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 87

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 87

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F. H. WATKINS. One of Georgia's most enterprising and wide-awake farm- ers is E. H. Watkins, of Rutledge. He was born in South Carolina in 1836, and is the son of Bailiss and Frances (Martin) Watkins, both natives of South Carolina. The father was born in 1796, and was one of the best farmers in Morgan county during his day. He was a son of David and Temperance (Camp) Watkins. David Watkins was born in Virginia and lived on Three and Twenty creek in South Carolina all his life, to which place he was taken when a child. His father, great-grandfather of Mr. E. H. Watkins, was a native of Wales and a revolutionary soldier. Mrs. Bailiss Watkins was the daughter of Thomas and Hester (Duckworth) Martin. They were natives of North Carolina, and soon after their marriage left for South Carolina to take up a new home on Beaverdam creek, Anderson county. Mr. E. H. Watkins was given a good education and worked on the farm in South Carolina until he reached manhood. In 1859 he married Martha Smith, a daughter of William and Maria.(Matteson) Smith. The father was a native of South Carolina and the mother was born in Anderson county, S. C., a daughter of James Matteson, a revolutionary hero. Mr. and Mrs. Watkins have three children-Bailiss, Newton and Myra. In 1861 Mr. Watkins · enlisted in Company G, Twenty-third South Carolina regiment, under Capt. Sam Watkins, afterward lieutenant-colonel under Col. Abner, of Edgefield. Mr. Wat- kins enlisted as a private, but when the company was reorganized in May, 1862, he was elected third lieutenant, and was soon promoted to first lieutenant, and as such was in command of the company more than the captain. He was in many hard-fought battles: Second Manassas, Kingston, Jackson, Miss., and at Frederick City, Md., where he was wounded and taken prisoner, and held until

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MORGAN COUNTY SKETCHES.

the close of the war. Mr. Watkins owns a fine farm near Rutledge, which he purchased in 1883, and then brought his family from South Carolina to make their home there. As a citizen and neighbor Mr. Watkins is ever frank and liberal and strong in his attachments, enjoying the highest esteem of his friends and neighbors.

JOSIAH WHITLOCK, farmer, and one of Morgan county's oldest and most respected citizens, is the son of Josiah and Nancy W. (Clements) Whitlock. The father was born in Virginia two years before the Declaration of Independence was signed and came to Georgia with his father in 1796. He received the advan- tages of the best schooling of that period, and in 1818 was married to the daughter of an old Virginia friend. Of eight children born to this union Mr. Josiah Whitlock is the only son of living. Josiah Whitlock was a sergeant in the war of 1812, and in appreciation of his services was given a land warrant for land in northeast Georgia. After his return from the war he visited his cousin, Beasley Whitlock, who lived in Morgan county, and there he met and married his wife. Following his wedding he was overseer for a few years, then a farmer for himself. The wife was a daughter of Charles and Mary (Main) Clements, natives of Virginia, who came to Georgia before 1800 and cleared up a farm from the woods. The paternal grandparents of Mr. Josiah Whitlock were Josiah and Mary (Clay- burn) Whitlock, both Virginians, who came to Georgia about 1796 and settled in Tulliver county. Here they pased the hard life of the pioneer and reared a family of children. The subject of this memoir was reared on the farm and received a common school education. He taught school during the war, and after his father's death took charge of the estate, and he still holds the 400 acres of land which his parents originally took up. Mr. Whitlock has been bailiff, and justice of the peace for three terms. In 1861 he joined Company D, Third Georgia regiment, under Capt. Charles Andrew, and was out eighteen months. Mr. Whitlock is well known throughout the county, and enjoys the esteem and good will of all. He has been very successful in business and is the owner of a fine farm near Fair Play, and other valuable property.

