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 85

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 85

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).

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MORGAN COUNTY SKETCHES.

MORGAN COUNTY.

MR. A. ATKINSON, deceased, and a noted contractor and for many years an eminent and respected citizen of Madison, was born in New Hampshire in 1816, and was a son of Silas and Sarah (Hutchers) Atkinson. He came to Georgia in 1836 and located in Columbia and helped defend that place from the Indians. He was a contractor and built many of the court houses, jails and bridges, and many large manufactories in Georgia. He was long a Mason and held high honors in that fraternity. In 1839 he married Martha J. Forte, and of this union ten children are living, viz .: Charles D., Norcellus, H. O., Silas, Hale, Eugene, Belle, Emma, I. M. and May. The mother was born in Baldwin county, Ga., and was of one of the oldest leading families in Georgia. She lived until 1892. Mr. Atkinson was in the state militia during the war. He was an enterprising man, with much energy and possessed of the best habits, and was honored by all.

ATKINSON. The Atkinson family occupies an important position in the history of Georgia and embraces many prominent citizens. Mr. N. B. Atkinson, a well- known resident of Morgan county, born in New Hampshire in 1819, is the son of Judge Daniel C. and Mahala (Tilton) Atkinson, natives of the granite state. Mr. N. B. Atkinson spent the first thirty years of his life in the New England states and received a liberal education. He came to Georgia and took up a home in Madison in 1850, traveling for a wholesale house of New York. He had been married in 1847 to Zapharine D. Robinson, and having had experi- ence in the drug business, he was during the war stationed in the hospital at Augusta. After the close of hostilities he went into the drug business in Madison and continued the same until 1882, when he retired from business. Mrs. At- kinson is a dutiful member of the Baptist church and her husband is a Mason and Odd Fellow, who has taken the high degrees of the orders. He is one of Madison's most substantial and respected citizens, and is highly esteemed by all who are so fortunate as to know him.

BROOKS. The Brooks family of Morgan county descend from William Brooks, a native of Virginia, who came to Georgia previous to 1800. He settled in Walton county and cleared up a farm, and when the United States was called on the battlefield with Great Britain in 1812 he shouldered his flint- lock musket and took part in the war. A son, Larkin, was born on the farm in Walton county in 1805, and when about eighteen years old went out with a sur- veying party engaged in establishing the boundary line between Georgia and Alabama. Upon his return he went to South Carolina, where he met a Miss Jones, daughter of a planter of that state, and the new made man and wife re- turned to Walton county, and began life under prospects of sunshine. His wife died in a few years and Mr. Brooks took for his second wife Permelia J., daughter of Austin and Mary J. (Mayne) Clements. The Clements were early residents of Morgan county, and came overland from their native state of Virginia. While en route on this journey, which was an important event in the lives and fortunes of the family, Miss Matilda Clements, a sister of Mrs. Brooks, fell out of the wagon while a river was being crossed and her life was only saved through the almost superhuman efforts of the father. Mr. Clements became one of Morgan county's best citizens and successful farmers. Larkin Brooks fought against the Creek Indians and became one of the substantial farmers of his day. He was a good

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MEMOIRS OF GEORGIA.

Christian and a strict member of the Missionary Baptist church. Mr. Charles G. Brooks, youngest son of Larkin Brooks, spent his early life on the farm and grappled with learning as the opportunities were presented to him, with the satis- faction of obtaining a good common school education. In March, 1864, he enlisted in Company D, Third Georgia regiment, under Capt. J. K. Wright, Col. Snede. He was made a guard of Hill's ordnance wagons and was always in a bomb-proof position. In October, 1864, he was transferred to the ranks and re- mained there until the surrender. Since the war, with a devoted mother, Mrs. Permelia J. Brooks, and a loving sister, Miss Lizzie Brooks, he has spent a happy and successful life at the homestead on their farm near Madison, engaged in farming. He is of the Baptist faith, and has served as deacon of his church since 1871. He is a member of the jury commissioners and a citizen of which the county is proud.

