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 75

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 75

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lahoma; Kennesaw Mountain; Columbia; Dalton: Atlanta; Jonesboro; Chicka- mauga; Chattanooga; Missionary Ridge; Resaca; Franklin; Nashville; Kingston and Bentonville. In the last named engagement he was badly wounded, being shot through the shoulder. Mr. Leverett returned from the war not only without a cent of money, but to find himself without a home, his parents being both dead. For some time he sought employment, and at last was engaged by Mr. Hannah to aid in the construction of a mill. In 1866 he rented a farm and soon, by unflag- ging energy, by diligence and economy, was on the highway to success, and he is now the owner of a large and fine plantation, and in possession of the esteem of all who know him. In December, 1866, Mr. Leverett married Miss Joyce Hutch- inson, the daughter of Raymond R. and Lucinda (Lankford) Hutchinson, for- merly of Marion county, later of Upson county, but now of Meriwether county. Mr. Hutchinson served in the late war. Mrs. Leverett was born in Marion county in 1846, and in 1861 moved to this county with her father. Mr. and Mrs. Leverett have three children: Lavonia, Annie May and Joyce H. The parents are both devoted members of the Missionary Baptist church. Mr. Leverett is also a member of the order of Masons.

W. P. LOVELACE, a successful agriculturist of this region, is a Georgian by birth, born in Troup county in 1849. His parents were John and Martha (Embry) Lovelace, the former a native of North Carolina, born in 1826, who came to Georgia in 1841; he served through the late war with the state militia; he was a son of Amos and Tabitha (Tomlinson) Lovelace, North Carolinians, the father a soldier in the revolutionary war. Mrs. Lovelace was a daughter of Hezekiah Embry. a pioneer of Wilkes county. W. P. Lovelace, owing to the restricted opportunities of his boyhood, obtained but a limited education, of which, however, he has made excellent use. Although but a mere lad he served during the latter part of the war under Capt. Sledge. Mr. Lovelace is a man of remark- able energy and persistence of character, as is evident from the story of his life. He was master of the shoe business, but after a time established himself in the mercantile business, at Rome, Ga., and carried this on for several years, but in the panic of 1874 he was driven to the wall, and failed. Not discouraged, he at once went to work again, and was soon carrying on a large tannery worth some $16,000; but this was at length destroyed by fire; yet again, undismayed, he went bravely to work and has for the third time accumulated a fortune, carrying on a fine and well cultivated farm in this county, to which he came in 1882. In 1872 Mr. Lovelace married Miss Emma C. Edge, a native of Meriwether county, born in 1855; she is a daughter of William and Catherine (Boyd) Edge, the former an early settler of the state who served through the war. Mr. and Mrs. Lovelace are both members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and their union has been blessed with seven children: John W., Lewis E., Mattie B., Thomas E., Nellie M., Lillian C. and Lois C.

O.W. M'GEHEE is a well-known and very successful farmer of this county, where he was born in 1843. He belongs to one of the pioneer families of the state, his grandparents, Samuel and Nancy (Tate) McGehee, natives of Vir- ginia, having been among the earliest settlers of Elbert county, Ga. Here their son, Thomas L., was born, who settled in Meriwether county in 1827; his wife was Miss Sarah K. Martin, a daughter of Marshall and Jennie (Oliver) Martin, natives of Wilkes county, who came to this county in 1828, where Mr. Martin died in 1856. Mr. Martin was a man of wealth and of a prominent family, his father, George Martin, having served with honor in the war of the revolution. The son of Thomas L. and Sarah K. McGehee, O. W. McGehee, in his boyhood