CAPT. JAMES K. WRIGHT, retired merchant, Madison, was born in Greene county, Ga., in 1828, and is the son of Joseph and Mary (Stark) Wright. The father was born in Greene county in 1792 and grew up on his farm, dying April 4, 1836, in the prime of life. He was a member of the Baptist church, a justice of the peace for many years and was a highly esteemed citizen. He came from revolutionary stock, his father being Thomas Wright, a brave soldier and native Virginian. His wife, the mother of Capt. Wright, was the daughter of John Stark, who served so meritoriously in the war for independence, and when the freedom of the colonies was established was so unfortunate as to kill a man in a quarrel, and, disappearing, was never again heard of. She was married to Joseph Wright, Dec. II, 1817, and gave birth to nine children, of whom only Capt. Wright is now living. Capt. Wright received his learning in the "old field" schools, to which he walked four miles, between crop times. He went to California a few years before the war, and when the struggle was on, was one of 365 men to leave the Pacific state to come and enter the Confederate army. He enlisted in the Third Georgia regiment as a private, was elected lieutenant, and afterward was promoted to the captaincy for brilliant services on the field, and in this rank he served until the surrender. He possesses a brilliant war record, and was never wounded, captured or in the hospital. He was in active engagement with his company at South Mills, Roanoake, Seven Pines, Malvern Hill, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Sharps- burg, Fredericksburg, and all the fights around Richmond. When hostilities

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were over he returned home penniless and commenced life again, with success from the start. In 1877 he married Kate E. Baldwin, daughter of Howell and Harriet (Boswell) Baldwin, both natives of Georgia. Mr. Baldwin was one of "Joe Brown's pets" during the war, and was a member of the state senate during the conflict. Mr. and Mrs. Capt. Wright have no children, two born to them having died. She is a member of the Methodist church, and takes a prominent part in church and charity affairs. For a number of years Capt. Wright was a leading merchant of Madison and succeeded in his business as he did in earning the respect and esteem of the people of this charming town.

JOHN T. WOOD, farmer, Madison, Morgan Co., Ga., was born in 1841, on the farm where he now lives. He was the son of John C. and Eliza S. (Blount) Wood. The father was born in North Carolina in 1793 and came to Georgia when twenty-five years old. He started for the war of 1812, but before he reached Baltimore it was over. He was a justice of the peace in Morgan county for many years, and a farmer all his life. His wife was born in Putnam county in 1811 and was the daughter of Edmund Blount. She was a devoted member of the Baptist church and a noble Christian woman. Mr. John T. Wood was reared on the farm and given a good education. In 1861 he enlisted in the state militia under Col. Cowart, and later was sent to Virginia. In February, 1864, he joined Cobb's legion of cavalry and remained there until the war closed, serving as a good and loyal soldier and brave man. In 1868 he married Rebecca L., daughter of Benjamin and Eliza (Brown) Harris. This union has been cheered by ten chil- dren, nine of whom are living: Edward H., William B., John H., Benjamin, Olander S., Anna M., Ruby L., Thomas M. and Oliver M. The deceased child was Birdie. Mr. Wood and wife are members of the Baptist church. He has been a notary public in his district for twenty years. He joined the masonic lodge when he was twenty-five years old and is high in its degrees. Mr. Wood is a popular and respected citizen, and lives with his interesting family on his fine farm near Madison.

MURRAY COUNTY.

WALTON W. ANDERSON, M. D. Dr. Anderson is a resident of Spring Place, Murray Co., Ga., where he was born in 1853, and has always resided. He was educated in the schools of Murray county, and after completing his literary studies engaged for a brief period in agricultural pursuits. In 1876 he began the study of medicine under the preceptorship of his father, the late Dr. William Anderson, at Spring Place. In 1877 he entered the Atlanta Medical college, and there took a full course in medicine and surgery during the years 1877-79 and was graduated in the spring of 1880. He commenced the practice of his profession at Spring Place, and has acquired a good general practice in the various branches of medicine and surgery, and enjoys an excellent reputation both as a reliable physician and an upright citizen. In 1875 Dr. Anderson was married to Miss Margaret Woods, daughter of Robert Woods, an old resident of Murray county. As the fruit of this union four children have been born to them: Claudius, Remma, Emma W. and Malcomb. The father of Dr. Anderson was born in Monroe county, Tenn. He married Miss Manda Gray and reared

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MURRAY COUNTY SKETCHES.

a family of eight children: Mary J., wife of William Wilkins, now deceased; W. L. Anderson, at present residing in Texas; Andrew J., who died in that state; Mrs. Alice Woods, of Murray county; Mrs. Fannie Dixon, who died in that county in 1893; C. M. Anderson and Walton W. The paternal grandfather of Dr. Anderson was Stephen Anderson, a resident of the state of Tennessee, where he died, in Monroe county, in 1885, at the advanced age of ninety years. The father of Dr. Anderson was a captain in the Confederate service during the late war, and during his residence in Murray county he was frequently entrusted with the management of county affairs. For several years he was treasurer of Mur- ray county, and during the period of his residence there he practiced his profes- sion with marked success. He was a prominent citizen and a practical man of affairs, in whom the public reposed full confidence. His death occurred at Spring Place in 1887. The mother of Dr. Anderson died in 1884. The doctor is a member of the masonic fraternity, Spring Place lodge No. 145.

