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 83

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 83

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JUDGE B. H. ZELLNER, Forsyth, Ga., is the head of one of the largest and most influential families in Monroe county, all of whose members occupy honorable positions in their several communities, commercially and socially .. For seventy years, continuously, Judge Zellner has been a resident of the county, during which period he has come to be regarded as one of the most reliable and trustworthy of men-a man of the sternest morality and of unbending integrity. So conspicuous have been these characteristics, and so excellent his business capabilities, that he has been entrusted, as administrator or executor, with the management of more estates than any man in the county. He has the remarkable record of having settled some twenty-three estates, some of them the largest in the county, without the loss of a dollar or the aid of the courts. The family is of German origin, George Zellner, the judge's grandfather, having been born and reared to young manhood in Hanover, Germany. The independence of the United States having been established he concluded to cast his lot with the new nation, and came first to North Carolina and settled in Bertie county, where not long after he married a Miss Mary Capheart. Several years afterward, in 1799, he migrated to Lincoln county, Ga., thus introducing the name into this state. He was not a robust man, his constitution having been impaired in consequence of medicine having been carelessly administered in his youth, and he died at a

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comparatively early age. He raised a family of four sons and two daughters, who scattered after his death to Tennessee, Alabama and elsewhere. Andrew Zellner, Judge Zellner's father, was born in North Carolina in 1798, and was only six months old when the family came to Georgia. He was reared in Lincoln county, and was married in 1818, just across the line in Wilkes county, to Rebecca Holmes, who bore him eight children: B. H., the subject of this sketch; Francis A., deceased; George; Andrew B .; John W., planter, Monroe county; James, deceased; Mary, widow of Ebenezer Pharr, Forsyth, Ga., and Sarah J., wife of William Walker, Thomaston, Ga. In 1824 he moved with his family to Monroe county and settled about eight miles southwest of Forsyth, where he lived until 1837, when he moved to the place where Judge Zellner now lives, four miles southeast of Forsyth. His wife died in 1875, aged seventy-two years, but he survived until 1892, having attained to his ninety-fourth year. In some respects he was a remarkable man, his longevity being largely due to his methodical habits and abstemiousness, it being a fact worthy of note and imitation that he never used tobacco in any form, nor drank a drop of liquor except as a medicine. Before the war he was a whig in politics; a Primitive Baptist always. Judge B. H. Zellner was born in Lincoln county, Feb. 2, 1820. He received a common school education such as the time and the locality afforded, and his youth was passed in the pursuits congenial to the planter-life of the day. In 1850-51, as soon as he attained to his majority, he served the county as sheriff, and for several years following as one of the justices of the inferior court. Before the war he was a whig and strongly opposed to seccssion. In the convention which nominated the delegates to represent the county, his name was presented without his consent, but he came within four votes of being chosen. Although opposed to secession, he acquicsced in the action of the convention, and earnestly supported the cause to the end. Having large planting and milling interests, he was exempt from military duty; but he contributed largely to the support of the army, and sent two of his sons to the front to do battle for the cause. He was elected to repre- sent the county in 1868-69 in the general assembly, and again in 1878-79. In 1876 he was chosen as one of the new board of county commissioners and served until 1883, which terminated his official life. There has been no period in the life of Judge Zellner when he did not feel a profound interest in the welfare of the county-local, state and Federal-whether in office or not. In all the trusts con- fided to him he has maintained his character for faithfulness and strict integrity, and given the same careful attention to public business as to his private affairs. He was at one time one of the largest land owners in Monroe county, but he has divided his holdings among his children until he has reduced his own to about 500 acres. Judge Zellner was married in Monroe county, Sept. 27, 1842, to Susan, daughter of Thomas M. Evans. She was born in Jones county, but her family moved into Monroe county about the same time the Zellners did. Judge Zellner and his wife have had eight children born to them: Thomas J. and Andrew J., planters, Monroe county; Nancy R., widow of Dr. B. F. Chambliss, Culloden, Monroe Co .: Emma, wife of Hon. W. A. Worsham, Monroe county; Wiley E., planter and county treasurer; William J., planter, Monroe county; Charles J., merchant, Forsyth, Ga., and Lillie, wife of Col. C. J. Shipp, lawyer, Cordele, Ga. Although an ardent whig before the war, he cheerfully fell into line with the only white man's party, and has since acted with the democrats. For fifty-two years himself and wife have harmoniously "kept together" on life's pilgrimage, and for more than fifty years he has been a constant meniber of the Primitive Baptist church, and can now look back upon a well-spent life and duty faithfully done, and look confidently forward to the fulfillment of the glorious promises "to him that overcometh."