JOHN W. BURNEY, farmer, Godfrey, was born and reared in Morgan county;

he first saw the light of day Dec. 2, 1829, and is the son of Thomas J. and Cornelia (Walker) Burney. The father was born in Greene county, Ga., in 1801, and came to what is now Morgan county in 1806, where he cleared a farm and built a home. He was a son of John and Elizabeth (Walker) Burney. The grandfather was a native of Ireland. Mrs. Thomas J. Burney was the daughter of Isaac and Martha Jane Walker. John W. Burney grew up in Madison, where he received his early educational training. He matriculated at Mercer university, at Penfield in 1845, and was graduated in 1848. He went to Cave Spring and taught two years in the Horn high school, and a year or two in the Dunn school with Oliver P. Fannin as principal. He then taught a select school in Madison and returned to the farm, where he now lives. This place was given him by his maternal grandfather, and for a few years he kept bachelor's hall there. In June, 1855, he married Fannie C. Walker. She was a niece and ward of A. Reese and a daughter of Alexander and Caroline (Reese) Walker. The union has been blessed with six children, three of whom are living: William, Crawford and Julia. The mother was born in Greene county, but reared in Morgan. Both husband and wife are members of the Baptist church, and Mr. Burney is a Mason high in the degrees. He was exempt from service during the war, but joined "Joe Brown's pets" and served six months. In 1866 and 1867 he served as judge of the county court and in 1890-91 represented Morgan county in the legislature. He was an able legislator and a leader in measures of in- terest to the farmers. He is a member of the board of education of the county. During the war Mr. Burney was a commissary agent to get up the supplies for the soldiers and a large amount of pork that went to feed the families of the soldiers away in the war was raised on the farm of Mr. Burney and found its way to the larder without any requisition from or cost to the Confederate govern- ment. He is a big-hearted, kind and sympathetic man, and when he found soldiers needy, or their families in want, he did not wait on formality or red tape, but supplied them. At the close of the war the Confederate states owed him over $100,000, and all the money he had was twenty-five dollars in bills of the Con- federacy. The Burney family occupies a high place in the political and civil history of Georgia, and John W. Burney is one of Morgan county's most dis- tinguished citizens.

I. L. CHENEY, an old farmer and much-respected citizen of Morgan county, was born there on March 27, 1820, and was the son of Thomas B. and Lucy (Middlebrooks) Cheney. The parents were natives of Maryland and came

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MORGAN COUNTY SKETCHES.

to Georgia about 1780. Mr. L. L. Cheney has been a farmer all his life, and was united at an early age with the Baptist church. He has been frequently solicited to run for political offices, but has always declined, preferring the quietude of a farmer's life. Mr. Cheney's father was reared in Wilkes county, and came to Morgan county in 1808, where he lived till his death. He was the son of John Cheney, a native of Virginia, who came to Georgia about 1800, and served in the second war with Great Britain. Mr. Cheney's mother-Lucy Middlebrooks -- was a daughter of Isaac Middlebrooks, a native of Virginia, and a settler in Georgia in 1800. Mr. L. L. Cheney was reared in Georgia, and his education was obtained from the meager advantages afforded by the old log school-house. He was mar- ried, in 1843, to Elizabeth Spence, daughter of George and Mary (Knight) Spence, and they had born to them five children-two of whom are living-George F. and Francis. The mother was born and grew to womanhood in Georgia, and, with her husband, belongs to the Baptist church. Since 1851, Mr. Cheney has belonged to the masonic order. He has always been a farmer, and a most successful one. He has a fine estate near Rutledge.

