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 65

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 65

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MOUGHON. This is a name that will be recognized by citizens of middle Geor- gia as belonging to one of the old aristocratic families whose wealth and position in old slavery days were of the highest. The present representative of the family is Col. W. S. Moughon, a planter of Jones county, residing four miles north of Haddock. His father, Thomas Moughon, was a Virginian by birth, who, coming to Baldwin county, Ga., wooed and won Miss Mary G. Sanford, a mem- ber of another of the old aristocratic families of the state. The greater part of their lives was passed in Jones county, where the fine old plantation home still stands, and where a family of four children were raised: Thomas (now deceased); Maria (deceased), wife of Jere Bell; Henrietta, who married Joseph Bond, known as the wealthiest planter in middle Georgia before the war. After his death she married Mr. Charles L. Nelson, and is again a widow, residing in Louisville, Ky. The fourth and youngest child was W. S., the subject of this sketch. The thrift and energy of the father of this family resulted in the accumulation of a vast estate in lands and negroes. He was a man of varied attainments, and was honored repeatedly by his fellow-citizens by his election to represent the county in the general assembly. W. S. Moughon was born in Jones county, Nov. 2, 1825, and was raised with all the advantages that wealth could command. He was educated at Mercer university, and assuming control of the estate after the death of his father has devoted his attention to planting exclusively. He has, however, been honored with political position, having represented Jones county twice, and Bibb county once in the general assembly. Col. Moughon's first marriage occurred in Columbia county, in 1847, when he wedded Miss Parthenia Ramsey, to whom twins were born-Emily J., widow of Allen Holt, Jones county, and Elizabeth S., wife of R. M. Bazemore, of Dalton, Ga. Mrs. Moughon died just after the war, and Col. Moughon contracted a second marriage, which was celebrated July 22, 1868, at the famous watering place, Saratoga, N. Y., the bride being Miss Alice K. Wyche of Macon, Ga., who has since presided at his home. Mrs. Moughon was a daughter of Ainsley H. and Harriet (Sullivan) Wyche, a family of English descent, reputed to have been connected with Lord Sterling. Her father, was born and raised in South Carolina. He came to Georgia while a young man, and married his wife in Macon. He became an extensive cotton broker there, and also attained to celebrity as a writer on political subjects, and other topics of gen- eral interest. At the time of her marriage Mrs. Moughon was regarded as one

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of the most versatile and beautiful women in middle Georgia, and she has lost none of that charming vivaciousness and piquancy which made her so attractive and popular. The following named bright and beautiful children grace the family circle of this delightful home, the two oldest daughters being worthy representa- tives of their charming mother: W. S., a broker in Birmingham, Ala .; Hattie G .; L. Jordan; Gordon W .; Villette S .; Thomas; Clifford, and Ruth.

EDMOND T. MORTON, planter, Morton's Station, Jones Co., Ga., son of Oliver H. and Catharine (Harris) Morton, was born in Jones county, Jan. 27, 1830. His great-grandfather, Oliver H. Morton, was a native of Boston, Mass., was a soldier in the revolutionary war, and made a prisoner and carried to England. He escaped from confinement, and during his wanderings afterward traveled nearly all over Ireland. He finally came to North Carolina, where he married a Miss Everett, in Ashe county. He followed the sea about twenty-eight years, and then settled down as a planter. He migrated from North Carolina to Georgia about 1807 and settled in Jones county, between one and two miles from Clinton, the county seat, where he died at the advanced age of ninety-eight years. Mr. Morton's grandparents passed their lives on this original plantation, and reared quite a large family there. His father was born in 1804 in North Carolina and married Miss Harris, born in Edgefield district, South Carolina, whence her family came about 1812. To them were born the following children: Franklin, deceased; Lavinia, deceased; Thomas, deceased; Edmond, planter, Jones county; William, deceased; Sarah, Mrs. Sydney Bryan, Putnam county; Minerva, Mrs. Pope, of Louisiana; Edmond T., the subject of this sketch; Cynthia, Mrs. Bazemore, Taylor county, Ga .; Mary, Mrs. Cobb, Laurens county, Ga .; and Catharine, Mrs. Wright, Jones county. Mr. Morton had no aspirations for public life, belonged to the old whig party, and felt only the interest in the government of a plain citizen. Himself and wife were members of the Primitive Baptist church. Mrs. Morton died in 1876, and Mr. Morton in 1891, aged eighty-eight years. Mr. Morton has made farming the business of his life, and has no record to speak of aside from that. He enlisted in 1862 in a cavalry company (Company E), commanded by Capt. Dunlap, of Macon, Ga., as a private, and saw service in South Carolina and Virginia. He came out of the war some $6,000 in debt, but now has three plantations of 1,200, 700 and 428 acres respectively, all model farms in every respect. His home place, 1,200 acres, is said to be one of the choicest farms in Jones county. He runs twenty-seven plows. He has paid the money he owed and bought these farms and the stock on them since the war, and, to use his own expression, he has "dug it all out of the ground." He is undoubtedly one of the best farmers in the state. There are sev- eral brothers, and all of them have very fine plantations, and are known in that section as the "thrifty Mortons." William, who died a year or two ago, had the finest plantation home in the state. Mr. Morton was married in 1861 to Mrs. Adaline Moore, daughter of Herrington Patterson, Jones county, by whom he has had two children: Edmund P., Morton Station, Ga., and Addie Kate, wife of Homer John- son, who, with her husband, son of Judge Johnson, of Clinton, makes her home with her parents, who dote on her. She is said to possess a lovable disposition and many charming traits of character, a model daughter and wife, and entirely worthy of all the affection bestowed upon her by her parents.