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MONTGOMERY COUNTY SKETCHES.

WILLIAM J. ZELLNER, planter, Strouds, Monroe Co., Ga., son of B. H. and Susan (Evans) Zellner, was born in Monroe county, Jan. 31, 1857. He was reared and educated in the county and has thus far passed his life as a planter, deriving his chief enjoyment and most real pleasure from the successful management of his plantation. This is a tract of nearly 600 acres of as choice land as can be found in Monroe county, about ten miles southwest of Forsyth. Intelligent and progressive in his methods, and availing himself of improved machinery, he realizes the most satisfactory results. Mr. Zellner was married in Spalding county, Ga., May 23, 1889, to Miss Hattie, only daughter of D. C. and Pelly (Jones) Fountain, who has borne him one child, Elsie Louise. Mr. Zellner is a worthy representative of one of the deservedly most honored families in Monroe county, and is himself held in the highest esteem by his fellow-citizens. Upright and blameless in life, of irreproachable character and unswerving integrity, he is justly entitled to the confidence reposed in him by his neighbors and friends.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

ASA LEMUEL ADAMS, farmer, Montgomery county, Ga., son of Asa and Louisa (Phillips) Adams, was born in Montgomery county, April 1, 1834. Mr. Adams' father was born in the county, and his family was among its early settlers. He was a farmer, was born Dec. 17, 1809, and died June 19, 1891. Mr. Adams' mother was born Oct. 12, 1812, and died July 29, 1884. Of seven children born to them, three lived to maturity: William R. born Feb. 21, 1829; Nathan A., born - June 7, 1832, and Asa Lemuel, all living in Montgomery county. Asa L. Adams received a common school education, and began life as a farmer, which has con- tinued to be his occupation, excepting a brief interval of school teaching when a young man and periods of public service. In 1861 he enlisted in Company A, Fourth battalion, Georgia sharpshooters, Bates' division, Bragg's army. He was in all the important engagements in Kentucky, Tennesse and North Georgia, and in several in Virginia. His last battle was when Hood's army was defeated, and practically destroyed, at Nashville, Dec. 15, 1864. He was wounded in that battle while stooping to raise his brother, Andrew J., who had received a wound, from which he died. Mr. Adams was captured and carried to Cumberland hospital, where he remained until Jan. 5, 1865, when he was transferred to Camp Chase prison, Ohio, with more than 500 others. He was detained there until June 13, 1865, when he was paroled, and he returned to his farm. Mr. Adams was notary public eight years-1866-'74-and was elected sheriff in 1874, serving one term. In 1881 he was elected clerk of the superior court, which office he held two years; and 1892 he was elected to represent Montgomery county in the general assembly, and was assigned to the following committees: General agriculture, corpora- tions, immigration, lunatic asylum, and wild lands. May 6, 1866, Mr. Adams was married to Mrs. Mary Jane (nee Ryals) McAllister, daughter of William R. and Eliza (Connor) Ryals, of Montgomery county. By her first husband, Mrs. Adams had two children: Eliza, born Jan. 23, 1851, and John, born Oct. 2, 1854. To Mr. and Mrs. Adams have been born: Sophia F., Mrs. John B. Wootten, and Mary J., Mrs. Cornelius Wootten, both of Wootten's Mills, Telfair Co., Ga. Mr. Adams is a master Mason, and is enjoying life and the esteem of life-long friends at Long Pond.