JAMES A. FANNIN, farmer, Madison, was born on the old farm, where he now lives, in 1821, and was the son of Jeptha and Catharine (Porter) Fannin. The father was a native of North Carolina, and came to Georgia about 1808, and settled on the land where the son now lives. All was then a dense woods, and the site of the home was cut out of the brush and trees, and in a log cabin, quickly built, the fearless pioneers began their new life. He helped organize the county, and was the first clerk of the superior court. He was one of the first to volunteer in the second war with Great Britain, and an interesting and prized heirloom of the family is the sword the brave soldier wore in the war of 1812. He was in middle life when the war with the Creeks occurred, and was one of the Georgians to go to battle against the Indian foes. The mother of James A. Fannin was the daughter of Oliver and Elizabeth (Watson) Porter. The father was a soldier of the revo- lutionary war, and after the struggle was ended, came to Georgia and settled in Greene county. They were in the midst of Indians, and their block-house, erected in the woods, was the scene of frequent fights with the red skins. Mr. James Fannin was reared on the farm and obtained his education in the old log school- house. In 1861, he enlisted in Company D, Third Georgia regiment, under Capt. James Reed, then Capt. Andrews and then Capt. James K. Wright. He was out one year, when he returned home, by reason of expiration of enlistment. He then joined the Joe Thompson battery, and was placed with Gen. Joseph E. Johnston, and was in the battles of Bentonville, Soldiers' lane, and many skirmishes. After the war he returned to the old home, where he has since lived. He has been a member of the masonic order since 1850, and lives on the land his father took up in the original purchase, beside many acres which have been added to it by both of them. Mr. Fannin is a well-known and esteemed citizen of Morgan county.

JONAS H. HOLLAND, attorney, Madison, was born Nov. 26, 1843, and is the son of Jonas H. and Eunicie (White) Holland. The father was born in Virginia and came to Georgia in 1816, on horseback, and took up a farm and built a home in Jasper county. His marriage was of a romantic type-he being only sixteen years old and his sweetheart a Virginian lass only thirteen. Their youth led to many objections on the part of parents in the "Old Dominion," but they were finally overcome by the assistance of an uncle, who signed his bond to take care of his wife, and a friendly minister, who made them man and wife. Placing his child-wife on a horse, he mounted another, and thus they journeyed to his new home, far away from parents, brother, sisters and friends. His wife died in 1818, and he

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MEMOIRS OF GEORGIA.

remained a widower until 1826. Mr. Holland's father was a son of Joseph J. and Elizabeth Ann (Odom) Holland. Joseph was a native of Ireland, and came with his parents to America, when the colonies were subjected to the tyranny of Great Britain. He fought with the patriots, and attained the rank of colonel, and was twice wounded in battle. His parents were cruelly persecuted by the tories, even to the extent of having their homes burned over thir heads. A memento of this heroic service to his country is an old flint-lock pistol, carefully preserved, in Mr. Holland's home-a treasure prized above all others by the family. Mr. J. H. Holland's mother was born and grew up in Jones county, and was a faithful member of the Hardshell Baptist church. The son spent the ordinary life of a farmer boy, educating himself by reading, with a few opportunities of schooling. In 1861, he enlisted in the Glover guards and went to Virginia, but was not sworn in on account of his youth; so he returned home in Jasper county, to later join the militia. After the war he farmed until 1869, when he began the study of law, and was soon admitted. He was the first justice of the peace in the Monticello district after the war. In 1869 he married Kate Harris, daughter of Thomas and Martha (Peteet) Harris, and to them have been born five children-two of whom are living- Thomas and Martha E. The mother has always lived in Morgan county, and belongs to the Baptist church, as does her husband. He has been a member of the masonic fraternity since he reached his majority, and is a temperance man by example and teaching, never having drank a drop of liquor in his life. He has frequently canvassed the county in behalf of teetotalism. In 1872-3 he was justice of the peace in Morgan county; and in 1883, as a member of the Baptist church, was appointed a delegate to a meeting in Monterey, Mexico. Besides his extensive law practice, he has always manifested great interest in farming and stock raising, and his efforts were instrumental in securing the first colt show ever held in Georgia, which was held at Madison, Aug. 12, 1888.

