Hemphill Family
"Clippings from an Old Paper: Weekly Tribune," Lavonia Times and Gauge 23
April 1920, excerpt from the Weekly Tribune 7 March 1890.
The Hemphill Family.
Robert Hemphill, the grandfather of the elder Hemphills was born in North
Carolina about the year 1770 or 75. He married Harriet Jenkins, who, tradition
says, was one of the handsomest women in North Carolina. We have heard John
Hemphill, late of this county, speak of his grandmother as being a celebrated
beauty in her day. Harriet Jenkins was a sister of Charles Jenkins, once a very
prominent man in this county being a judge of the inferior court and a foremost
citizen of the county. Mr. Jenkins was well advanced in years at our earliest
recollection, but was one of the handsomest, courtliest men we ever saw. Robert
Hemphill, Sr., moved to this county in the early part of this century and died
in 1827.
John Hemphill son of Robert Hemphill, Sr., and who died recently was one of
the oldest citizens of the county. He was born in North Carolina or South
Carolina in 1808 and died in this county on the 11th day of February 1890. About
the year 1841 he married Nancy A. Beard, daughter of Robert Beard who is still
living at the old homestead. Sarah Jane, the oldest child has never married.
H. W. Hemphill, the second child, is a well known citizen of this county,
living in Flintsville District. He married a daughter of David G. Watkins and
has a large family of children. The third child, Caroline, married W. A.
Patterson and lives on the Hemphill place. Emiline, married James Jordan and
died in December 1877. William L. married Fannie D. Stephenson, daughter of John
Stephenson and lives on the old place. Fannie, married J. B. Teat, and John M.
the youngest is unmarried and lives in South Carolina.
John Hemphill was a man of extraordinary memory. We have read an account of
the remarkable memory of Blackhawk, the celebrated Indian chief. It is written
we, believe by O. S. Fowler and it was stated that he remembered every event of
his life from early childhood. That in all the wanderings of his tribe, in
moving from place to place, and on the warpath, from boyhood he remembered every
camping place, every brook and river that was crossed, the hooting of the owls,
the fallen timber, the mountains and ravine, when and where he joined in the war
dance, and heard the death song, what passed in every council; in short
everything that he had ever seen or heard was indelibly stamped on his memory
and all was green and fresh as the events of the last hour. John Hemphill's
memory was not so vivid as Blackhawk's probably, if the story be true but it was
remarkable. We have often tested him in conversations and he seemed to have
forgotten nothing. He could relate the events of twenty-five, fifty or sixty
years ago with a minuteness of detail that few men command over occurrences of a
few days ago. He was probably as honest, as truthful, upright and correct in his
life as it is possible for man to be. He was not a member of any church; we do
not know that he ever made any profession of religion, but he was certainly a
good man--much better than many who make great pretentions, and if all is not
well with John Hemphill there is little or no hope for future mankind.
Carolina, the second child of Robert Hemphill, Sr., married Michael
Beatenbough, and has been dead for many years. Mr. Beatenbough died a few years
ago leaving a number of children and grandchildren in this county.
Samuel, the third child of Robert, Sr., has been dead for a long time.
Nancy, the fourth child was never married and is well remembered by many of
the people in and near Carnesville. She was a highly esteemed woman and died
well advanced in life a year or two ago.
Robert Hemphill, Jr., the fifth child married a daughter of Joseph Bond, now
of West Bowersville, and sacrificed his life in defense of the lost cause. He
left one daughter, Minnie, now the wife of J. R. Ayers who lives on the old
Hemphill homestead on Broad River, four miles from Carnesville. After the death
of Robert Jr., his widow married Obadiah Dean and died a good many years ago. We
know nothing of the other two children of Robert Hemphill, Sr., and suppose they
died early in life.
J. S. D.
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Morris Family
"Clippings from an Old Paper: Weekly Tribune," Lavonia Times and Gauge
16 April 1920, excerpt from the Weekly Tribune 28 Feb 1890.
The Morris Family.
John Morris, the grandfather of Prof. A. J. Morris, was born in Rutherford
County, North Carolina, before the revolutionary war. He came to Franklin before
the beginning of the present century. He was living on Tom's Creek and had a
family in 1806, having married Sarah White of Elberton. In 1806 he sold his farm
to Lewis Dortch and settled on Eastanollee Creek, in what is now Wolf pit
District and above the Mosely Mill Place.