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on the farm had but limited educational opportunities, of which, however, he made good use. In 1862 he enlisted in Company F of the Forty-first Georgia regiment, under Capt. S. D. Clemmens, and served with bravery in many bat- tles: Perryville, Murfreesboro, siege of Vicksburg, and the battles around Atlanta. In 1863 Mr. McGehee was discharged and returned to his Georgian home to make his own way in the world. He engaged at once in the tillage of the soil, to which pursuit he has ever since devoted himself, and has been duly prospered. He is a man of large wealth and influence, who commands the respect of all who know him. In 1868 Mr. McGehee married Miss Ophelia E. Hall, a daughter of Alexander and Elizabeth (Brown) Hall, the father a very prominent citizen of this county, but a native of Virginia. Mrs. McGehee is a native of this county, born in 1845, and she and Mr. McGehee are both devoted and consistent mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is also a member of the order of Masons. They have four children: Sarah, Lena, Joseph T. A., and John O.

W. M. M'LUDEN, a prosperous farmer of Meriwether county, in which he was born in 1843, is the son of William and Judith (Fuller) McLuden His father was born in Wilkes county in 1808, whence he moved to Alabama, and then returned to Georgia, and after a brief residence in Talbot county made his permanent home in Meriwether county. His parents were Frank and Judith (Burford) McLuden, the former an early pioneer of the state, and a soldier in the war of 1812. Mr. McLuden's mother was the daughter of Green Fuller, also a pioneer of the state, and a soldier in the war of 1812, and in the Indian war of 1836. Young McLuden passed his boyhood on the farm, with but few oppor- tunities of obtaining an education-only such as were afforded in the old log school-house. When his state joined the Confederacy, the young man, with boyish enthusiasm, was the first to run up a Confederate flag on its staff in Meriwether county. Although not out of his teens he hastened to enlist in 1861, entering the Eight Georgia regiment, Company D. He had a remark- able series of adventures and some narrow escapes, as may be presumed from the fact that seven bullets passed through his clothing during the battles in which he was engaged; he fought in the first battle of Manassas, at Fredericksburg, and at Gettysburg. In the last memorable conflict he lost one of his legs. He was captured but retaken by his own forces. On being captured a second time he was not so fortunate, and was a prisoner fifteen months. Returning home penniless he worked for two years at carriage building, and with the money saved bought his first land in 1868; he has since then given his exclusive attention to the cul- tivation of his farm, which is in a thriving condition, giving evidence of hard work and diligent care. In 1883 Mr. McLuden married Miss Alice Thompson, a native of Pike county, the daughter of John C. and Margaret (Burt) Thompson, natives of the state, the former a soldier in the late war. Mr. and Mrs. McLuden have been blessed with three children: Leon, Irene, and Amerot. Mr. McLuden is a member of the Missionary Baptist church.

C. F. M'WILLIAMS, one of the foremost business men of Luthersville, was born in Coweta county, Jan. 31, 1861. He is the son of Andrew J. and Incy (Walthal) McWilliams, and a grandson of Andrew E. and Sarah E. (McGowen) McWilliams, who emigrated to America from Dublin, Ireland, and the former of whom served in the war of 1812, in which he was slain. He left a large family, one of whom, a daughter, still resides in the old home which he built, where her mother carried on the practice of medicine after the old fashion, in which pursuit she was engaged until her death at the age of ninety-eight years, and has done

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much to alleviate the ills of suffering humanity, especially of the feminine portion thereof. She is one of two sisters and eight brothers. One brother, John Mc- Williams, assisted in landing the cotton in New Orleans from which Gen. Andrew Jackson's famous breastworks were built. The maternal grandparent of C. F. Mc Williams was John H. Walthal, who married a Miss Morgan. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. Young McWilliams was reared on the farm in Coweta county, and received a fair common school education, completing his course in the schools of Luthersville in 1879. The next year he engaged as clerk for Nat Teagle of Luthersville, and after eight years of faithful service was able to buy out Mr. Teagle's business, and has ever since carried the business on for himself at the same place, and by steady application he has gone on to prosperity. Mr. Mc Williams married, Nov. 21, 1887, Miss Ada Teagle, born in 1871, in Meri- wether county. She is the daughter of Nat and Fannie (Darde) Teagle, who were warmly devoted adherents of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Teagle was chairman of the building committee of that church in Luthersville, and for more than a score of years the largest contributor to its financial support, long before he was a member of it. Mr. Teagle was a soldier in the late war and died in 1889. Mr. and Mrs. McWilliams are also faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal church. They have two daughters: Irene and Ruby.