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MEMOIRS OF GEORGIA.

GEORGE W. ADAMS, farmer, Montgomery county, Ga., son of Wylie and Frances (Collins) Adams, was born in Montgomery county Oct. 5, 1830. His father was born in Montgomery county March 5, 1798, was a thrifty, successful farmer, represented the county twice in the general assembly, and died May 21, 1873. His mother was born Aug. 3, 1804, and is still living. They had ten children, of whom five survive: Joe, farmer, Montgomery county; M. C., farmer, Montgomery county; George W .; Margaret, widow of William McLeod, and Thomas, a farmer of Montgomery county. Mr. Adams was educated at the common and high schools of the county, and then engaged in farming. In 1862 he enlisted in the First Georgia regiment, under Capt. Davenport, and was sta- tioned at Savannah. After serving there ten months, he was transferred to the Thirty-second Georgia regiment, Col. Harrison, and was on service in Georgia and Alabama, and was with the forces at Atlanta when besieged by the Federal army. Returning from the army, he resumed his farm work, which he has success- fully followed since. Mr. Adams was married to Miss Elizabeth L. Wilcox, of Telfair county, Aug. 8, 1858. She was the daughter of Gen. Mark Wilcox-who served in the Florida Indian war, and Sarah A. E. (Coffee) Wilcox, and was born Dec. 31, 1841. Ten children were the fruit of this marriage: George Lewis, born Feb. 1, 1860, farmer, married Miss Nenie Coffee, of Gwinnett county, Ga .; James Le Conte, born Feb. 5, 1864, Ailey, Ga., married Miss Nell Sutton; Agnes Lee, born July 10, 1865, Mrs. Herbert Wright, Montgomery county; John C., born Dec. 6, 1866, farmer, married Miss Hattie Cave, of Dodge county; Rosa P., born March 1, 1868, Mrs. Henry Simpson, Montgomery county; Elizabeth L., born April 17, 1870, wife of Thomas Thompson, merchant, Mount Vernon, Ga .; Charles M., born Feb. 26, 1873; Mary Emma, born July 17, 1874; Lucy, born Oct. 29, 1879, and Sam Jones, born Aug. 30, 1885. Mr. Adams is a master Mason, and has a beautiful, well-arranged and productive farm about two miles south of Mount Vernon, the county seat.

NATHANIEL REID BEASLEY, deceased, lawyer, Mount Vernon, Mont- gomery Co., Ga., was the eldest of ten children of Isaiah and Jane Augusta (Way) Beasley, and was born in Liberty county, Ga., Jan. 14, 1867. His father, a prominent lawyer of Reidsville, Tattnall Co., Ga., was born in 1838, and his mother was born Oct. 1, 1847. Mr. Beasley, after receiving the best education the common schools of the county afforded, taught school in Tattnall and Bulloch counties in 1885-'86-'87, and in May, 1888, began the study of law under his father's preceptorship, and was admitted to the bar Oct. 13, of the same year. He was at once accepted by his father as a partner, and practiced with him until 1892, when the partnership was dissolved, and Mr. Beasley removed to Mount Vernon, Montgomery Co., Ga., where he died Sept. 1I, 1894, in the flush of a vigorous young manhood, and the beginning of a career, bright with the promise of a brilliant and prosperous professional and political career, leaving his devoted wife and two lovely children to mourn their irreparable loss. Mr. Beasley was married Oct. 29, 1889, to Miss Nora, daughter of Remer Franklin, of Bulloch county, Ga., by whom he had three children: Nannie McLesky, died in infancy; Janie Lucille, born in 1891, and Minnie Reid, born in 1894.