He moved from Eastanollee to Rabun County, and from there he came to this
county, and settled on Middle River, 3 miles from Carnesville, on land owned now
by T. C. Hayes, just above H. A. Conger's farm. He died there April 10th, 1880.
His widow lived on the same place until her death-1855 or 1856. Mr. Morris
raised a large family of children, the oldest being James Morris, once a very
prominent man of this county.
He held the office of Clerk of the Superior court from the year 1822 to 1839
inclusive. He was for a long time a leading merchant of Carnesville. He moved to
Murray county, Ga., about the year 1840 where he engaged in farming,
merchandising and banking, being president of Planters and Mechanics Bank at
Dalton up to the breaking out of the war. He was engaged in the Indian wars in
the early part of the century, in one of which he served as captain. There may
be some members of his company still living in this county, but hardly probable
as all those we knew who served with him have long been dead, Major Martin
White, who lived and died on Tom's Creek 10 or 12 years ago, was one of his
lieutenanats. We have often heard Major White speak of the Battle of Pea Ridge
in which they were engaged, at which time Mr. Morris acquired the proprietorship
of an Indian boy that he brought home with him and raised. The boy went by the
name of Tobe and after reaching manhood he went back to the tribe of his
nativity. Mr. Morris married Harriet Bell in the town of Carnesville, and in the
house in which the writer of this article now lives. They had no children. He
acquired a large fortune which, in 1857, was worth $250,000. He died in 1864 and
his large fortune, which consisted mainly in cash and realty, melted away--no
one outside the melting knew hardly how, his wife not receiving a fortune and
his brothers and sisters to whom large legacies were left, got nothing. John,
the second son of John Morris, Sr., married Mary Harrison, a sister of John B.
Harrison. They had no children. Mr. Morris acquired a considerable fortune,
lived for many years on Middle River and on the farm recently owned by J. C.
McConnell now owned by Mr. Terrel, where he died in 1853. His widow afterwards
married M. Shackleford, and died a few years later.
The next two sons of John Morris were General Eppy W. and Col. Thomas
Morris, who were twins, born in Wolf pit district on the 13th day of April 1810.
The two men probably fill a larger space in the history of Franklin County than
any two men who ever lived in it.
Major General Eppy W. married Eliza Turman, daughter of James Turman in this
county in the year 1834. He moved to Murray county and back twice in the early
years of his married life. He held the office of County Surveyor, and for a
number of terms represented the county in the State Legislature. He also held
the distinguished office of Major-General of the State Militia, which was quite
an honorable position at that time. He died of paralysis on the 26th day of
October 1857, living less than thirty six hours after he was stricken. General
Morris was a man of very superior mental capacity--noble, generous, clever to a
fault. No public man has ever lived in this county who had fewer enemies, more
friends or whose death was more universally regretted. His hold upon the
affections of the people were very strong, his influence over them unbounded.
Some ten or twelve years after the death of General Morris his widow married
Daniel Moseley, and some years later she was again left a widow. She died in
this county in March 1888 in the house in which T. O. Burruss now lives, the
same house and probably the same room in which her husband died more than thirty
years before. She was one of the most excellent women who ever lived this
county, and was held in high esteem by all. During the lifetime of General
Morris owing to the position he held in public life, and to his open-handed
hospitality in which he joined, she was probably the best known and highest
esteemed woman in the county.
General and Mrs. Morris raised six children to womanhood and manhood. One
son, John died when eight years old. Thomas, the eldest son, died about the time
he reached manhood and Robert, the youngest died a few years ago. A. J. Morris
the eldest son, now the principal of the Carnesville School has been twice
honored with the important and responsible office of Ordinary and is widely and
favorably known. The second, Dozier, lives in Rusk County, Texas. The eldest
daughter, Fannie, married Mr. Shackleford, and lives in this county. The second
daughter, Mary married W. A. Manley and is now living in Carnesville. Both are
most excellent women.