H B. RIDLEY, planter, Cornucopia, Jones Co., Ga., son of Dr. Charles L. and · Susan Ann (Bonner) Ridley, was born in Hancock county, Ga., Oct. 21, 1828. His grandfather, Dr. James Ridley, was an eminent physician in Oxford, Granville Co., N. C., where he died. Four of his sons came to Georgia, and all became prom- inent in the several localities in which they lived. His father, Dr. Charles L. Ridley,

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JONES COUNTY SKETCHES.

born July 5, 1802, was a well-educated man, a skillful physician, who practiced in Hancock and Jasper counties and amassed quite a fortune. Hewas a whig in politics, very prominent in public affairs, and was a member of the convention which adopted the ordinance of secession, against which he voted. He married Miss Bonner, who was of Scotch descent, in Hancock county, where she was born and reared. They had three sons who grew to manhood: James B., a physician, who, enlisting in the Confederate service, was appointed surgeon of the Thirty-second Georgia regiment, and died in 1862 of typhoid fever; H. B., the subject of this sketch, and Robert B., farmer, who died in 1863. Dr. Ridley died in April, 1873. Capt. Ridley arrived at manhood in Jones county, and has been a planter all his life. He settled his plantation, 3,000 acres, in 1851. When hostilities began he raised a company (Company B, Thirty-second Georgia regiment), and was made its captain. In 1861 they were stationed a short time near Savannah, in the state service, then transferred to the regular service, and served through the war, surrendering in North Carolina. In 1875 he was elected to represent Jones county in the general assembly one term, and in 1884-85 he represented the Twenty-first senatorial dis- trict in the same body. Capt. Ridley is a quite important factor in county poli- tics, being exceptionally well informed and a shrewd politician. He has been a member of the democratic state executive committee, and chairman of the county executive committee repeatedly. In 1849 he was married in Bertie county, N. C., to Miss Mary E., daughter of Thomas Speller. They have no children, but have reared a niece, Lillie Watson, his wife's sister's daughter, now a charming and accomplished young lady, whose mother is also a member of the household. Capt. Ridley is a fine type of the old-time country gentleman; has his blooded horses, his broad acres of fertile lands yielding abundantly, and the entire household being good musicians, he entertains most royally. He is an uncompromising democrat and a master Mason.

ISKETOE, farmer, Griswoldville, Jones Co., Ga., son of Gary and Rachel (Campbell) Sketoe, was born in Darlington district, S. C., Oct. 27, 1831. His grandfather, John Sketoe, was a native Spaniard who first came to North Carolina, moved then to South Carolina with his family, and lived there until he died. Gary, his son, was reared and married in South Carolina, whence he came to Wilkinson county, Ga., in 1837. Three years thereafter he removed to Twiggs county, where he remained one year, and then moved into Jones county, where he died in 1870. His wife died in 1868. They reared to maturity but two children out of ten boys born: William, who died of disease while a soldier in the army of Virginia during the war, and the subject of this sketch. Mr. Sketoe was reared a farmer in Jones county, which has been his principal pursuit through life. Just after the war, how- ever, until 1872, he followed railroading. In the fall of that year he bought a 340- acre farm, about twelve miles from Macon, near Griswoldville, and has resided there since, and placed himself in comfortable circumstances with a good home, and esteemed by all his neighbors. Mr. Sketoe was married in January, 1860, to Miss Mary Brewer, who bore him two children: William D., railroad contractor, and Cornelia G., wife of William Balkcom, Jones county. The mother of these children died in 1870. In 1872 Mr. Sketoe married Mrs. Alice (Tarver) Alford, who had three children by her former husband: A. O., deceased; Ava, wife of Henry Mor- gan, Savannah, Ga., and Alice, deceased. Two children are the offspring of this second marriage: Lela R., wife of Alonzo Balkcom, Jones county, and Thomas L., a bright and very promising thirteen-year-old boy, of fine mental endowments and decidedly literary in his tastes. Mrs. Sketoe died May 4, 1891. Mr. Sketoe is an ardent populist, a master Mason and a Methodist.

