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 70

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 70

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

DAVID W. MEADOW, one of the leading lights of the bar of northeastern Georgia, was born in Madison county in 1852, and is a son of Berry J. and Elizabeth (Williford) Meadow. Mr. B. J. Meadow was born in Oglethorpe county and was a big land and slave-owner, and for years sheriff of Madison county. He was a strict observer of the teachings of the Baptist church and remained in Madison county until his death. He was married to Elizabeth Williford, of the Williford-King family, of Virginia, who took up their home in Georgia at an early day and lived in Madison county. The grandfather of Mr. D. W. Meadow was Isaac Meadow, the grandson of an Englishman who was the founder of the Meadow family in America, settling first in Virginia and afterward moving to Georgia. The great-grandfather, great-grandmother and two twin children were killed by the Indians soon after coming to Georgia. Mr. D. W. Meadow was born and grew to manhood on the farm. His father died when he was about two and one-half years old, leaving his mother and eight children. The war between the states left the family little but the old plantation. His widowed mother being then unable to give him the educational advantages desired young Meadow de- termined to educate himself. After working on the farm for several years, taking advantage of the village school in the meantime, he taught school, successfully making the means to attend the university of Georgia, from which he graduated in 1881. He then entered the law school of that institution, graduating there- from in 1882. Of the college societies he was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. Upon entering the university he became a member of the Phi Kappa Literary society and in three weeks thereafter was elected as a public debater on the spring debate. He was elected one of three champion debaters, receiving the highest vote, from the Phi Kappa society in 1881, and that society was at the debate at commencement successful over the Demosthenian society

481

MADISON COUNTY SKETCHES. .

for the first time in five years. He has ever felt a deep interest in education, has served on the county board of education and is now and has been for some time a trustee of Danielsville academy. In 1886 he married Susie A., daughter of W. C. and Ella C. (Mitchell) Colbert. Mr. Colbert was born in Madison county and moved to Athens, where he became a prominent merchant. To Mr. and Mrs. Meadow have been born three children, two of whom are living, Hilda and Will King. The mother was born in Madison county in 1862 and is a sincere and active member of the Methodist church and a graduate of the famous Lucy Cobb institute, Athens, Ga. Mr. Meadow is a Mason and is at present worshipful master of the lodge in Danielsville. In 1894 he was elected to the legislature, being the first lawyer sent to that body from Madison county in forty years, there having been a deep-set prejudice against the profession. He at once took a prominent place among the law-makers of Georgia and was appointed to the important committees of general judiciary, finance, railroads, journals, peniten- tiary and various special committees, including those of the State Normal and In- dustrial college and the university. Mr. Meadow is a self-made man and one who can look over his honorable and prosperous career with pride, knowing his achievements are the result of his own efforts. His close application to his profes- sion, his studious habits and fine mental attainments have established him a reputation among the courts of the state as one of the great lawyers of Georgia.

JOHN N. MOORE, farmer, Comer, Madison county, first saw the light of day in Elbert county in 1836, and is the son of Capt. William and Elizabeth (Booth) Moore. Capt. Moore was a native of Elbert county and was a farmer by occupation. He served in the Indian war and died on the old home place in Elbert county. The grandfather of John N. Moore was a Virginian, was one of the first settlers of Elbert county, and a successful tiller of the soil. Elizabeth Booth, mother of Mr. Moore, was a daughter of John N. and Annie (Falkner) Booth. Mr. Booth was of an old Virginia family and migrated to Georgia early in life. Mr. John N. Moore grew up on the farm and in 1858 married Hulda A. Falkner, born in 1830, daughter of James J. and Annie (Hardy) Falkner. Mr. Falkner was a native of Elbert county, but moved to Madison county in 1839, and was considered the best farmer in the county. He was a man of liberal educa- tion and son of William Falkner, a prominent figure in the early history of Vir- ginia, and a large planter and slave-holder. Mr. and Mrs. Moore have eight children living: George, Fudge B., John, Anna, Dora, Mary, Fannie and Dollie. Mr. Moore and family belong to the Baptist church. Mr. Moore's capital at the beginning of life was very little, but hard work and perseverance have enabled him to accumulate much property. He owns a farm of 700 acres of excellent land near Comer, besides valuable gin and saw and grist-mills.