Col. Thomas Morris, the twin brother of Gen. E. W. Morris, married Mary
Turman, the sister of his brother's wife, on the 20th of December, 1835. He was
admitted to the bar in early manhood, and practiced his profession with success
and ability for many years, but never devoted his attention exclusively to the
law. He was engaged in merchandising in connection with various firms most of
his life. He was the political head of the Democratic party in Franklin county
from the earliest recollections of the writer, or at least one of the most
trusted and influential men of the party. Col. Morris frequently represented the
county in the State Legislature, and was always fully trusted by constituents.
He was kind, generous and manly--a warm frend and an untiring opponent. He
harbored no revengeful feelings was quick to forget and forgive injuries. Col.
and Mrs. Morris raised only two children, Mrs. Emma Burruss, wife of T. O.
Burruss, living near Carnesville and Mrs. Lucy Bruce, wife of W. R. Bruce, of
Toccoa. They are clever, pleasant women and inherited gentleness and suavity of
their father. Col. Morris was stricken with paralysis in the brick store north
of the court house in Carnesville, on the morning of February 15th, 1875, became
unconscious in a few seconds, was carried home and died in less than twenty-four
hours. The twin brothers were born on Eastanollee, lived most of their lives at
or near Carnesville, lived useful lives, died highly esteemed and rest side by
side in the grave yard at Cross Road Baptist Church one mile west of
Carnesville. Mrs. Morris, widow of the Colonel is still living and is greatly
respected.
Of the other members of the family of John Morris, Sr., the people now
living in this county know but little. Frank, the youngest son, married Clarissa
Buchan, of Murray County, Ga., and died several years ago. There were five
girls, all of whom lived to womanhood and married. Lucy married William Jackson,
Mary married Elisha Coffee and was the mother of John Coffee, late of this
county, whose family now lives in the western part of the county. Patsy married
James Stonecypher and was the mother of Rev. T. J. Stonecypher of this county.
Elizabeth married John G. Parks, Milly married Middleton Meeks and Susan married
Mason Meeks.
As far as we know none of the children of John and Sarah Morris are now
living. It is presumable however that they have many grandchildren and great
grandchildren scattered over the southern states west of Georgia. Now in this
county, except the descendants of Gen. and Col. Morris, Mary Coffee and Patsy
Stonecypher. They were a sturdy couple, above the average people of the county and transmitted superior qualities to
most of their descendants.
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Rampley Family
"Clippings from an Old Paper: Weekly Tribune," Lavonia Times and Gauge 30 April
1920, excerpt from the Weekly Tribune 14 March 1890.
The Rampley Family.
William Rampley, the grandfather of Rev. Wm. M. Rampley of this county
was born and reared in England, and came to this country as a British soldier in
the time of the revolutionary war. Becoming dissatisfied with his allegiance to
the English government, he left the king's army, joined the colonial force and
fought with them to the close of the war.
After the close of the war, he settled in Spartanburg district, S. C., and
married Mary Hewitt. They had four children, James, Elizabeth, Jane and William.
James died with cancer long ago, Elizabeth married Aaron Moore and died in 1845.
Jane married James Grant, was left a widow early in life and afterwards married
a man by the name of Shane. William, the father of Rev. W. M. Rampley, of this
county, married Clarinda Betterton, and raised a family of nine children, four
boys and five girls, six of whom are still living.
Rev. W. M. Rampley of this county was the eldest child, and was born the
15th of October 1818. He married Permelia Rhodes, who died in Carnesville in
1873. Mr. Rampley was ordained a minister of the Methodist church forty four
years ago. He was never in full accord with the Methodist church on the question
of Baptism, especially infant baptism, and after more than twenty years of
fellowship and ministerial labor in that denomination, he severed his connection
with the Methodist church and attached himself to the Baptists, and [has] been
engaged in preaching in that church for twenty-five years.
Mr. Rampley moved to this county in 1872 and has lived in Carnesville most
of the time since, and has been more or less identified with most of the public
enterprises of the county since that time.
Mr. Rampley raised a large family if [of] children. Rhoduska, the eldest
child married G. R. McMurtry and lives in Mississippi. Martha married a man
named Dobbins and died in South Carolina a few years ago. Carrie married W. N.
McKay who lived in this county several years and then moved to Mississippi where
Mrs. McKay died about a year ago. W. H., married Miss Alice Wyly, John S.,
married Miss Cora Wyly, Milton C., married Miss Brandon, and Dr. S. P., married
Miss Georgia Herndon and are citizens of this county. Henry A., lives in
Mississippi and Miss Lula F., is still with her father in Carnesville.