SAMUEL M'DONALD CARTER is the owner of the largest and most valua- ble plantation in Murray county, commonly known as "Carter's Quarter," on which he has resided nearly half a century. He was born in Baldwin county, near Milledgeville, in 1826. His family and ancestors have been prominent in the public affairs of Georgia during several generations, and have borne an honorable and distinguished part in the history of this state, while contributing largely to its social and industrial progress. His paternal grandfather, Maj. Carter, served in the patriot army during the war of the revolution and was killed in the battle of Augusta, toward the close of that prolonged struggle for human rights and independence. His father, Farish Carter, was born in South Carolina, but was reared in Georgia and settled in Baldwin county about 1809, where he resided until his death in 1861. Farish Carter was an active business man, and an extensive and successful planter. Early in life by his zeal, industry and good management, he accumulated a large fortune, and his influence in political and financial affairs was felt throughout the state. Cartersville, the prosperous county seat of Bartow county, received its name in his honor. He married Miss Eliza McDonald, sister of Hon. Charles James McDonald, a distinguished citizen of Georgia, an associate justice of the supreme court and governor of the state from 1839 to 1843. The issue of this marriage was five children: Samuel McD., Mary, who married Jonathan Davis, of South Carolina; Catharine, wife of Dr. John H. Furman, of that state; Benjamin, who died while representing Murray county in the general assembly, and James. The mother of Col. Carter died in Baldwin county in 1865. He was educated in that county and at Oglethorpe college, from which institution he was graduated about 1846. In 1850 he settled in Murray county upon his plantation, where he has since resided, an esteemed, respected and influential citizen. During the war, from 1861 to 1865, he sup- ported the cause of the Confederacy. In 1850 he married Miss Emily Colquitt, daughter of Senator Walter T. Colquitt, and sister of the late Senator Alfred H. Colquitt. They reared five children: Farish, who died while a student at Nor- wood school in Virginia; Colquitt, at present clerk of the United States district court for the northern district of Georgia, residing at Atlanta; Mary, now deceased, who became the wife of Benjamin H. Hill, of the Atlanta bar; Kate C., who mar- ried Prof. Robert Emmett Mitchell, of Atlanta, and Benjamin F., married Lillian Whitman, of Dalton, Ga., at present residing in Atlanta, and is in the service of the agricultural department. The wife of Col. Carter died in Murray county in 1867. He was again married to Miss Sallie Jeter, daughter of William Lamar Jeter, for- merly of Columbus, Ga. This lady was a grand-niece of Mirabeau B. Lamar and

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ex-Senator Walter T. Colquitt. By this marriage he had five children: Emily Colquitt, wife of Hal Divine, Chattanooga, Tenn .; Sallie Jeter, Pauline, Samuel McD., Jr., and Eliza. Col. Carter has four grand-children: Mary Hill, and Emily Cornelia, daughters of Benjamin F .; Robert Emmett, son of Kate C. Mitchell, and Rebecca Lamar, daughter of Emily C. Divine.