WARREN J. IVEY, farmer, Rutledge, was born in 1838, and is the son of Wilkins S. I. and Jane (Herring) Ivey. The father was born in Greene county in 1812, and came to Walton county when eight years old, and remained there until his death. He was judge of the Walton county superior court five years, and was sheriff thirty-six years, holding that position when he died. He was a prominent Mason, and an influential citizen. His father, and the grandfather of W. J. Ivey, was Jeremiah Ivey, who was a native of Virginia, and who came to Georgia about 1800. He built him a home in the thick woods of what is now Morgan county, and, clearing a farm, began life as a pioneer. He was a deacon in the Baptist church for years. Mrs. W. S. I. Ivey was a daughter of David Herring, who was a Vir- ginian by birth and an early resident of Georgia. Mr. Warren J. Ivey was brought un on the farm and attended the common schools. In 1862 he enlisted in Company D, Eleventh Georgia infantry, under Capt. Nunnaly, and Col. Tige Anderson, but was sent home on account of severe rheumatism. Upon his recovery, a few months later, he joined Company D, Second cavalry, Capt. William Grant, Col. Cruse, in Gen. Forrest's command. He saw much active service and lots of hard fighting. At Murfreesboro, he was with Forrest when his cavalry captured 1,300 Federal infantry with three small regiments, and his company, dismounted, fought two days again near Murfreesboro. He was in east Tennessee, and had a hard fight at Sevierville, when his company surrendered, and he himself surrendered three times in one day and escaped each time. He was orderly sergeant of his com- pany when it went to Chattanooga, and met Sherman, and had a hot time of it from there to Atlanta. He was in the battle of Perryville, Ky., and was at Salisbury, N. C., at the time of the surrender. After hostilities had ceased he returned to Walton county, Ga. His father gave him 125 acres of woodland, and

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MORGAN COUNTY SKETCHES.

like his ancestors, he set to work to clear it and build himself a log cabin. In 1867 he married Sallie F. Cheney, daughter of Linton L. and Elizabeth (Spence) Cheney. By this union there are two children: Walter C., and Lillian. The mother was born and reared in Morgan county. Both are members of the Primitive Baptist church. He is a master Mason, and is one of the most successful and best farmers in the county. That he is a man who can get on in life with his neighbors is attested by the fact that he was never interested in a case in court, or never required as a witness.

RANSLEY B. MALLORY, farmer, Madison, was born in district No. 284 in 1827, and was the son of Horace and Anna (Rogers) Mallory. The father was a native of Connecticut, and when a young man, by industrious application, established himself in the peddling and mercantile business. He married and then purchased a farm from his father-in-law and upon this erected a large store and for years conducted a prosperous business. He was elected justice of the peace for many successive terms and discharged the duties satis- factorily to all. The wife was a daughter of Robert and Lucy (Parish) Rogers. They were natives of Virginia and came to Georgia in 1796, with his household goods stored in one of the old block wheel-carts of a century ago. He was one of the pioneers of Morgan county, prominent in the organization of the county and was a large farmer. Mr. R. B. Mallory now lives on a farm about three miles distant from his birthplace, and is proud of the distinction of being a farmer. A deep old well on the farm where he was born was the first one dug in the district, and is as a distinct part of the old farm as the house itself. On Jan. 30, 1849, he married Elizabeth Lester (nee Stovall), daughter of Samuel and Sarah (Arenton) Stovall. They have been made glad by the birth of two children: Augustus H. and Alonzo R. The mother was born in Morgan county and died in 1886. She was a member of the Baptist church and a conscientious Christian woman. In November, 1888, Mr. Mallory was married to Fannie, daughter of Josiah and Nancy W. (Clements) Whitlock. His wife is a member of the Baptist church. For several years Mr. Mallory was bailiff and also served a number of terms as justice of the peace. He has been a member of the board of road commissioners, and was county commissioner for several years. Though handicapped in life's battle by an injury which made him a cripple by depriving him of the use of one arm, Mr. Mallory never complained, but fought it out, and not only has he been successful, but can look back over a life of happiness. He enjoys the esteem and confidence of all who know him.