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MEMOIRS OF GEORGIA.

LEONIDAS SMITH, planter, Blountsville, Jones Co., Ga., son of John T. and Elizabeth Frances (Key) Smith, was born in Jones county, Dec. 17, 1840. His father, John T. Smith, was born in Weldon, N. C., where he lived until he was nine- teen years of age, when he and an older brother, Lovid, early in the 30's, came to Jones county, Ga. About two years after he came to Georgia, March 12, 1835, he married Miss Key. Of the children born to him by her the following are living: Amanda, Mrs. Jeremiah Miller, Jones county, Ga .; Leonidas, the subject of this sketch; Robert, planter, Jones county, and John H., Orange county, Fla. The mother of these having died Mr. Smith married for his second wife Miss Carrie C. Clark, of Houston county, Ga., who survives him. The children born to him by this marriage, now living, are these: Benjamin T., Jones county; Sarah F., wife of Col. Green, of Hancock county, Ga., and William A., Jones county. Mr. Smith, who politically was a democrat, and religiously a Baptist, died April 13, 1873. Mr. Smith has spent his life in planting, and has been successful. In addition to an 1,800-acre plantation near Blountsville, Jones county, he has other plantations in Putnam county, Ga. In 1861 he enlisted as a private in Company B, Twelfth Georgia regiment. He was in the seven days' fight and the second Manassas, in which he was wounded in the left arm. He returned home, and was not again in the regular service. He was elected sheriff of the county in 1868, and served four years. Mr. Smith was married in Jones county to Miss Mary A. M. Tufts, April 14, 1870, who has borne him ten children: Tallulah, wife of Charles Farrar, Jones county, Ga .; Sarah J .; William; Mamie Lee; John T .; Fannie; Laura Belle; Claude; Virgil, and Colton. Mr. Smith is a democrat and a master Mason.

ROBERT J. SMITH, planter, Round Oak, Jones Co., Ga., son of Robert J, and Sarah T. (O'Bryan) Smith, was born in Floyd county, Va., Aug. 8, 1837. His grandfather, William D. Smith, was of English extraction, was an officer in the revolutionary army six years, and then fought the Indians three years. He was a large and handsome man, and after he left the military service became a Methodist preacher. When Mr. Smith was eight years old his father, who was a planter, removed from Virginia to Bradley county, Tenn. There they reared a family of five children: William D., who was a Methodist preacher, deceased; Charles H., deceased; Robert J., the subject of this sketch; Mattie, wife of L. J. Hughes, Brad- ley county, Tenn., and Susan C., who died when twelve years of age. Mrs. Smith died in 1861, and Mr. Smith died in 1873. Mr. Smith was educated at and was graduated from Hiwassee college, Tenn., in 1862, with the degree of A. B., and later received the degree of A. M. He was physically unable to participate in the war, so between the ages of eighteen and twenty-four he taught and attended school alternately. In 1862 he left Tennessee and came to Murray county, Ga., where he taught school one year, and then went to Putnam county, where he taught until 1875. He then farmed until 1877, when he located on a plantation of 2,000 acres. He has neither sought nor held any public office, devoting his time exclusively to his extensive planting interests, excepting two years he served on the democratic exec- utive committee for the county. As a teacher he was popular and successful, being well educated and well read and of an unusually impressive presence and personality. Mr. Smith was married Dec. 14, 1875, to Miss Sallie M., daughter of Benjamin and Sallie (Shropshire) Barron, one of the wealthiest and most influential families in that section, Mr. Barron having represented the county in the general assembly. His children all occupy a fine social position. Mr. Smith has had but one child born to him, Sallie B., who died when seven years of age. Mr. Smith is a democrat, a royal arch Mason and a Methodist; is a steward of the church in his community. He has a beautiful home and takes great pride in keeping it in good order.

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LAURENS COUNTY SKETCHES.

