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 66

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 66

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MEMOIRS OF GEORGIA.

LEE COUNTY.

I P. CALLOWAY, merchant, Leesburg, Lee Co., is a son of C. B. and Anna V. (Jones) Calloway. Mr. Calloway was born Nov. 2, 1851, and attended the common schools, after which he was graduated at Mercer university, Macon, Ga. In 1881 he established the business he at present conducts. From a modest beginning he has developed it into the largest enterprise in Leesburg. Mr. Calloway is also a large planter and fruit grower, and owns a magnificent orchard, besides 4,000 acres of highly cultivated land, and a large stock farm. Mr. Callo- way was united in marriage April 30, 1895, to Miss Mamie, daughter of D. T. Sawyer. Mr. Calloway is a member of the Baptist church, and Mrs. Calloway is a member of the Methodist church; and both are very popular in social circles.

PHIL COOK, JR., Leesburg, Lee Co., Ga., is the only living son of the late Gen. Phil Cook, secretary of state, a full biography of whom appears elsewhere in these Memoirs. He was born in Macon, Bibb Co., Ga., Dec. 25, 1859. The first seven years of his school life were spent under the efficient tutelage of ex- Gov. W. J. Northen. Entering the state university in 1874, he continued there two years, and then went to Georgetown college, District of Columbia, where he graduated in the classical course in 1878. Entering the office of Judge Sam Lumpkin at Lexington, Ga., as a student, he was admitted to the bar in the following year, and for two years took up the duties of the legal profession. In 188I he left the forum and became a "knight of the grip," traveling for the York Manufacturing company of York, Pa., iron and steel goods. His sales for this firm were of such satisfactory nature that they kept him in their employ for seven years. Finding a change of occupation to his best interest, he came to Lee county and began the cultivation of his father's plantation, and is now a full-fledged agriculturist. In 1879 he was wedded to Miss Minnie Lee Shackleford, daughter of C. W. Shackleford of Charleston, S. C. They have become the parents of an interesting family of children, as follows: Sallie G., Philip, Jr., Charles A. and Arthur. Mr. Cook is a worthy son of a man whom all Georgians loved and revered.

JOHN TYLER FERGUSON, a progressive planter and representative of Lee county, Ga., postoffice Ferguson, is of Scotch extraction, and was born in Chester district, S. C., July 5, 1844. His great-grandfather was the original Scotchman, settling in North Carolina, where he reared a large family of sons and daughters. William G., one of the sons, was born in 1811, and died in 1866. He was a farmer and served quite a period as government Indian agent in Florida, where he moved in 1846, and where he died. John. T. Ferguson, his son, was given such education as he could secure after crops were laid by and by walking some six miles each day, but it was limited. Being of stout frame, he was mustered into the army in 1862, in the Sixth Florida volunteers, and served till the siege of Atlanta, in 1864, during which he was captured by the enemy out on what is now Peachtree street. He was carried to Camp Chase, Ohio, where he remained until March, 1865, at which time he received his exchange and returned home. After the war he settled in Jackson county, Fla., where he farmed until 1872, thence to his present location in northeastern Lee county, where he has bought an 1,800-acre plantation, and where he still resides, engaged in farming

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LEE COUNTY SKETCHES.

and merchandising. He was married Feb. 19, 1868, to Miss Mary E., daughter of Mountville Ray of Alabama, who died in 1882, leaving four children: George Robert, born Jan. 8, 1869; John Q., born Oct. 10, 1872; Minnie B., born Feb. 1, 1876, and Edward Stanley, born May 1, 1880. Mr. Ferguson subsequently mar- ried Miss Sallie, daughter of Jacob Cobb, of Sumter county, Ga., who is the mother of the following children: Mary Helen, born Aug. 15, 1884, and Frank William, born April 11, 1891. While Mr. Ferguson is not a politician in the sense generally meant by that term, he has always evinced a deep interest in good government, and has given his voice and influence to securing good men for public office. The democratic party has found in him a strong supporter, and when, in 1892, a man was needed who could command the confidence of the country voter and hold him in the ranks of the party, Mr. Ferguson was given the honor, was triumphantly elected and served in the two following sessions with such satisfaction as to make him the logical candidate in 1894, when he was re-elected by a good majority. Mr. Ferguson is a free and accepted Mason of lodge No. 361, in which he has held various offices.