JAMES M'HUGH, farmer, Rutledge, was born in Morgan county in 1825, and is the son of Charles and Mary (Pritchell) McHugh. His grandfather, George McHugh, was a native of Ireland, and came to America before the revolutionary war and served with the patriots in that conflict. He first settled in Virginia on coming here, then moved to South Carolina, where he remained until his death. Charles, a son of George, was born in South Carolina, came to Georgia in 1815, and settled among the Indians. He was a teacher most of his life, and was em- ploycd in the early academies and colleges. He was justice of the peace for over twenty-five years. His wife was the daughter of Joshua Pritchell, one of the early residents of the state. Mr. James McHugh was reared on the home farm and re- ceived his schooling in the old-time log cabin and by the aid of the pine knot and fireside. When he was seventeen years of age he left home and went to Stone Mountain and began work for the Georgia railroad, continuing there until about ten years ago, or over thirty-eight years. When he left home all of his possessions

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were a homespun sack of clothes, which had been spun and woven by his mother, but his industry and energy brought him success, and at the time of the breaking out of the war he was in good financial circumstances. The war wrested from him the larger part of his property, and he had to start over again. He now owns about 1,500 acres of good land, a large part of which is in a good state of cultiva- tion. In 1849 he married Lydia Garner, daughter of Samuel Garner. They have six children, four of whom are living: Baily, Benjamin, Edward and Mary. The mother was born and reared in Morgan county. She is a member of the Methodist church, and Mr. McHugh has been a Mason for twenty-five years.

MADISON A. MURROW, merchant, Rutledge, Morgan Co., was born in 1857. His paternal great-grandfather, John Murrow, was a native of Ireland, emigrated to this country before the revolutionary war, and settled in South Carolina, where he did gallant service under that great general and true-hearted patriot, Francis Marion, in the swamps of South Carolina. After the war he married and settled in Orangeburg district in that state, where four children were born to him. The eldest of these was John, the grandfather of Mr. Murrow, who was born Feb. 25, 1787, and at the age of twenty-five was received into the South Carolina Methodist conference and remained in the itineracy a number of years, when his family becoming too numerous for the necessary frequent removals he was located. Subsequently he removed with his family to Louisville, Jefferson Co., Ga., where in 1840 himself and wife united with the Baptist church. Re- inovals to other counties followed, until himself and wife died in Bryan county in 1868, within eight days of each other, he eighty-one and she seventy-five years of age. He was a man of sterling character, of great force, a fervid preacher, of pure and spotless life. In 1820 he married Miss Mary Amelia, born Sept. 29, 1793, daughter of Jonathan and Mary Amelia Dorothea (Haunbaun) Badger. Her father had been a prosperous and rich merchant of Charleston, S. C., was unusually well-educated and highly accomplished, of sweet and sunny disposi- tion and a great favorite in society. All their sons, except one, became preachers. Mr. Murrow's father was the second child and eldest son of this most excellent couple, and was born in Effingham county, Ga., Oct. 12, 1823. He was a farmer and Baptist minister. He commenced preaching when only sixteen years of age, was ordained when eighteen, and was graduated from Mercer university, Penfield, Ga. After he married he located in Burke county, where he hewed a home out of the woods and started in on a happy and successful life. He was one of the pioneer teachers in the old log school houses, a soldier in the late civil war, a high degree member of the masonic fraternity and a zealous, influential and effective working minister of the Baptist church. Mr. Murrow's mother was a daughter of William Wallace, who was a soldier in the patriot army during the revolutionary war. So it will be seen that in Mr. Murrow's veins flows some of the best blood of our revolutionary history. Mr. M. A. Murrow was reared in Burke county, Ga., and received a good common school education, finished at Bunyan academy and then he engaged in telegraphy. He held a position at West Point, then Union Point, and was finally located in Rutledge, Oct. 27, 1877, and has held that position since. In 1886 he engaged in general merchandising and conducts one of the largest stores in the town. In 1880 he married Miss Georgia, daughter of Benjamin and Mary (Willard) Vinning, the father meeting his death in the late war. This union has been blessed by six children: Maude, Mabel, Vaughn, Belle and Bessie (twins) and Frederick. The mother was born in Ten- nessee, but grew to womanhood in Morgan county, Ga. Husband and wife are members of the Baptist church. Mr. Murrow, though young in years, is old in