WILLIAMS. Of the many old and honorable families in Jones county none can point to a clearer record than this. For many years they have patiently tilled the generously yielding soil in the northeastern portion of Jones county, bearing the honorable distinction of "model" farmers. John Williams, the grandfather. of the subject of this sketch, was a Virginian of Welsh-Irish descent, who moved with his family to Warren county, Ga., in the latter part of the last century. He raised a family of four boys and six girls. Only one of this family is now living-Mr. John Williams, eighty-two years of age. The other three lived to a ripe old age and raised families. Samuel and Henry became more or less prominent in politics, having been members of the general assembly from their different counties. The mother of the family was Mary Childers. The other son, Thomas Williams, was born and raised on the plantation in Put- nam county, where his only son, John T. Williams, now resides. June 7, 1840, he married Samantha E. Dismuke, who survives him, he having departed this life Sept. 2, 1881. They raised the following named children: Marietta, deceased; Martha D., Mrs. Wesley G. Kimbro, Putnam county, Ga .; Ann Eliza, deceased wife of Dr. Clark; Ophelia, wife of J. J. Pelot, Atlanta; Euzenia, wife of Hon. A. D. Candler, secretary of state of Georgia; John T., the subject of this sketch; Florence Elizabeth, wife of Irby G. Scott, Putnam county, Ga .; Alice, wife of Willis T. Price, Macon, Ga. The father of this family was a careful, thrifty and industrious man, who started early in life with comparatively nothing and accu- mulated a large property. Disinclined to public life, he devoted himself to the cultivation and improvement of his plantation. He stood high in the estimation of his neighbors and was a worthy citizen in every respect. John Tom Williams, as he is familiarly called, the only son of the above, now lives on the old planta- tion where he was born. He is a farmer and nothing else-his laudable ambition being to sustain the family record in the line of good farming, and the farm he manages will compare favorably with the most excellent in Jones and the sur- rounding counties. He is worthily filling the place vacated by his father. Before the alliance went into politics he was an ardent and prominent member. In 1889, when the Central railway proposed to give a free trip to Ohio to a body of editors and a representative farmer from each congressional district, Mr. Williams was selected to represent the sixth-a significant compliment. He went, and was gone three weeks. The trip and experience are an ever green spot in his life- history. Dec. 10, 1879, Mr. Williams was married to Miss Annie R., youngest daughter of Maj. Ben Barron, who has borne him five children: John T., Jr., died when two years old; Annie E., Alice O., Walter B., and John T., Jr.

LAURENS COUNTY.

CAPT. R. C. HENRY, vice-president of the Dublin Banking company, Dublin, Ga., is the leading spirit of his little enterprising city, and has behind him a long and interesting career. He is the son of Neal and Ann (Bouhan) Henry, and was born in North Carolina, April 28, 1838. His father was a prominent planter of that state, where he died; his mother is still surviving at an advanced age. Capt. Henry is one of those gentlemen to whom can be justly applied that honorable term, "a self-made man." Of humble but honest parentage, he was at eighteen without capital and with but little education. Having been reared in

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the Cape Fear river country, his first efforts were enlisted in the boating industry, on a very humble scale at first, it is true, but with a spirit and energy which soon mended his fortunes. In these early efforts he was associated with his brother, who died during the first year of the war. By the time the war was in progress he had become master of a small river steamer which he owned and which he frequently placed at the disposal of the new Confederacy, of which he was an ardent supporter. Most of his boating at that period was done between Fay- etteville and Wilmington. After the war he became identified with the agricul- tural interests of his section, being connected somewhat also with mercantile life. But the river life had so impressed him that he soon again invested his earnings in a vessel, which he commanded until his removal to Dublin, in October, 1874. When Capt. Henry came to Dublin he had not yet accumulated much, save a rich experience, which he forthwith began to make available in establishing the boating industry from Dublin to the ocean, confining his personal efforts to the Oconee river. His connection with the Central railroad at its point of crossing the river gave him a large frieght and passenger trade, and for a number of years he continued a prosperous business. Upon the building of the W. & T. railroad into Dublin the business was somewhat curtailed, but he still continued to do well on the lower part of the river. In 1890 he became interested in the present banking venture and sold out his river business. In "all and singular" of these enterprises Capt. Henry has conducted them on the policy of "live and let live," and enjoys the reputation of being honest and square in all his dealings. Capt. Henry is a veteran of the late war, having enlisted in Company A, of the Third North Carolina cavalry (Barringer's brigade), in 1861, as a private. He was in numerous engagements, the hottest one being at Five Forks; he was also present at the siege of Fort Fisher. The captain's marriage occurred in North Carolina in 1879 to Louisa, daughter of John Bannerman, and who now presides over his pleasant home. In religious belief he is a Presbyterian, and in politics a stanch democrat.