J. C. MAFFETT, an honored citizen of Meriwether county, of which he is a native, was born in 1845. He is of Scotch ancestry, his grandfather having been a native of Scotland, who settled in South Carolina, and served his adopted country in the revolutionary war. His son, Ephraim C., left his native state, South Carolina, and settled in Meriwether county when that county was but two years old. His wife, Sarah (Blair) Maffett, was a daughter of a pioneer of Tennessee, George Blair. J. C. Maffett is the son of Ephraim C. and Sarah Maffett, and passed his youth on the farm, but received a good education. In 1864, with the ardor of his years, he enlisted, joining Company B, First Georgia cavalry, under Capt. J. W. Trammell; he took part in a number of engagements: Resaca, Macon, Kingston and Aiken. After his return at the close of the war Mr. Maffett being without money, began work for himself on the farm, to which employment hc gave himself with his natural energy, and prospered accordingly. But his fellow- citizens demanded of him special service and elected him to the office of sheriff, which by continued re-election he has held ever since-fourteen years in all- an evidence of his peculiar fitness for the position and the faithful fulfillment of his duties. He is a man widely known throughout this part of Georgia, and as well esteemed as known. In 1872 Mr. Maffett married Miss Antoinette Blalock, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Leverett) Blalock of Georgia; Mr. Blalock had served as sheriff of the county during the war. Mrs. Maffett was a member of the Presbyterian church. She was born in this county in 1848 and died in 1884, leaving to her husband three little daughters: Lillian, Mary and Alice K. Mr. Maffett married in 1884 Mrs. Ida (Floyd) Nelson, daughter of Dr. A. G. and Mary (Slaughter) Floyd. Dr. Floyd was a very prominent figure in the business and political affairs of this region for many years, and for fourteen years was clerk of the courts. The second Mrs. Maffett died in 1890, leaving her husband a son, Robert P. Mr. and Mrs. Maffett were both worthy members of the Presbyterian church; Mr. Maffett is also a member of the masonic order.

L. J. MILAM, a prosperous Meriwether county farmer, is a native of Lawrence county, S. C., born in 1825, a son of John and Sallie (Fuller) Milam. The father was a Virginian, who came to South Carolina at the age of twenty-one; he served in the war of 1812, during which period he took the yellow fever at

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Charleston, but he recovered and lived to a ripe old age. His parents were also Virginians, who made the home of their later years in South Carolina. Mrs. Sallie (Fuller) Milam was a daughter of Isam Fuller, a native of North Carolina, who settled in South Carolina. Young L. J. Milam was reared on the South Carolina farm and enjoyed but meager school privileges. The school house of logs, as was then common, not only was floorless, but also without chimney. Consequently, as the fire was built in the middle of the house, after the fashion of an Indian wigwam, the pupils were often almost suffocated by the smoke. Mr. Milam made agriculture his chosen calling and by assiduity in its pursuit has made it a success. Some years ago he came to Meriwether county, Ga., and established himself upon a farm near Jones' Mill, in which place for twelve years he also carried on a profitable mercantile establishment, but though successful in this, his chief interest has always centered in his farm. During the war he served for a short time in the state militia. Mr. Milam is one who by his steadfast uprightness in all the relations of life wins the true respect of all who come to know him. His marriage occurred in January, 1846, his wife being Miss Mary J. Workman, a daughter of Hugh and Mary (Taylor) Workinan, both of South Carolina, but of Irish parentage. Mrs. Milam was born Aug. 29, 1827, and was reared upon the farm in South Carolina, where her parents lived and died. Both she and lier husband were honored members of the Methodist Episcopal church. She died on Oct. 9, 1890. Mr. and Mrs. Milam were blessed with ten children: Oscar L., Mary A., Sarah J., Robert H., Irena, Emilia A., Irvin and Margaret A. Oscar L., the first child born, and Ferril A., the third, died in South Carolina, and the fourth, Lafayette I., was murdered in Arkansas, Sept. 9, 1893. Mr. Milam was married the second time, July 24, 1894, to Lucretia G. McCrary, a daughter of Willis and Maria L. (Gary) Wallis, of Lawrence, S. C.