MALCOLM L. CURRIE, M. D., Ailey, Montgomery Co., son of Duncan and

Martha A. (Mclendon) Currie, was born in Montgomery county July 13, 1853. His great-grandfather emigrated from the highlands of Scotland and settled in Robeson county, N. C. His grandfather, Malcolm Currie, was born in Robeson county, and emigrated from there to Montgomery county, Ga., settling in the latter county about 1818. Dr. Currie's father was born in

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Montgomery county, Jan. 29, 1825, and died Jan. 11, 1883. His mother was the daughter of Dennis and Martha A. (Tyson) Mclendon, and was born in Laurens county Feb. 22, 1824, and is still living. His parents had eight children, of whom Dr. Currie was the second. Dr. Currie received a good preparatory education at the common and other schools of the county. He was elected tax receiver of the county in 1883 and served one term. In the spring of 1886 he entered the college of physicians and surgeons, Baltimore, Md., and graduated with distinction in 1888. He immediately entered Bay View hospital for a post-graduate course. Complet- ing that, he came home and began the practice of medicine at Mount Vernon, the county seat, in August, 1888, where he established a drug store, the first the county ever had, and which did a thriving business. After practicing one and one-half years with excellent success, he entered Johns Hopkins hospital, Baltimore, for another post-graduae course. He went from there to Brunswick, Ga., and practiced some time, meeting with satisfactory patronage, but had to abandon it and return to Mount Vernon, where he remained until May, 1894, when he determined to locate in the new and enterprising town of Ailey, on the Georgia & Alabama railway. Having sold his original drug stock to Messrs. J. F. Currie & Co., he established a new drug store at Ailey, which is now being run in the name of E. T. McBryde & Co., with satisfactory results. Dr. Currie, in addition to the above, is engaged in conducting a real estate business at Mount Vernon and Ailey. Dr. Currie was married to Miss Minnie J. McBryde-born Nov. 28, 1869-daughter of William F. and Ala (McNott) McBryde, of Montgomery county. Their home has been gladdened by the advent of two children: Anna Mav, born Dec. 28, 1891, and Nora Earline, born May 4, 1894. Dr. Currie is a very public-spirited and ener- getic and progressive citizen, and as a physician, is the leading member of the profession in this part of the state. His success in the general practice has been phenomenal, and he has attained to an enviable reputation. He has, at the same time, successfully performed some of the most difficult operations in this county, or outside the best hospitals. He is a member of the medical association of Georgia, the South Georgia Medical association, and the American Medical association. He is an enthusiastic Mason, and is a member of Vedalia chapter of royal arch Masons, at Vedalia, Ga. He is also a member of Rush lodge of I. O. O. F., No. 48, Bruns- wick, Ga.

JUDSEN BEECH GEIGER, lawyer, Mount Vernon, Montgomery Co., Ga., son of Rev. Washington L. and Catharine C. (Tillman) Geiger, was born in Tattnall county, Ga., March 20, 1864. His father was born in Effingham county, Ga., is a Baptist minister of considerable prominence, and to some extent connected with journalism, being now editor of the "Baptist Watchman," Abbeville, Ga. His mother was born in Tattnall county, and died in 1881. J. B. Geiger received an ordinary common school education, and then, under his father's instruction, learned the printer's art; and was business manager and associate editor of the "Bulloch Banner," Bulloch county, Ga., at the age of nineteen. After teaching school for two years he entered Mercer university, Macon, Ga., where he remained until the completion of his sophomore year. He then taught school again, and in 1889, entered the law school at the university of Georgia, whence he graduated with distinction, class of 1890. After an interval of two years, during which he engaged in teaching school a part of the time, he located in Mount Vernon and commenced the practice of his profession, in which he is having excellent success, with a splendid future before him, being regarded as the coming man of his county. On the 27th day of May, 1894, he was happily united in marriage with Miss Clifford E. Morrison, of Montgomery county.

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MEMOIRS OF GEORGIA.