)SCAR C. GOINS, farmer, Spring Place, Murray Co., was born in Grainger (

county, Tenn., Feb. 24, 1830. In 1833 his parents moved to Hamilton county, in that state, and settled on a farm among the Cherokee Indians. There Mr. Goins resided until he was sixteen years old, and received his education in such schools as Hamilton county then offered its youth. The elder Goins died when Oscar was in his eleventh year, and being the eldest son the management of the farm fell upon him. However, when sixteen years old, he went to Chattanooga and there engaged as a clerk in a mercantile house, where he remained during thirteen years, and acquired an extensive and practical knowledge of mercantile affairs, which has since proven of infinite value to him. In 1858 he married Miss Esther Reynolds, a daughter of Anderson Reynolds, of Chattanooga. Im- mediately after his marriage he engaged in business, establishing a grocery and supply house, which he conducted successfully until the commencement of the war, when he entered the Confederate service, enlisting in Company B, Nineteenth Tennessee regiment, Col. J. C. Cummins. Mr. Goins was commissioned lieutenant of his company and was first engaged at Fishing Creek, and afterward participated in the two days' fight at Shiloh. After these battles he was detailed to bring the wounded to Chattanooga by way of Mobile, Montgomery and Atlanta. After performing this service he assisted in raising the Lookout battery, commanded by R. L. Berry, and accompanied that battery to Knoxville and to West Point, and Pollard, near Mobile, Ala., where this battery was stationed for upward of one year to guard and protect the railroad at that point. Later he entered Mobile, on his way to Jackson, Miss. He fought at the battle of Baker's Creek in 1863, and returned to Jackson under Gen. Loring, and marched to Yazoo City, where he was engaged under Joseph E. Johnston against the Federal gun-boats. After the fall of Vicksburg, in July, 1863, he returned with his command to Jackson. During the winter of 1863-64 he was taken sick and was ordered home, where he was obliged to retire, after having rendered valiant and efficient service in defense of the Confederacy and local self-government. He settled in Chattanooga, broken in health and in fortune, as a result of his military experiences. He made a vig- orous effort to gain a permanent footing and in the end was successful. He engaged as traveling salesman, which occupation he followed successfully during thirteen years, and again acquired by his zeal and industry a respectable com- petency. In 1873 he settled in Murray county, Ga., near Spring Place, on a large, beautiful and productive plantation, where he has since resided. He owns and occupies one of the oldest mansions in North Georgia, erected in the early part of the present century by Joe Van, a noted Cherokee. This house has many historic reminiscences and is known far and wide as a pioneer landmark. His estate is one of the most valuable in Murray county, well improved, and watered by running streams and pellucid springs. The father of Mr. Goins, a native of Wythe county, Va., was born during the early part of this century. He moved to Cocke county, Tenn., with his parents, and later settled in Hamilton county, where he married Miss Nancy Biby, of Cocke county. They had five children, four sons and one daughter: Oscar C., William W., Pleasant W., George W. and Sarah J. She married James K. Connell, of Virginia, and now resides at Birming- ham, Ala. The others are now deceased, Oscar W. being the survivor.

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MURRAY COUNTY SKETCHES.

CHARLES L. HENRY, a rising member of the Murray county bar, residing at Spring Place, and a member of an old and respected family in that county, was born near Sumnach in Murray county, on March 23, 1872. He was educated in the schools of his neighborhood, and at Sumach seminary, and having completed his literary studies he formed the resolution of adopting the practice of law as a profession. He began the study of law in his native county, but desiring to avail himself of the best means with which to become proficient in the intricacies of that science, he pursued a course of study with A. P. Haggard of Dayton, Tenn., and later the law department of Cumberland university, at Lebanon. He was graduated from that institution in June, 1893, having, in May of that year, been admitted to the bar before R. P. McLean. Returning to Murray county he was regularly admitted to the bar by Hon. Thomas W. Milner, presiding judge of the Cherokee circuit, at Spring Place, where he located, and has since been engaged in the practice of his profession. Mr. Henry is a young man of fine promise, sterling integrity, excellent habits, and of very considerable natural and acquired abilities. He has already taken an advanced and enviable position at the Murray county bar. Mr. Henry is the son of Rev. Samuel H. Henry, an old resident of Murray county, who was born in Polk county, Tenn., and came to Georgia about 1850. He studied for the ministry, was duly ordained, and for upward of forty years has been pastor of the Cumberland Presbyterian church in Murray county. He settled on a plantation near Sumach, where he now resides, and is the founder of the Sumach seminary, a widely known and justly celebrated institution of learning in north Georgia, and in the interest of which he has labored zealously for many years. He married Miss Rosie Harris, a daughter of Nicholas Harris of Murray county, and reared a family of ten children: Nancy, wife of John Haggard of Texas; William L. and John T., a physician of Murray county; Mattie, wife of James McEntire; Nicholas, George R., physician, residing at Memphis, Tex .; Rev. James R., at present pastor of the Cumberland Presbyterian church in Pittsburg, Pa., a graduate of the Cumberland university, Tenn., Union Theological seminary, New York city, and who finished his studies at Oxford, England,-a ripe scholarly man of distinguished talents; Onie, a graduate of Peabody Normal college, Tennessee, in 1894, where she took the first honors of her class; Eliza, who married John P. Gregory of Murray county and Charles L.