J. C. NORRIS is one of the progressive farmers and a native of Meriwether county, Ga. He was born in 1843, and his parents, W. P. and Narcissa (Respass) Norris, belonged to the pioneer stock of Georgia; the father settled in this county in 1828, his parents having come from Virginia; and Mrs. Norris' father, Churchwell Respass, also was an early settler. To the son, J. C. Norris, who was reared upon the farm, only such privileges of education were afforded as were to be obtained in the common country schools of that day. When the war broke out in 1861, though not yet out of liis teens, he responded to the call for volunteers and enlisted in Company B, Thirteenth Georgia regiment, under Capt. Walter Ector. He served in many of the most important engagements of the war, as Savannah, second battle of Manassas, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, Winchester, Sharpsburg and Harper's Ferry. In the battle of Sharpsburg he was wounded. In 1864 he married Miss Sallie F. Perdue, daughter of Lindsay and Parmelia (Perdue) Perdue, who are old settlers of the state, natives of Vir- ginia. The following children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Norris, a number of whom are living: Lorena, Sallie, Joca, Annie, Claudie L., Laura K., Ravie, Gar- rouch and Azie L. Mr. and Mrs. Norris are members of the Primitive Baptist church, and are well known and highly respected members of the community.

J F. OGLETREE, an agriculturist of Meriwether county whose success has 'been almost phenomenal, and whose life has been full of vicissitudes, is a native of the county, born in 1840, and is the son of Philemon and Eliza A. (Glynn) Ogletree. The former was born in Wilkes county in 1792, served in the Indian war of 1836, and moved to Meriwether county in 1839. He was an earnest preacher of the gospel as well as a successful farmer, and was of Scotch descent,

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his father, William Ogletree, having accompanied his own father, William Ogle- tree, the elder, when he came from Scotland to America in 1750. They settled first in Virginia, but soon made their home in Wilkes county, Ga., being among the earliest pioneers, not only of the county, but of the state. The younger Wil- liam served in the war of the revolution and married Miss Elizabeth Bird. The wife of Philemon Ogletree was a daughter of William and Elizabeth (Crawford) Glynn, the latter a sister of William H. Crawford, a man eminent in the early annals of the state, and indeed throughout the south, being upheld throughout this region as the presidential candidate in the exciting election of 1824, when, because no candidate had a majority of the electoral votes, the choice of president was referred to the house of representatives, and John Quincy Adams was chosen. J. F. Ogletree received his early training in the country school, but later attended Bowdon institute, from which he was obliged to return because of his father's failing health. In June, 1862, Mr. Ogletree enlisted in Company F, Forty-first Georgia regiment, under Capt. A. D. Abraham, and later with Capt. S. D. Clemens. His service during the war was irregular. It was at this period of his life that misforutunes came most thickly upon Mr. Ogletree. The war not only freed his negroes, but through it he lost three-fourths of his large estate; he had been considered the wealthiest man in the county, and about this time every building upon his place was blown down by a violent gale. Nevertheless by vigorous and persistent effort he has been able to recover himself, and is again one of the wealthiest and most highly esteemed men in this region. He engaged in mer- cantile business at La Grange in 1870, but after two years returned to his farm; this is an immense plantation of some 2,000 acres of rich and highly cultivated land surrounding his lovely country residence. Beside this he owns a large stock farm of some 8,000 acres in southwest Georgia, on the Flint river. A part of this large tract he has devoted to horticulture, in which he is greatly interested, hav- ing a thriving peach orchard of 10,000 trees. In 1862 Mr. Ogletree married Miss Caroline Stinson, a daughter of J. W. and M. L. (Jackson) Stinson, the former a North Carolinian who settled in Meriwether county in 1820, where, in 1842, his daughter Caroline was born. She was a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal church south, and she died Jan. 19, 1870. In 1871 Mr. Ogletree mar- ried Miss L. E. Stinson, whose parents were M. F. and M. A. (Hardaway) Stinson. Mr. Stinson came from his native state, North Carolina, to settle in Baker county early in the century, and his wife was a daughter of G. W. Hardaway, of Warren county, Ga., a Virginian by birth, who was a second cousin of George Washing- ton. Mrs. Ogletree was born in Troup county in 1852. Mr. and Mrs. Ogletree are the parents of five children: Philemon, James F., Caroline M., George S. and Paul H. The parents are both members of the Methodist Episcopal church south and the family holds a position of influence and honor in the community. Mr. Ogletree is also a well-known Mason.