CHARLES S. HAMILTON, farmer and merchant, Montgomery county, Ga., son of Josiah and May (Poole) Hamilton, was born in Montgomery county, Dec. 9, 1831. His father was of Scotch descent, born in North Carolina in 1791, came to Georgia with the family in 1800 and settled in Montgomery county, where he was reared a farmer. His mother was a native Georgian. Charles S. was sixth in birth of a family of eleven born to his parents. He received such educa- tion as was obtainable at the common schools of the county at the time, and he began life as a farmer. He enlisted in the army soon after the war began, and was detailed for duty in Georgia in Col. Clinch's regiment of cavalry, and was in the service three years. In 1860 he was elected justice of the peace and held the office until he resigned fourteen years later. He was elected to represent the county in the general assembly in 1884, and served two years, during which he introduced a bill for the relief of disabled Confederate soldiers, which passed and was ratified by the people, and under which the Confederate soldiers are now receiving pensions. Mr. Hamilton has a very large farm and has besides very extensive timber land possessions. In connection with his farming he has a very large general merchandise store at Higgston, where he has done and con- tinues to do a large business. From his store, his large farm and his extensive tracts of timber lands he enjoys a splendid income. Mr. Hamilton has been twice wedded. His first wife was Mrs. Jenkins, of Jefferson county, Ga., whom he married in 1857, and who died, childless, in 1862. His second wife was Miss Ruth Williams, born in 1844, daughter of Joshua Williams, of Tattnall county, by whom he has had eleven children, three of whom (all boys) died in infancy. The living children are: Charles L., born Feb. 25, 1870; Benja- min F., born Feb. 6, 1872, married Miss Effie Williamson, daughter of A. J. Williamson, of Montgomery county; Mollie L., born May 23, 1874, now Mrs. Emerson Almand, Montgomery county; George W., born Aug. 10, 1877; Claudius W., born Oct. 20, 1879; Ruth L., born May 24, 1883; Arthur, born Aug. II, 1886, and a boy baby, born March 16, 1893, not named. Mr. Hamilton's father lost a large amount of property by the war, and he was a large slave-holder himself. He lives on an extensive farm at Kibbee, Montgomery Co., in the enjoy- ment of robust health and an ample competency, an interesting family and thousands of friends. Mr. Hamilton is a royal arch Mason.

PETER JOHNSON, farmer, Montgomery county, Ga., son of Alexander and Mary (Wester) Johnson, was born in Montgomery county, Oct. 24, 1843. His father, a son of Peter Johnson, a native of Scotland, was born in Robeson county, N. C., Jan. 29, 1810, and came to Montgomery county when a young man. He was a shoemaker, blacksmith and gunsmith. Guns and rifles that he made are in possession of members of the family now. He died in March, 1886. Mrs. Mary Johnson, now living, was born Sept. 23, 1817, and was married March 9, 1837. The education of Mr. Johnson was as good as the county schools at that time af- forded. He enlisted in Company E, the first organized in the county, Sixty-first Georgia regiment. The company, Capt. Charles W. McArthur, was a part of Lawton's, afterward Gordon's brigade, Early's division, Ewell's corps. The command left Georgia for Virginia in the spring of 1862, where it remained until the close of the war. Mr. Johnson was shot through the left side and wounded in the hips and left on the field at the battle of Gettysburg, where he was taken prisoner. When sufficiently recovered he was paroled and came home. As soon as he was exchanged he returned to the army, and re-entered his old company. At the battle of Cold Harbor he was again wounded, was given a furlough and came home to recover. He met Sherman's army on its march through Georgia,

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was taken prisoner and held till the close of the war. He and others were locked up in the courthouse, Sandersville, Ga., and while thus confined some Federal soldiers set fire to the building. Gen. Sherman rode up and ordered the release of the prisoners just in time to save their lives. For eight years succeeding the war Mr. Johnson followed timbering down the river, and then turned his atten- tion to farming. In 1882, he established a saw-milling and cotton-ginning business, which he has continued till now, satisfactorily to his patrons and profit- ably to himself. Mr. Johnson was married to Miss Mary Lou, born May 27, 1843, daughter of W. D. W. C. and Martha (Sharp) Connor. To them the fol- lowing children have been born: Ella Victoria, born May 24, 1871; Mrs. E. J. Wells, Montgomery county; Willie A., born June 28, 1875, and Mattie Elizabeth, born Oct. 16, 1880. He is now enjoying a quiet and pleasant home-life on his farm at Long Pond, Ga.