CAPT. HARDY SMITH, the popular ordinary of Laurens county, whose pub- lic life has been continuous since January, 1866, was born in this county Oct. 24, 1841. He is a grandson of Hardy Smith, who helped achieve the inde- pendence of the colonies, and after the revolutionary war with his family left North Carolina and migrated to Georgia, settling on the Oconee river, where he cleared up a "patch" and established a rude home. One of the sons was given his own name, and married Ann, daughter of Gaillard Anderson, who was origi- nally from North Carolina, a pioneer settler of Laurens county, Ga., and in time a large land and slave holder. The children of this marriage were: Hardy, Lafton L., Rachel E., Rebecca, Daniel A., Henry P. and Ann Eliza. Attending the common schools of the day until he was prepared to enter the university, Capt. Hardy became a matriculate at Athens, with the intention of securing a collegiate education. But the war breaking out at this, for him, inopportune time, he left school-not again to return-to become a soldier. Enlisting in that famous organization, the Blackshear guards, at the age of nineteen years, he became by election second lieutenant of Company H, of the. Fourteenth Regimental Georgia volunteers. During service he was promoted to the captaincy, in which position he led his company at the battle of Mechanicsville, where he was severely wounded in the right arm by a ball constructed so as to explode when coming in contact with the bone. The ultimate result of this wound was the amputation of that member, the empty sleeve being an ever-present badge of honor, testifying to the loyalty and valor of its owner. This battle occurred June 26, 1862. After

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his recovery Capt. Smith rejoined his regiment and in 1864 was placed on the retired list and appointed to the position of enrolling officer of the Fifth congres- sional district, with headquarters at Augusta, Ga. He held this office during the continuance of the war. Returning home, Capt. Smith was, in 1866, elected clerk of the superior court of Laurens county, and held that office continuously until 1893, when he was elected to his present position. During fourteen years of his service as clerk the captain was by virtue of office also county treasurer. No word of comment is needed here concerning Capt. Smith's ability or his popularity, when both have been so frequently passed upon by friends and neighbors. He is a man of the people and of great public spirit. He was one of the original stockholders of the Macon & Dublin railroad, now Macon, Dublin & Savannah railroad, was for several years its treasurer, and is now secretary of the board of directors. The nuptials of Capt. Smith were celebrated Nov. 21, 1867, Ella Few, daughter of Dr. Tillman and Phoebe (Charlton) Douglas, of Burke county, be- coming his wife. A large family of sons and daughters have been born to this union, who are taking their places in the world creditable and respected citizens. The following are those living: Claudie E., Mrs. W. C. Bishop, Arthur Peyton, Annie D., Selaid, Nina Charlton, Hardy, Jr., Tillman Douglas, Gussie Lester and Helen Few. Capt. Smith is, of course, a stanch democrat, and is a prominent member of the Methodist church.

JOHN B. WOLFE was born in Dublin, Ga., Oct. 7, 1838, and is the son of C. B. and Rebecca Wolfe, both of whom were natives of North Carolina. The mother having died when he was only a few weeks old, he was left to the care of relatives. His boyhood days were passed on a plantation, where he received a common school education. His higher education was received at the university of Georgia and university of South Carolina. At the opening of the war he enlisted as a private in the Fifty-seventh Georgia, Company I, but was made second lieutenant early in the service, and served in that capacity until the close of the war. He was at Baker's creek, surrender of Vicksburg, and that fiercest of all battles of the war, Jonesboro. In 1864 he was elected justice of the inferior court; he returned home and served in that position till the law was passed abolishing the court. He also practiced law for some time, having been admitted to the bar prior to the war. From 1870 till 1876 he held the office of ordinary of the county, at the same time being engaged in farming and mer- chandising. In 1882 the people of the county showed their appreciation of good service rendered and elected Mr. Wolfe to the legislature, where he served them one term. Married to Mary L., daughter of Dr. Lillman Douglas, of Wilkes county, he became the father of the following children: Mrs. Dr. Walton, Mrs. George Wright, J. A. Wolfe, farmer, Mary, Eva G., Arthur M. and Thomas Law- son, at home. Although Mr. Wolfe is practically retired from business, he holds the office of justice of the peace. Mr. Wolfe is a master Mason, a Baptist in faith and in politics a good democrat.

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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 65

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