DAVID E. HUMPHREYS, farmer and stock raiser, Ramsey, was born in Murray county in 1840, and received a common school education. His father was Rev. Joab Humphreys, born in McDowell county, N. C., in 1810, the son of David and Ann Humphreys. David was also born in North Carolina in 1780, his father being a native of Virginia. Joab married Lyda Harrison of the Virginia family of that name. They reared two children, David E. and Laura, who married James Johnson of Murray county. They now reside in Texas. The parents of Mr. Humphreys settled in Murray county in 1836, on the land now owned by Mr. David Humphreys and were among the first white inhabitants of the county. Joab died there in 1864. For many years he had officiated as minister of the Methodist church, and was a highly esteemed and respected citizen. His wife died in that county in 1878. David E. Humphreys entered the Confederate service, enlisting in Company C, Eleventh Georgia infantry. His captain was William Luffman. The regiment was commanded by Col. G. T. Anderson. On July 3, 1861, he was mustered into service, and missed participating in the first battle of Manassas by reason of a railroad accident, which prevented his command from appearing on the field of action. He fought at Malvern Hill, and at the siege of Yorktown. In 1862 he participated in the seven days' fight in the defense

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of Richmond, fought in the second battle of Manassas, and was the second man to pass through Thoroughfare Gap. In July, 1863, he was engaged with his command in the celebrated battle of Gettysburg, where he was wounded and made prisoner. He was confined for three months at David's Island prison in New York. He was paroled, and in March, 1864, was exchanged, and returned to his command under Longstreet. After the siege of Knoxville, at Bull's Gap, Tenn., he followed Longstreet to Virginia, and was engaged in the siege of Petersburg. He was again wounded at Reams Station, N. C., and fought in all the engagements in which Longstreet's corps participated during the trying days of 1864, until the surrender at Appomattox in April, 1865, when he returned to his home in Murray county, after undergoing four years of hardship and peril in support of the authority of the Confederacy. From 1880 to 1882 he served as justice of the peace, and for seven years was a member of the board of education. In 1880 he was appointed by the census bureau, census enumerator for his district. In the various positions to which he has been called by public authority he has acquitted himself well, and has at all times retained the entire confidence of the people of his county. In 1864 he married Rebecca T. Peeples, daughter of Drury and Mary Peeples of Murray county. They have nine children: Lyda P., wife of L. D. Covington, now residing in Texas; Mary E., who married W. T. Brown of Gordon county ; Joab O. of Chattanooga, Tenn .; Laura P., wife of S. H. Fincher of Murray county; Mattie, Nora, Myra, Annie and Julia.

JAMES A. MADDOX, one of the earliest of the adventurous and hardy pioneers who settled in Cherokee county, Ga., and whose descendants are influential citizens of several of the counties of North Carolina, was born in Elbert county, Ga., in 1815. His father, Benjamin Maddox, was a native of Dumfries, Prince William Co., Va., and was born July 4, 1760. He belonged to one of the oldest and best of the Old Dominion families, was reared on the banks of the Potomac, was well acquainted with Gen. Washington and his wife, and was a frequent visitor at their Mount Vernon home. During the latter part of his life nothing seemed to delight him more than to entertain his family and friends by repeating numerous interesting incidents and anecdotes relating to Washington and his family. He died in Atlanta in 1864 at the very advanced age of 104 years. He was blessed with a strong and robust constitution and retained his physical vigor to a remarkable degree. His intellect was clear to the last, and his eyesight was so good that he was able to read his Bible to within a very short time of his death. He migrated to Georgia and settled in Elbert county, in 1804, where he married Miss Elizabeth Waldroop, and reared a family of nine children: Fielding; Sarah, wife of John Bush; Thenie, wife of Mr. Prior; Stanfield; Posey; James A .; Walter; John, and Henley. Mr. Maddox passed his boyhood and early youth in the county of his birth, receiving such education as the then pioneer condition of the locality afforded. When he was about seventeen years of age he left home to work out the problem of life. He went to what is now Cherokee county and settled on or near where Canton, the county seat, now stands. He acquired considerable property and attained to political prominence-serving the county as sheriff and as a justice of the inferior court many years. In 1855 he moved to Cass (now Bartow) county, and settled in Cartersville. He owned a large plantation and conducted a milling business; and for many years was agent at Cartersville for the Western & Atlantic (state) railway. Before the war between the states began he was an anti-secessionist, but after the war acted with the democratic party. On the approach of the Union army in the spring of 1864 he refugeed to Fort Valley, Houston Co., Ga., where he remained until 1872, when he removed to Cedar Ridge, in Whitfield county, and settled on a large and

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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 87

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