JOHN W. M'ARTHUR, farmer, Montgomery county, Ga., son of John and and Nancy (McLeod) McArthur, was born in Montgomery county, September, 1838. His father was born in Robeson county, N. C., in 1797, came to Georgia when a boy and settled in Montgomery county, where he lived a farmer until his death in 1853, at the age of fifty-six years. He once represented the county in the senate of the general assembly. Mr. McArthur's mother was born in North Carolina in 1816, and was the daughter of James McLeod, a native of Scotland. She died in 1888, at the age of seventy-two years. John W. McArthur was the first son and the fifth born of eleven children, who all lived to be grown, and of whom eight are still living. He was reared a farmer, and he is a farmer yet, but every year he ships timber by river to Darien. The first two years of the war he was a justice of the inferior court. He afterward enlisted and was in Ander- son's brigade, Phillips' division, and was at Atlanta when besieged in 1864. Dur- ing the march through Georgia he was severely wounded in an engagement with Sherman's army at Griswoldville, near Macon. Mr. Arthur married Miss Louisa, daughter of Thomas B. and Elizabeth (Smith) Calhoun; she was born Aug. 25, 1844, and bore him two children: John Henry, born Sept. 6, 1861, physician, Long Pond, Ga., and Willie T., born Feb. 6, 1863, manufacturer of naval stores, Montgomery county. Mrs. McArthur died Feb. 27, 1863. Mr. McArthur was next married March 20, 1866, to Mary C., daughter of John B. and Maria (Connor) Ryals, who was born May 14, 1848. Mrs. Ryals was the daughter of Rev. Wilson Connor. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. McArthur: Ferdinand F., born Dec. 5, 1866, merchant, Ailey, Ga .; Alex- ander Bruce, born July 15, 1875, now a student, Mercer university, Macon, Ga., and Ada Maria, born Aug. 17, 1880. Mr. McArthur is a master Mason, is much respected as a citizen and as a member of a very numerous and influential family. He lives at Dry Pond, the center of the county.

JOHN M'ARTHUR, farmer, Montgomery county, Ga., was born in Robeson county, N. C., in 1797, and died in 1853, aged fifty-six years. He came to Georgia when a boy and settled in the eastern part of Montgomery county, where he farmed until he died. He once represented the county in the senate of the general assembly. His wife, Miss Nancy McLeod, was born in North Carolina in 1816, and was the daughter of James McLeod, a native of Scotland. She died in 1888, aged seventy-two.

DUNCAN M'ARTHUR, farmer, Montgomery county, Ga., seventh child of John and Nancy (McLeod) McArthur, was born in Montgomery county Dec. 25, 1843. He enlisted the second year of the war in the Seventh Georgia cavalry,

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under the command of Col. Millen, and remained on guard duty until the last year of the war, when the command was sent to join Gen. Young in Gen. Wade Hampton's division. He was so fortunate as to escape injury and captivity, and when he left the army returned to the farm. But he makes his home with his brother, William H. McArthur.

WILLIAM H. M'ARTHUR, farmer, Montgomery county, Ga., ninth child of John and Nancy (McLeod) McArthur, was born in Montgomery county Feb. 24, 1848. He was reared on a farm and his life-occupation has been that of a farmer. He married Miss Florence, daughter of Christopher and Charity (McCrimson) McRae, Dec. 9, 1886. They have no living children, the only one born to them having died when three years old. He has a nice, comfortable home at Long Pond, where he and his unmarried brother, Duncan, quietly enjoy their competency.

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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 83

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