S P. POWER, farmer, Carlton, Madison Co., Ga., was born and has lived his life in Madison county. He is the son of D. B. and Margaret (Patten) Power, his father having been born in Elbert county and where he was an ex- tensive farmer and slave-holder. The grandfather of Mr. S. P. Power was Frank Power, who came from Virginia and located in Elbert county. He was a brave soldier in the revolutionary war and an esteemed citizen. The wife of D. B. Power was the wife of Samuel and Margaret (Eberhart) Patten, and her father was a soldier during the war of independence and an early settler of Elbert county. Mr. S. P. Power was born in 1831, and obtained what schooling he received from a private tutor, after the day's work was done. In 1862 he joined the ranks of the Confederacy and became a member of Company E, Thirty-seventh Georgia

II-31

482

MEMOIRS OF GEORGIA.

regiment, under Capt. Gholston, being engaged in the fights at Tazewell, Mur- freesboro, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge and then going on detail duty. In 1853 he married Martha, daughter of Berry M. and Elizabeth (Vaughn) David. Six children have been born to this union, who are now living: David, William, James O., Lorena, S. P. and Clinton. The mother was born in 1834. They are both members of the Baptist church and Mr. Power has long belonged to the masonic fraternity. He has served as bailiff for a number of years, and is well- known throughout the county.

W. W. SCOTT. Among the leading farmers of Madison county is W. W. Scott, of Danielsville. He was born in Madison county in 1820, and is the son of John and Jane (Milligan) Scott. John Scott was born in North Caro- lina, of which state his parents were natives, and came to Georgia at an early day, settling in Madison county, where he farmed and engaged in trading with great pecuniary success. He left his plow to serve in the second war with Great Britain, and a few years after his return was elected to the office of sheriff of Madi- son county. He was re-elected a number of terms and in that day was the leading inan of the county. He married a daughter of Andrew and Linie (Clog- horn) Milligan. Mr. Milligan was a native of Virginia and served throughout the revolutionary war as a private, and won fame for his fearless courage in several battles. The early life of W. W. Scott was that of the usual farmer boy, and when fifteen years of age he followed in the footsteps of his ancestors and shoul- dered a musket and went out and fought the Cherokee Indians in the war of 1831. In 1841 he was married to Mary J. Daniel, a daughter of James Daniel, a well-to-do farmer of Madison county. Mrs. Scott was born in 1825 and her de- mise occurred in 1856. She was a noble Christian woman, belonging to the Presbyterian church, and a loving wife and mother. By this marriage the fol- lowing living children were born: Thomas J., Elizabeth F., John C., James D. and Mary. In 1860 Mr. Scott was married to Sarah Davenport, who was born in Wilkes county and died in 1886 at an advanced age. Mr. Scott's third mar- riage was to Sarah, daughter of John and Nancy (Stanton) Dixon. She was born in Elbert county in 1842. Mr. Dixon was a native of and died in Elbert county and was a prosperous farmer. Mrs. Scott is a member of the M. E. church, while her husband is of the Presbyterian faith and a lifelong member of the ma- sonic order. Mr. Scott has always taken an interest in politics, though never aspiring to office, and in 1877 was a representative of his county in the constitu- tional convention. Mr. Scott, like so many other farmers of the south after the war, found himself ruined, but with indomitable energy went to work and soon recovered his losses and added greatly to them, having a fine farm of 4,000 acres at the present time. Mr. Scott served in the Confederate army in the late war, first as private, then as captain, elected by the men, and was afterward promoted to the rank of major of his regiment.

DR. B. M. THOMPSON, a prominent physician of Madison county, Ga., whose home is at Thompson's Mills, near Five Forks, is a native of the county, a son of William and Mary (Tilman) Thompson, and was born in 1821. His paternal great-grandparents were natives, respectively, of Ireland and Scotland, and on coming to this country settled in Pennsylvania. His paternal grand- parents were Alexander and Mary (Hodge) Thompson. He was born in Penn- sylvania, was a soldier during the revolutionary war, migrated to North Carolina and afterward to Georgia. Dr. Thompson's father was born in Burke county, N. C., and came to Georgia in 1790 with his parents, who set- tled in Wilkes (now Oglethorpe) county. The mother of Dr. B. M. Thompson

483

MARION COUNTY SKETCHES.