WILLIAM E. GILL, planter, Leesburg, Lee Co., Ga., is one of the oldest residents of his section, having farmed continuously in the county since 1846. He is, of course, an authority on everything pertaining to planting in southwest Georgia, the success which he has always had on his own plantation making his opinion doubly valuable. Mr. Gill is a native of Monroe county, Ala., born shortly before the state was admitted to the union, Jan. 30, 1819. The name of Gill is of Scotch-Irish origin. His grandfather, Days Gill, was a soldier in the revolutionary war, where he fought under Col. John Clark, and in the same company with the grandfather of Gen. C. A. Evans. Mr. Gill's father, Robert G., was a farmer by occupation, and died in May, 1840, in Baldwin county, Ga. William E. Gill acquired but a limited education, as he spent all of the earlier part of his life on the frontier, among the Indians. In January, 1846, he moved to Lee county, and settled near the old town of Stockville, at that time the county seat. He has always followed farming and has succeeded well. When the tocsin of war sounded in 1861 Mr. Gill enlisted as lieutenant of Company B, Eleventh Georgia regiment, but was discharged for disability a year later. He was not again in the regular army, but served for a period as captain of Company B, Fifth Georgia state troops. He has been thrice married. June 3, 1838, Harriet, daughter of Moses Morgan, became his wife. After her death, Jan. 12, 1854, he married her sister, Nancy, who died in 1871. The following year he was united to Mrs. Eliza Chillan Kersey, who still survives. Of the children born, ten are living, and all are married except one, Josephine, who is still at home. Mr. Gill is active in his interest in public life. He held the office of justice of the peace for thirteen years, and was sheriff of the county from 1858 to 1871. He has twice been elected to the legislature of lis state-to the lower house in 1871, and to the state senate from the Tenth district in 1890. All of his public service has been performed with a characteristic energy and faithfulness, which has endeared him to the people of Lee county. Mr. Gill is a member of Eureka lodge No. 247, F. & A. M., and has been its worthy master for many years. As a citizen, kind and neighborly, as a public officer, obliging but firm and faithful to every trust, and as a friend, true and lasting, Mr. Gill wears his years with dignity and with honor.

CAPT. FRANCIS M. HEATH, planter, Leesburg, Lee Co., Ga. No county in southwest Georgia bears a better reputation for the fertility of its soil than Lee, and no planter among the masters in that much misunderstood art found

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MEMOIRS OF GEORGIA.

within her bounds has a better plantation, or is more wide-awake, than the gentleman mentioned above. Capt. Heath comes honestly by his aptness in farming, his father before him, Lunaford Heath, having been one of the best planters in Putnam county for many years before the war, and where Francis M. was born in November, 1832. The boy's educational facilities were not of the best, but he managed by close application to acquire the rudiments of what is known as an English education. He made his home in Macon most of the time until 1881, since which time he has lived where he now resides. During the war Capt. Heath did his duty faithfully as a private in the Second Georgia regiment, and went through the war without a scratch until the third day before Lee's surrender, when he was unforunate enough to lose his left arm. Returning to Macon he was, in 1866, elected tax collector of Bibb county, which responsible office he administered for the following eight years. He then engaged in the livery business, and in 1881, as before stated, removed to Leesburg. Capt. Heath fought manfully for his bachelor existence until well past the meridian, when, Jan. I, 1884, he succumbed to the charms of womanhood, and made Mrs. Mary B. Yeaman (nee Jackson), his wife, who has presented him with four bright children: Minnie Cleveland, born Oct. 25, 1884; William B., Oct. 1, 1889; Robert Lunaford, Nov. 22, 1891, and Mary Mabel, Nov. 5, 1893. Capt. Heath takes a lively interest in politics, being chairman of the democratic executive committee of Lee county. He is an effective organizer and worker, and his efforts have been rewarded by continued democratic supremacy in his county during these troublous pouplistic times. As president of the county board of education, he wields a powerful influence for good over the educational institutions of the county. He is a popular and respected citizen and receives the just regard of a large circle of friends.