C. D. PHILLIPS is a prominent farmer of Meriwether county, in which he was born in 1849. He is of Virginian stock, his grandfather, William D. Phillips, having come from that state to Georgia at an early date. His father, William A. J. Phillips, was born in Morgan county in 1828, and served through the late war with the state militia. His wife, Miss Mary M. Smith, was a daughter of Thomas Smith, also a Virginian, who was among Georgia's first settlers. C. D. Phillips spent his early years upon the farm in Meriwether county and obtained such schooling as the country schools afforded. He has devoted himself to the science of agriculture and his fine farm, in all its parts brought to the highest state of perfection, bears witness to his aptness in his business. His wife, whom he

G. W. PINKSTON.

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married in 1867, was Miss Emma Sewell, a native of Meriwether county, born June 10, 1847, the daughter of John P. and Elizabeth (Wideman) Sewell, who were old settlers of the county, to which they came from Morgan county. Mr. and Mrs. Phillips are the parents of ten children: William A., Estella, Mary, Thomas H., John H., Albert P., Calvin A., Cleopatra, Edna E. and Iverson B. Mrs. Phillips is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church; her husband is a member of the Alliance and is the president of the county organization in Meri- wether county. The family is well esteemed by all who know them.

G. W. PINKSTON, M. D., is one of the chief citizens of Meriwether county, and an honored physician, born in Columbus in 1832; his parents, G. B. and Adeline (Chatfield) Pinkston, were early settlers of Wilkes county; the father, born in 1808 and a soldier in the Indian war, was of New England parentage, his parents having come from Connecticut to settle in Georgia early in the cen- tury; the mother's parents, George and Mary (Coats) Chatfield, were also among Wilkes county's early settlers. Young Pinkston passed his early years upon the farm, and his school privileges were therefore very limited. "He improved them, however, to the best of his ability and in 1853 began the study of medicine with Dr. John B. Chatfield. In 1854 he attended his first course in medicine at Au- gusta, Ga., and completed his course at Atlanta in 1856. Since then he has prac- ticed his profession with diligence and great success, until within a few years he has retired from active practice and devoted himself to the cultivation of the farm. In 1859 Dr. Pinkston married Miss C. J. Dreury, a daughter of Edwin and Eliza (Williams) Dreury, natives of Virginia, who early selected Georgia as their home. Mrs. Pinkston was born in 1841, and was reared in Spalding county. Both the doctor and his wife are active members of the Methodist Episcopal church south. They have five children: John W., W. L., Frances H., wife of Dr. W. R. McCrary, of Senoia, Ga., N. D. and Arthur R. The eldest son, John W., has succeeded to his father's practice, which he worthily carries on, and the family have the respect and good will of the entire community.