was a daughter of William and Mary (Farrow) Tilman. He came from South Carolina and located in Georgia soon after the revolutionary war, and settled in Burke county, where he reared his family. He afterward moved to Madison county, where he died. Dr. Thompson was reared on a farm, and in 1850 mar- ried Amanda J. Carithers, daughter of William C. and Mary (Griffith) Carithers. Her father was a South Carolinian and moved to Georgia and lived in Madison county till his death. They have two children: William H. and Mary B. The mother was born in 1832 and died in 1875. She was a woman much loved and was a sincere Christian lady. Dr. Thompson began reading medicine in 1843 under Dr. Culbertson and has practiced for fifty years. He first attended the Jefferson Medical college, Philadelphia, in 1844-5, and was then graduated from the Atlanta Medical college in 1856. The doctor enjoys an extended reputation for professional skill and has a very large practice. He owns about 1,900 acres of choice land near Five Forks, and a big mill on South river. He is the owner of a mill built by his grandfather in 1790, it being the first mill erected in Madison county.

Į F. WHITE. The White family and its wide connections in Georgia descend from an old Virginia family that came to Georgia about the beginning of the present century. The great-grandfather of the present generation was Stephen H. White, who moved to Georgia with his parents when a boy. He was born in Virginia, was married to Lucy White and became a wealthy planter and large slave owner. His son, Isaiah M. White, married Sarah A. O'Kelley, and of this union was born J. F. White, whose memoir is here given. Isaiah White was a representative man of his time and a brave soldier in the Indian war of 1836 and the civil war. His wife was a daughter of James and Dicey (Stamfer) O'Kel- ley. Mr. O'Kelley was a native of Virginia, and moving to Georgia at an early day lived and died in Oglethorpe county. The great-grandfather on Mr. White's paternal grandmother's side was Page White, a native of Virginia and one of the prominent and wealthy planters of Georgia at the close of the last century. Mr. J. F. White was reared on the farm and received only a meager early educa- tion. He married Lucy, daughter of O. N. and Nancy (Smith) White, the father being a native of Georgia, a successful farmer and brave soldier in the late war. Mrs. White was born in Madison county, and a few years after marriage died, leaving three children: Lizzie, Nancy, and Stephen P. In 1892 Mr. White was married to Georgia Tucker, daughter of William A. and Mary (Johnston) Roys- ton. The latter was a native of Franklin county, and was a successful farmer and merchant. They have one living child-Paul. Mrs. White was born in Franklin county, was a member of the Methodist church and a charitable woman. Mr. White's life has been spent on the farm, and his industry has been rewarded by the possession of a magnificent estate of 1,400 acres of land near Danielsville. He is a citizen respected by the community in which he lives and a man whose word is good as a bond.

MARION COUNTY.

HILLARD Z. BURT, farmer, Brantley, Marion Co., Ga., son of Zachariah and Elizabeth (Burt) Burt, was born in Putnam county, Ga., in 1815. His grandfather, in North Carolina, was a soldier in that state, came to Georgia

484

MEMOIRS OF GEORGIA.

when fifteen years of age, and settled in Warren county. Afterward he moved to Putnam, and thence to Talbot county. From Talbot he moved to Marion county, leaving, when he died, a large estate in land and negroes. He was a member of the Methodist church. His maternal grandparents, Burt, were natives of North Carolina, and migrated to Georgia and settled in Warren county about the begin- ning of this century. He was a soldier in the late war with Great Britain. Mr. Burt was reared a farmer and was educated at the "old field" log school house common at the time of his boyhood. Being too old for active field service during the war he was detailed to look after the women and children. In 1847 he was married to Miss Sarah K. Smith-born in Talbot county, Ga., in 1826-daughter of John L. and Hattie (Humphries) Smith. Mr. Smith was a native of Baldwin county, and a farmer. To Mr. and Mrs. Burt seven children have been born: Eugene, William, Stephen, Homer, Walter, Emma, and Rena. Mrs. Burt, who was a consistent and exemplary member of the Methodist church, died in 1868. Mr. Burt has always been an uncompromising, "true blue" democrat, and is enjoying, in his old age, the fruits of a laborious, well-spent life. He has been regarded as one of the best and most prosperous farmers in the county, and is held in high esteem by his fellow citizens.