STEPHEN THOMAS JORDAN, planter, Leesburg, Lee Co., Ga., was born Dec. 27, 1841, in Washington county, Ga. His father, Cornelius Jordan, was a native of Washington county, a farmer by occupation, and died in 1870, sixty- five years of age. The early Jordans were from England, and are said to have emigrated to this country with the famous John Smith of the Jamestown colony. At the opening of the war Stephen Jordan enlisted in the First Georgia regiment, and served until the first enlistment expired, when he became a member of Evan P. Howell's battery of artillery. In February, 1863, he was transferred to the Washington rifles, Twelfth Georgia battalion. He saw active service during the whole four years of the war, and was wounded once, slightly, at the battle of Winchester. When the war closed he remained in Washington county, Ga., and attended school for a period, his earlier opportunities for acquiring an education having been rather limited. In 1869 he purchased a farm in Butler county, Ala., and removed to that place, where he farmed for four years. Returning to Georgia he took charge of two plantations for Col. Lee Jordan, in Lee county, for whom he worked for one year, in 1874. He then took charge of J. R. Price's Live Oak place, for whom he worked three years-1875-76-77. He then purchased a farm in Randolph county and lived there four years, and then purchased a farm in Terrell county, where he lived until 1892. He then bought a plantation of 2,100 acres in Lee county, where he has since resided. He was married April 28, 1869, to Miss Martha L., daughter of Dr. M. Goode, of Stewart county, Ga. He became the father of three children, all now deceased. The eldest son, Goode, was born Nov. 19, 1870, and lived to be a fine manly boy of fifteen years, dying Oct. 26, 1885; Thomas WV., born Sept. 7, 1872, died Nov. 2, 1874; Eliza May, or Lila, as the fond parents were wont to call her, was born Sept. 21, 1877. She

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LIBERTY COUNTY SKETCHES.

was a precocious child of most lovable disposition, and was making rapid progress as a junior at Andrew college. While at home for the vacation of 1893 she sickened, and though the most eminent physicians were in attendance, the dread reaper won the victory, and the opening bud was closed, Nov. 15, 1893. Mr. Jordan is a respected and progressive planter, and has been a Mason since he was of legal age, affiliating now with P. T. Sligh lodge, at Leesburg.

WILLIAM DAVID WELLS, Smithville, Lee Co., Ga., is the oldest railroad agent on the Central system, having held his present position continuously since 1868. He is the son of William Wells, who moved to Lee from Macon county in 1856, where he continued to reside until his death. Mr. Wells was a prominent farmer and miller, and during his lifetime accumulated a valuable prop- erty, which passed to his son, William David. The latter was born Dec. 24, 1848, given a good English education, and began merchandising in 1866 at Smithville. After two years he was appointed railroad agent, and has remained in that position to the present time. Besides his duties as agent he operates a large grist-mill left by his father. He is a business man of wide knowledge and keen foresight, and holds the confidence of his fellow-citizens in a flattering degree. He has always taken a decided interest in public affairs and has been frequently honored by his party with responsible positions. He served two years on the board of county commissioners, and in 1885-86 was treasurer of the county. He repre- sented his county in the general assembly as a democrat during the sessions of 1889-90, and as a member of the committees on finance, penitentiary and asylums distinguished himself for faithful service. He is a blue lodge Mason and has been treasurer of his local organization for ten years. The married life of Mr. Wells began in 1868. Mrs. Wells was Miss Ella C. McAfee, of Smithville, a daughter of W. M. McAfee. Only two children have come to this union-Stella, born in 1870, married J. D. Burton, a merchant of Smithville, and Maggie, born in 1872, Mrs. C. B. McManus, her husband being an engineer on the Central railroad.

LIBERTY COUNTY.

R W. HAMMOND, merchant-planter, Josselyn, Liberty Co., Ga., son of William H. and Julia (Allen) Hammond, was born in Horry district, S. C., in 1846. His father, of Scotch descent, was a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, was a sea captain and followed the sea until his death by drowning near the mouth of Cape Fear river in 1846. His mother, now Mrs. W. D. Hucks, is yet living, aged sixty-seven, on the old homestead. Mr. Hammond remained at home and attended school until 1862, when he enlisted in Company B, Seventh regiment, South Carolina cavalry, and served in all the engagements, important and minor, until the battle of Gettysburg, where he was severely wounded, and as soon as he was able he returned home. He commenced life after the war with nothing, but by close attention and enterprise, and exceptionally good management, he has accumu- lated quite a fortune. He remained in South Carolina until 1882, during which time he was county commissioner two terms, and postmaster at Hammond four years. In 1882 he came to Josselyn and bought a small stock of general mer- chandise, and has been postmaster at the place since 1884. In connection with

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MEMOIRS OF GEORGIA.

the store he is conducting a large rice plantation and five turpentine stills- own- ing altogether 1,600 acres of land. He has been phenomenally successful in all his undertakings, is wide awake to business, intelligently enterprising, of superior managing ability, and is highly esteemed by his fellow citizens. Mr. Hammond was married in 1879 to Miss Nora, daughter of John and Mulsey (Holden) Hughes, natives of Brunswick county, N. C. Of the eight children born to them six are living: William G., John T., Nettie, Richard T., James W. and Ora. He is a Knight of Pythias and has represented his local organization in the grand lodge, and is a master Mason. Himself and wife are influential members of the Missionary Baptist church.