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MORGAN COUNTY SKETCHES.

business, and enjoys a high reputation for his discernment and judgment and is frequently called to give his advice to those with much more experience and age. He is a man of strict integrity, whose word is his bond, and of a character amiable in intercourse and liberal in charity.

JOHN T. NEWTON, farmer, Pennington, Morgan Co., Ga., was born in the house in which he now lives Feb. 28, 1854, and is the son of William H. and Mirian Keturah (Walker) Newton. The father was born in Clarke county July II, 1823, and was graduated from the old Franklin college at Athens, and from the medical college of Georgia, Augusta. He began the practice of medicine at Madison, but was obliged to give it up on account of his health and com- menced farming, which he followed until he moved to Athens to educate his chil- dren. He was a strict Presbyterian and his grandfather, John Newton, a native of England, preached the first Presbyterian sermon in Georgia and organized and was the president of the first presbytery of the state. William Newton died May 17, 1893, at Maysville. His father, grandfather of Mr. John T. Newton, was Elizur Newton, who married Eliza Collier. Elizur Newton was born in Ogle- thorpe county, Feb. II, 1796. His father died when he was a boy and he helped support his widowed mother and the family on the farm until nearly of age, when he went to Athens and engaged in the mercantile business. His store was the second one established in the town and he owned the first buggy ever brought to Athens. He remained there in business until well up in years, when he retired. When the clouds of war enveloped the country he was a stanch supporter of the south, and when the conflict began was a firm advocate of the Confederacy, by word and with money. He was too old to enlist in the ranks, but his encourage- ment in the way of help in raising troops was great. To his friends he said: "It is the duty of every man to help the government under which he lives, and being too old to go, I will support the cause with my money," and this he did liberally. He was very successful in business and at one time owned nearly half of Athens. To him and the Thomas family are credited the making of Athens. An incident illustrating the firm character of Elizur Newton happened during the Sherman raid. A northern soldier went to the Newton home and broke into the stable in search of horses. Mr. Newton took down his shot gun, and though quite aged, followed the intruder. The latter opened fire on the owner of the property, but it did not deter him from pursuing and driving the soldier from the premises. Elizur Newton was graduated from old Franklin college, Athens, with third honor. For many years he was a trustee of the college and was a vice-president of the board of trustees at the time of his death. He was justice of the inferior court for many years, and president of the great temperance movement that went through Georgia, being the first reform crusade of the kind ever had in the state. He was a charter member of the first Presbyterian church of Athens, built in 1821, and was an officer in the church up to the time of his death. His wife was born in Oglethorpe county in 1821. Mr. John T. Newton went to Athens with his father and entered the university of Georgia in 1871, but on account of his health had to give up his course in 1873. He then took charge of the farm, which he has since managed. In 1881 he was married to Christiana H., daughter of Floyd and Emily (Henderson) Childs. The father was born in 1826, and was a prosperous farmer. To this union have been born five children: William, Floyd, Anna, Walker, and Kitty. The mother was reared in Monroe county. Mr. New- ton and wife are members of the Baptist church. He has been a member of the county board of education for about seven years, and is one of Morgan county's best citizens.

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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 85

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