S. H. CHRISTOPHER, journalist, Buena Vista, Marion Co., Ga., son of Will- · iam H. and Mary A. (King) Christopher, was born in Bibb county, Ga., in 1852. His father was born in what is now Walton county in 1818, and was reared and received a limited education there, and attended medical lectures at the medical college of Georgia at Augusta, from which he was graduated. He located first in Bibb county, went from there to Macon county, and subsequently settled permanently at Reynolds, Taylor Co., Ga. He had a farm contiguous to Reynolds, which he cultivated as a supplement to his practice. He was a very enthusiastic working Methodist, took a lively interest in all church enterprises, and for many years was superintendent of the Sunday school. On his mother's side Mr. Christopher is of old Virginian stock, his great-grandparents, John and Nancy King, being natives of that state. His maternal grandparents, John M. and Martha (Rivers) King, were also born in Virginia. When seven years old Mrs. Christopher's father came from Virginia to Georgia with his parents, who settled in Jasper county. He was reared a farmer and made it his lifetime pursuit. He reared his family in Jasper county and died there. Mr. Christopher was reared on the farm and worked on it until he was sixteen years old, receiving but little schooling. Two years later-1870-he worked with his brother, who had commenced the publication of a small paper called "The Mirror." Leaving Reynolds he went to Fort Valley, Houston Co., where he published a paper awhile, whence he went to Atlanta and published the "Sunday Phonograph." Discontinuing the "Phonograph" he moved to Buena Vista and assumed the pub- lication of the "Marion County Patriot," which he not long afterward bought out on a credit. He paid for it in two years, and has since permanently established it and is making it very profitable. In working out this result he has displayed unquestionable editorial ability and consummate business tact and management. Mr. Christopher was married in 1893 to Miss Lucy Brown-born in Stewart county, Ga., in 1860-daughter of Enoch O. and Sarah (Lowe) Brown, old Georgia settlers. Mr. Christopher is a member of the Methodist church.

ROBERT E. CLEMENS, merchant and farmer, Buena Vista, Marion Co., Ga., son of J. A. and S. B. (McGough) Clemens, was born in Marion county in 1854. His paternal grandparents were Thomas J. and Sarah Clemens. He was

485

MARION COUNTY SKETCHES,

a farmer and an early settler in Talbot county, Ga., where he reared his family and ended his days. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. Mr. Clemens' father went to Talbot county when a young man, whence later he moved to Marion county and reared his family. He was a farmer, was a large land owner, and also owned many slaves. He was a justice of the inferior court for many years; was an uncompromising democrat, and an active and exemplary member of the Methodist church, to the end of his life in 1865. Mr. Clemens' maternal grandparents were Robert L. and (Cabaniss) McGough. He was an early settler of Monroe county, Ga., where he lived all his life, dying at the age of ninety-six, and having lived with his wife seventy years. He was a soldier in the late war with Great Britain, and also in the Indian war of 1836. Mr. Clemens was reared on the farm about seven miles from Buena Vista, and received a country school education. He confined himself to his farining interests exclusively until 1887, when he embarked in a general merchandise business in Buena Vista under the firm name of Clemens & McCall, in which he has been successful. He is also a large cotton buyer and owns a large warehouse. He is a large stockholder and a director in the Buena Vista Loan and Savings bank; is one of the wealthiest citizens, and recognized as one of the ablest financiers in the county. Mr. Clemens was happily united in marriage in 1875 with Miss Mattie L. McCall-born in Marion county in 1855-daughter of Charles H. and Lucinda (Thorp) McCall. Six children have blessed this union: Charles, Emmett, Dovie, Felton, Hattie, and Robert.

W W. DRANE, farmer, Friendship, Marion Co., Ga., son of Dr. William and Martha H. (Winfrey) Drane, was born in Columbia county, Ga., in 1830. His paternal grandparents, William and Cassandra (McGruder) Drane, were of English descent, and born in Maryland. He was recruited in the patriot army during the revolutionary war, and was within sixteen miles of Yorktown at the time of Cornwallis' surrender. He migrated to Georgia and settled in Columbia county in 1790, where he farmed and reared his family, and died in 1845. Mr. Drane's father was born in Columbia county in 1800. After receiving preparatory education, Dr. Drane attended medical lectures at Bellevue hospital, New York city, and in 1832 located in Talbot county, where he practiced his profession until 1846. Smallpox was very prevalent in his section during a part of the time he was in practice, and he gained a wide-spread reputation for his successful treatment of it. He was in the army a short time during the Indian war of 1836. During the late war he did nearly all the smallpox practice in his own and adjoining counties. He was an ardent and influential politician, and represented Talbot county in the general assembly eight years-after which he retired to the shades of private life. He owned large tracts of land, and a great number of slaves; and was an elder in the local Presbyterian church. Mr. Drane's maternal grandparents, Jesse and Fannie (Spencer) Winfrey, were native Virginians. He was of French extraction and migrated from Virginia to Georgia soon after the revolutionary war, in which he had been a soldier in the patriot army, settled in Columbia county, and died about 1810. He was considered to be one of the wealthiest men in Georgia-as may be inferred from the fact that on one occasion he went to Savannah and bought twenty-five slaves from a vessel pust arrived from Africa. Mr. Drane, when twenty- years of age, engaged in a general merchandise business, continuing it until war between the states was inaugurated. In 1861 he enlisted in Company H, of which he was made captain, Fifty-ninth Georgia regiment. Among other important battles he participated in were those of Gettysburg, the Wilderness, Spottsylvania court-house, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, etc. In the battle at Gettysburg he was wounded three times, but did not leave the field. Having been elected justice of the