HENDLEY FOXWORTH HORNE, farmer, Johnston Station, Liberty Co., Ga., son of Richard and Mary Horne, was born in Beaufort district, S. C., Jan. 19, 1814. His paternal grandfather and his father followed farming all their lives, and both served in the patriot army during the revolutionary war, his grandfather losing his life in the service. In 1817 Mr. Horne's father moved to Georgia and settled in Liberty county, where he died a consistent member of the Baptist church. Mr. Horne was the youngest of three children born to his father by his second and last marriage, and was only about three years old when his father moved to Georgia. He was reared on the farm and received a fairly good edu- cation at the common schools of the county. The day he was twenty-one years of age he settled where he now lives and began home-life in a small one-room log house which is still standing and lovingly cared for. Starting out poor, but determined to better his worldly condition, he had succeeded to his own satis- faction, and besides land, had twenty slaves when the civil war began. The Fed- eral government owed him $200 for mail service performed, which, of course, he lost. When the war closed all he had was his land and some live stock, and with these as his capital, supplemented by good health and resolute will, he com- menced life anew. He has by his industry and good management acquired about 8,000 acres of land, on which he has a fine, well-improved plantation and near him four houses on his property. He has resided where he now lives more than sixty years, and at the ripe old age of eighty-one is hale, hearty and cheery. He has never sworn an oath and has always been temperate in his habits. When a young man he was justice of the peace many years, and during the war he served as justice of the inferior court. He was a member of the constitutional conven- tion of 1865, and in 1877 was elected to represent Liberty county in the general assembly. Mr. Horne is an intelligent and genial gentleman of the old school, entertaining hospitably, has hosts of friends, and while enjoying their society and the comforts secured by honest labor and good management feels prepared for and is composedly awaiting the final summons. Mr. Horne was married Oct. 2, 1832, to Miss Susan, daughter of William H. Parker, of Liberty county, who, after bearing six children, died. He then married Miss Sarah, daughter of James Smiley, of Liberty county, who died leaving two children. He contracted a third marriage with Miss Sarah, daughter of Nathaniel Lang, of Tattnall county. Eight of the children born to him-five sons and three daughters-are married, and all living in Liberty county, except one daughter who is living in Bulloch county. He has a number of grandchildren over thirty years old, and more than forty great-grandchildren. He has been a member of the Baptist church since 1834, and his wife and children are members of the same church. Though farming has been his principal pursuit, he was for a time engaged also in the timber business.

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LIBERTY COUNTY SKETCHES.

JOSEPH WILLIAM HUGHES, farmer, Johnston Station, Liberty Co., was born Aug. 19, 1848, near the place on which he now resides, and is the son of William and Sarah Elmira Hughes. His father was a planter and a prominent and influential citizen of Liberty county. He was an organizer and captain of the famous Liberty guards, and when the civil war broke out led this company to the battlefield. The company was in the campaign on the Georgia, Florida and South Carolina coasts and was in Gen. Wheeler's cavalry. Capt. Hughes served gallantly at Lookout Mountain and was at Atlanta, Jonesboro and Love- joy station. His horse was shot from under him at Noonday church, and while crossing a bridge, in the retreat from Atlanta, near Columbia, S. C., was badly burned. He was captain of the guards after their organization, subsequent to the war, up to the time of his death. When the capital was at Milledgeville Mr. Hughes represented Liberty county in the general assembly three terms. He was surveyor of his county for several years, was a master Mason of high degree, and a member of the Methodist church. He died in 1887 in his sixty-seventh year. Mr. Hughes was a man of great worth, and was loved and respected by all who enjoyed his acquaintance. His wife is still living and is sixty-nine years old. To them were born the following children: Joseph W., Thomas D., Eliza- beth L., John P., George J. (deceased), Westley Turner, Laura C., Leola A., Lee J. Joseph W. Hughes, the oldest son, was educated in the common schools of Liberty county. On account of the conditions existing in the south after the war he was obliged to leave school at an early age and help, by work in the fields, his father in the support of the family. Thus he was engaged until he was twenty-two years old, when he began farming for himself. Later he became interested in the manufacture of naval stores and in saw-milling, and by giving close atten- tion to his business and exercising a wise discretion he has prospered and extended these interests to a wide limit. In December, 1872, he married Amanda E., daugh- ter of Judge Hampton C. Parker. There were born to them eight children, all living: Lela May, wife of Prof. James A. Hodnett; Alice E., William A., Joseph M., T. A., David, Parker and Fannie H. The last two are twins. Mr. Hughes was married the second time, in 1889, his wife being Missouri K., daugh- ter of Mr. Folsom. They have had three children: Alera H., Ella Lee, deceased, and William S. Mr. Hughes has been a member of the Methodist church since he was seventeen years old and his family belong to the same denomination. Mr. Hughes has been a captain of the Liberty guards, a local military organization, for five years. He has been a member for fourteen years. Though a stanch democrat, Mr. Hughes has never been an aspirant for political honors, preferring to give his time to his business and family. He is a popular citizen and a suc- cessful man in business affairs.