J. S. RADCLIFFE, a progressive farmer and substantial business man of Meri- wether county, was born in Stinson in 1855, and is the son of George W. and Anna E. (Stinson) Radcliffe. His father was born in Talbot county, Ga., in 1827, and for a long period was a leading business man in Talbotton, and later, for a number of years in Columbus, and retired from business in 1877. During the war he had charge of important Confederate interests. He is of Irish ancestry, a great-grandson of Lord Radcliffe, whose son George came to the state of New York in his boyhood and there made his home. His son, Samuel G., born in New York, whose wife was Jacqueline Davis, settled in Talbotton, Ga., among its early settlers. The wife of George W. Radcliffe was a daughter of Dr. James W. and Martha J. (Jackson) Stinson, the father being a well-known physician of Stinson, in this county, where for many years he enjoyed a very large and successful prac- tice. He was by birth a North Carolinian, an early settler of Putnam county, for several years a successful school teacher, and took his course in medicine at the medical college of Georgia, Augusta. J. S. Radcliffe received an excellent educa- tion in the schools of Columbus, where he resided during his early years, taking an advanced course at Hillwood institute of Columbus. For eight years Mr. Radcliffe was engaged in business in Columbus, after which he moved to Alabama and engaged in farming, then returned to Georgia, and has been engaged in various commercial enterprises since. Two years he was in Augusta, and three years in Rome, Ga., but since 1885 his home has been in Stinson, where,

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in addition to the mercantile business, he carries on a large plantation. In 1877 Mr. Radcliffe married Miss Mary Hawkins, born in 1857 in Americus, Ga. She was a graduate of the Americus college, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church south. Her parents were Judge Willis A. and Mary (Finn) Hawkins, the former one of the best criminal lawyers in the state, and for two years judge of the supreme court; he was a native of Sumter county. Mrs. Radcliffe died Jan. 6, 1879, leaving her husband with one child-George Willis. Feb. 1, 1883, Mr. Radcliffe married Miss Emma E. Smith, a native of Alabama, born in 1859. Her parents, Col. Robert H. and Helen (Herndon) Smith, were also natives of Alabama. Her father was a prominent lawyer in Mobile, Ala., for many years. Mr. and Mrs. Radcliffe are the parents of four children: Robert H., James S., Lillie and Lulu. Mrs. Radcliffe is a member of the Episcopalian church, while her husband is a Methodist. The family is one held in high esteem by all who know them.

H. H. REVILL, one of Meriwether county's prosperous farmers, is of English descent, his grandfather having come from: England at an early day and settled in North Carolina. He served with bravery in the war of the revolution. His son, Harrison Revill, was born in North Carolina in 1796, and in 1817 settled in Jasper county, Ga. He married Miss Nancy Caldwell, a daughter of David and Elizabeth (Tanner) Caldwell, native Virginians, but among the early settlers of the state. Mr. Caldwell had also served in the war of the revolution. H. H. Revill, the son of Harrison and Nancy (Caldwell) Revill, was born in Jasper county in 1824, and passed his childhood on the farm, with but few educational advantages. On reaching manhood he engaged in farming, and soon accumulated considerable property. In 1863 he enlisted in Company D of the Second Georgia state troops, under Capt. Worrell, and fought in many battles, among them Powder Springs, Atlanta, Jonesboro. At the close of the war he returned home with no money to resume operations on his farm, and for some time met with many discouragements in his battle with the world; but his determination of purpose and courageous efforts won success, and he is now one of the solid farmers of the county, a man thoroughly respected by all who know him. In 1842 he married Nancy Caldwell, daughter of Matthew and Mornan (Satiwhite) Caldwell, Virginians, who had settled in Georgia, where in Jones county Mrs. Revill was born in 1820. One child, Nancy A., was born of this union, but has since died. The mother died in 1843. In 1847 Mr. Revill married Miss Mary A. Gresham, born in Lincoln county in 1822, the daughter of Pleasant and Matilda (Mckinney) Gresham. She is a member of the Primitive Baptist church. Mr. and Mrs. Revill have one child, Isabel.

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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 75

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