486

MEMOIRS OF GEORGIA.

inferior court, he returned home in February, 1865. He came out of the war without anything. In 1868 he purchased a small tract of land, to which he has gradually added until now he has over 600 acres of good farming land, partly well improved and productive, on which he has a comfortable home. He is a very successful farmer, and an influential citizen. Mr. Drane was happily married in 1859 to Miss Eugenia N. Brown, born in Crawford county, Ga., in 1839, daughter of William M. and Amanda (Gray) Brown. Mr. Brown was born in Greene county, Ga., and during boyhood and youth was deprived of educational ad- vantages. When grown he moved to Crawford county, which he afterward rep- resented in the general assembly a number of times. Subsequently he removed to Marion county, which he also represented in the general assembly a number of years. He was in the Creek Indian war, in which he served as major. He was an "old-line whig," and about 1848 came within one or two votes of being nominated for congress, and was subsequently appointed United States marshal under President Taylor. He was elected as an anti-secessionist to the convention in 1860-61, and was one of the few who signed a protest against it. He possessed large planting interests, kept "open house," and entertained lavishly; the humblest of his guests received the same considerate attention as the rich and distinguished- all were welcome and all alike shared his hospitality. After the war he gave thousands of bushels of corn to the soldiers, and soldiers' families. He was brave and courageous, and, like such, generous and magnanimous-a born leader. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Drane has been blessed with six children: Albert, in the war department, Washington city; William; Minnie; Eugene; Walter, and Bertie. Mr. Drane is a master Mason, and himself and wife are prominent members of the Presbyterian church.

JOE J. DUNHAM, county ordinary, Buena Vista, Marion Co., Ga., son of J. H. and M. E. (Wood) Dunham, was born in Marion county in 1859. Mr. Dun- ham's grandfather on his father's side was William Dunham. He was a native North Carolinian, migrated to Georgia and settled, first, in Savannah; after- ward went to Liberty county, where he made a permanent home. He owned a large plantation and many slaves, and was very wealthy. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. Mr. Dunham's father was born in Liberty county in 1819, received a good education, and was prepared for college by Prof. Pinchen. He then entered the university of Georgia, at Athens, and after his graduation taught school two years at Longstreet, Pulaski Co., Ga. He next taught in Twiggs county a number of years, whence he went to Houston county and taught until 1848, when he removed to Buena Vista and taught until impaired health caused him to abandon the profession and retire to the farm. At the end of twelve years he resumed teaching, and taught a number of years. He served as a justice of the inferior court a number of terms, and also in the state militia, or home guard, during the late war. He was a very prominent man in the county, and took a deep and active interest in its development, and died in 1885. Mr. Dun- ham's grandparents, on his mother's side, were Elijah and Elizabeth (Burgen) Wood. He was an attorney at law, went early in life to Milledgeville, and was private secretary for Gov. George M. Troup. Mr. Dunham was reared on the farm, and received a limited education-in the old log school-house. He started in life working on the farm; he then bought cotton and read law, and commenced the practice in 1892, with Butt & Lumpkin-a partnership dating from the time he entered upon the study. In 1889 he was elected ordinary of the county, and was re-elected in 1893, for a second term. He has been a member of the city council for ten years, and is at this writing a candidate for the general assembly. In the congressional election two years ago he was defeated by Congressman Charles Moses. Mr. Dunham has large landed interests, and is much respected.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

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 70

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