FREDERICK RANSOM LYONS, retired merchant and farmer, Johnston Sta- tion, Liberty Co., Ga., was born Feb. 25, 1825, the son of Frederick and Martha (Stebbins) Lyons. His parents were natives of Massachusetts, in which state he was born, and were of rugged old New England stock, the father living to the age of eighty-three, and the mother to be seventy-three years old. They were faithful members of the Baptist church, and reared a family of eleven children. Frederick, the second child born, came to Georgia in 1840, when seventeen years old. He had an uncle, Charles Stebbins, who owned a stage line from Darien to Hawkinsville, and during the first three years of his southern residence he was engaged as a driver of a stage coach. He first invested in a little store at Bell's landing, on the Altamaha river in Tattnall county, and for a few years enjoyed a good trade with the citizens of Appling county. In 1847 he moved to Riceboro,

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MEMOIRS OF GEORGIA.

Liberty Co., and engaged in business with his uncle. This was continued with success until a few years before the war, when Mr. Lyons bought his partner out. Just prior to the war Mr. Lyons purchased a big plantation near Riceboro, and during the struggle he was postmaster of the place. After peace was concluded he resumed the mercantile business, which had been languishing, and took in his brother-in-law as a partner. His health commenced to fail and he was obliged to place his son in charge of his interests, and in 1882 he moved to Walthourville, and later moved to where he now resides, since which time his health has been fully restored. Mr. Lyons married Miss Sarah Todd, of McIntosh county, in 1848, and to them were born two children: F. S., a son, and Sarah I., deceased. Mr. Lyons has three grandchildren of his deceased daughter's and four of his son's. He is a member of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Lyons is a high type of the self-made man. As a Yankee lad he came to a strange land and hewed out of life's forest success and fortune. This was done, too, honestly, and with due respect and con- sideration for his neighbor. By his scrupulous honesty he established a large credit and won the regard and esteem of all who knew him. In the face of dis- couragements he prospered, his energy, industry and frugality overcoming all obstacles. Mr. Lyons has retired from active business and rents his farm. He has always been a democrat, as was his father before him, and when the civil war broke out he cast his fortunes with the south, his adopted home.

LINCOLN COUNTY.

T. H. REMSON, county ordinary, Lincolnton, Lincoln Co., Ga., son of Rem and Elizabeth A. (Murrah) Remson, was born in Lincoln county in 1838. His paternal grandparents, Rem and Elizabeth (Golden) Remson, were natives of Vir- ginia, who early in life migrated to Georgia and settled in Lincolnton. He was of German descent, was a farmer and became possessed of much real estate and other property; was a justice of the inferior court many years, and represented the county in the general assembly. Mr. Remson's father was born in Lincoln county and became a successful farmer and large land owner. He finally went to Mississippi, where he died. His mother was a daughter of Thomas J. and Elizabeth (Walton) Murrah. Mr. Murrah was of Scotch lineage, a farmer and large land and property holder, and served the county as a justice of the inferior court. Mr. Remson was reared on the farm and received such education as the "old-field" schools afforded. Before Georgia seceded he enlisted in a South Carolina company, but afterward joined Company G, Capt. Lamar, Fifteenth Georgia regiment. He participated in very many important engagements, among them Yorktown, Second Manassas, Sharpsburg, Fredericksburg, Wilderness, Chickamauga, etc., and continued in the service until the close of the war, surrendering with the army at Appomattox. Dur- ing his service in the army he was wounded twice, first in the battle of the Wilderness and then at Chickamauga. Mr. Remson began life as a farmer, and after the war had nothing excepting some land. To what he had then he has added by subse- quent purchase until now he has about 1,500 acres, besides a considerable quantity of town property. In 1884 he was elected ordinary of the county, an office to which he has been continuously re-elected since and now fills. This fact probably demonstrates as strongly as anything can his popularity with the people and their confidence in his practical judgment, official efficiency and personal integrity. Mr. Remson was married in 1871 to Miss S. V., born in Dalton, Ga., in 1854, daughter of W. M. Bell, a prominent railroad man. Four of the children born to him by

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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 66

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