, which has proved a prosperous enterprise, with increasing trade and the promise of being a brilliant success. In addition to the store he has a fine farm at old Camp Davis, about three miles above Guyton, which he has managed very profitably. He is an enthusiastic member of the Effingham hussars. Mr. Grovenstein was married March 1, 1876, to Miss Mattie (born May 2, 1857), eldest daughter of B. J. Cub- bedge, of Effingham county. Mr. Cubbedge was for many years in the employ of the Central railway under its old management, and held many responsible positions. Mr. and Mrs. Grovenstein are the parents of eleven children: Claudia, born in 1877, deceased; Rufus Nesbitt, Georgia C., Mabel Catherine, Mattie, Angus, Bartemus, Robert Mims, Sidney L., Elmira and Erling. Mr. Grovenstein and his wife are members of the Baptist church at Guyton, of which he is the clerk. He is a member of the democratic executive committe of Effingham county, and is the postmaster at Guyton, Ga.

NESBITT BARTOW SHEAROUSE, farmer and lumberman, Marlow, Effing- ham Co., Ga., son of Nathaniel and Sarah Shearouse, was born in Bryan county, Ga., Dec. 14, 1862. His father was a farmer and enlisted in a company in the Fifth Georgia cavalry, commanded by Col. Edward Bird, and served through the war. His father and mother were members of the Methodist church, and the parents of twelve children: John, William, Charles, Nathaniel, Robert, George, Virginia, Annie, Emeline, Ellen, Georgia and Nesbitt Bartow. Mr. Shearouse was educated in the common schools of Effingham county, finishing in Shiloh. When about twenty years of age he engaged in the timber business, and not long afterward joined his brother in the publication of the Guyton "Chronicle" newspaper. After two years' experience in the newspaper business he turned his attention more profitably to saw-milling in Effingham and Bryan counties.

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He has been thus engaged now for ten years, with very satisfactory results. He owns a small saw-mill near Marlow which cuts about 3,000 feet of lumber per day, and in connection with it conducts a grist mill and a corn crusher. In connec- tion with his other enterprises he conducts a farm. Mr. Shearouse was married Sept. 2, 1891, to Miss Myra -- born June 5, 1874-daughter of Henry and Eugenia Miller, of Effingham county, who has bornc him one child, Donald Nesbitt, born Oct. 22, 1892. He is a democrat and a member of the Methodist church.

ROBERT WADE SHEPPARD, lawyer, Guyton, Effingham Co., Ga., son of L. D. and Roxie Sheppard, was born in Screven county, Ga., Oct. 28, 1868. His father is a prosperous farmer and was in the Confederate service during the late civil war. His parents are members of the Methodist church, and to them seven children have been born. Mr. Sheppard was the first born of these, and after being educated at the excellent schools of Sylvania, Screven Co., and in Guyton, Effingham Co., was commissioned notary public and ex-officio justice of the peace. He commenced the study of law in 1890 under the preceptorship of Clark & Clark, and afterward with Garard & Meldrim, of Savannah, Ga. He was admitted to the bar in May, 1892, at Effingham superior court, Judge Falligant presiding, and soon after located at Guyton, where he has built up a good profes- sional reputation and practice. In 1893, on the recommendation of the grand jury, he was appointed solicitor of the county court of Effingham county by Gov. Northen, and subsequently confirmed by the senate, which office he now holds. Mr. Sheppard was married Aug. 31, 1893, to Miss Katie, the adopted daughter of J. L. and Susan E. Hawkins, who has borne to them one child, Susie Davant, born in September, 1894.

ANDREW J. SIMMONS, farmer, Guyton, Effingham Co., Ga., son of Haskell and Jane Ann Simmons, was born in Bulloch county, Ga., Jan. 7, 1844. His father was a farmer, and both father and mother were members of the Primitive Baptist church. Of twelve children born to them Mr. Simmons was the second son, and was educated in the common schools of Bulloch and Effingham counties. In 1861, at the age of seventeen years he left school and enlisted in the Ninth Georgia regiment, but being taken sick could not go with it. On his recovery in 1862, he enlisted under Capt. Rawls, whose company was a part of the Fifty- fourth Georgia regiment, Col. Charlton H. Way. With this command he bore an active part in the Atlanta campaign from Tunnel Hill south, participated in the battle of Atlanta July 22, 1864-during which a shot passed through his coat sleeve. With his command he subsequently participated in the Tennessee campaign under Gen. Hood, and in the battles at Franklin and Murfreesboro. He left Murfrees- boro with a wagon train of prisoners. He afterward went to the South Caro- lina coast and was in the engagement at James Island. From there he went to Augusta, where he was granted a furlough, and on his return to the army he learned of the surrender. On his return home he attended school two years, and then engaged in farming with his father for some time. Then for five years he was in the cross-tie and timber business; after which he resumed farming in connection with saw-milling. Of late years he has given his attention almost exclusively to his farm and cutting wood for market. For four years he was chairman of the commissioners of roads and revenues of the county, and in 1894 was elected mayor of Guyton. He has also represented the county alliance in the statc alliance convention. Mr. Simmons was married April 17, 1872, to Miss Agnes, daughter of J. B. and Salome Shearouse of Effingham county. Six children have been born to them: Leila Pauline, Corinne, Robert (deceased), James Win-

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field, Daniel Webster and Maude. Himself and wife are members of the Methodist church, of which he has been secretary, steward and trustee and a district steward.

STEPHEN A. WILSON, merchant, Oaky, Effingham Co., Ga., son of Elihu and Catharine Wilson, was born in Effingham county, September 3, 1829. His parents were well-to-do people, and his father followed farming all his life. They had seven children, of whom Stephen was the fourth son. Mr. Wilson's education was obtained at the near-by country schools. When eighteen years of age he commenced farming on his own account, and continued it until March 10, 1862, when he formed Company I, Forty-seventh Georgia regiment, and was made captain. He was at Savannah, the battle at Jackson, and siege of Vicksburg, Miss. With his command he participated in the battles of Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, Chickamauga, and was in the running fight from Dalton to Atlanta. At Pine Mountain he received a wound in the head, in consequence of which he was in the hospital some considerable time. On his recovery he rejoined his brigade, which was sent to Charleston to drive the Federals from St. John's Island, and was on James' Island which they left when Gen. Sherman reached Savannah. His command participated in the fight at Honeyhill and at Coosaw- hatchie, where they remained until Charleston was evacuated, when the com- mand went into the interior. Obtaining a furlough he came home to remove his family to a place of safety; and finding himself cut off from his command he joined Gen. Cheatham's corps, with which he remained until the surrender. Returning from the war he farmed one year and then, in addition, engaged in merchandising and saw-milling, which he has since followed and accumulated a fortune. He is a fine business man, always on the alert, is very enterprising and has displayed unusually good management. Mr. Wilson has been married three times. He was first married to Miss Lavinia Dasher, and after her death he married Miss Laura Davis of Barnwell, S. C. He had the misfortune to suffer a second bereave- ment in her death, and for his third wife married Miss Tabitha A. Edwards of Effingham county, by whom he has had five children: Walter S., teacher, Savan- nah; Horace Emmet, lawyer, and recorder police court, Savannah; F. Kath- arine, wife of L. M. Ryals, Savannah; Frank Cheatham, dentist, Savannah; and one single daughter, Mary Murchison. Mr. Wilson is a member of the masonic fraternity.

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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 61

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