The other children of William Rampley, the father of William M., were Mary,
who married John Watson, and died in South Carolina about five years ago.
Corinda married Martin Dashields and both are living in South Carolina.
Nancy C. married Thos. Waldrup, who died in the Confederate army. His widow
still lives in South Carolina.
John died at 30 and in time of the war from pulmonary consumption contracted
in the army. He left no family. Joseph's health was destroyed while in the
Confederate service, and died a few years after the war, leaving a wife and four
children.
Elizabeth married William Derby who lost his life in the war. His widow
married Thos. L. Reed who died recently. She still lives in South Carolina.
Anna married John Giddins who is now dead. His widow still lives in South
Carolina.
James M., the youngest child married Martha Dodd, and is a citizen of
Carnesville.
The elder William Rampley, who left the British army to become a citizen of
this county, was the founder of the only family of that name in America so far
as is known. He reported that he belonged to a family of wealth and standing.
Having deserted the English army he was afraid to return to England either on a
visit or to live, after the close of the war of the revolution, and was probably
afraid to even write home and allow the fact of his existence or locality to be
known. After a good many years when he deemed it safe to return home, just as he
was about to set out on a journey to look after his interests and prospects in
England, he was stricken with fever and died in the prime of life. He was
persuaded and decoyed into the army when very young, and great efforts were made
by his parents and friends, to secure his release but in vain. He was the only
child of his parents, and his entering the army was a severe blow to them. He
never saw them any more after entering the service, and the last glimpse he had
of them as he marched away, his mother was tearing her hair in a frenzy of
grief, and his father trying to soothe and comfort her.
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Stonecypher Family
"Franklin's Historic Families: Names Which Belong
to Our County and Make Its History," Lavonia Times and Gauge 26 March
1920, excerpt from the Weekly Tribune 24 Jan 1890.
FRANKLIN'S HISTORIC FAMILIES
Names Which Belong to our County and Make Its History.
The Stonecypher Family.
The
ancestors of the Stonecyphers of this county came from Germany about the year
1737, and settled in Virginia. John Stonecypher was born in that state about the
year 1755. He entered the army at the beginning of the Revolution, and served
until its close--most of the time as captain of a company. In the year 1787, he
settled in this county on Lightwood Log Creek, now Hart County. A few years
later he moved on Eastanollee Creek, a short distance above the ford on the
public road leading from Carnesville to Jarretts Bridge, and lived there until
the time of his death. It is said that he planted the first corn that was ever
planted in the territory of the county. While living on Lightwood Log Creek, and
probably after moving to Eastanollee, he was several times sent out in command
of a company of soldiers to watch or quell the Indians. One entire summer was
spent in the service, and his wife planted and cultivated a crop of corn with a
hoe, which yielded a supply for the following year.
He built the dwelling house that now stands on what was known as the
Stonecypher place, later as the Mosely place, now the property of S. H. Mosely,
in the latter part of the last century. It is a very staunch, well preserved
house and at the time it was probably the best house in the county. The work was
done by an English mechanic by the name of Pessnell, and it is said that it was
ten years from the time he commensed until the house was finished. Every sill,
sleeper, joist, post and scantlings were morticed in the sills and plates, and
so securely braced that a mechanic who examined it a few years ago, said it
would roll all over a ten acre field without falling to pieces. All the nails
used in the building were wrought and the roofs of the outbuildings were put on
with wooden pegs. The first roof put on the dwelling house was of shingles, the
ends rounded, and they were probably of rich heart pine, as it remained there
more than sixty years, and was a passably good roof when the house was rebevered.
Mr. Stonecypher built the old Stonecypher Mills, later called Mosely Mill
and now the property of R. D. Yow. Of course the old house and dam and
everything except the dirt race has been replaced by more modern and pretentious
structures. The old mill was built about the beginning of the present century by
a millwright named Thomas Sockwell. Later on he had a mill put up on Rocky Creek
on the farm now owned by Thomas W. Smith. Fifty years ago the mill on
Eastanollee was kept by John Adams, grandfather of M. A. Adams, a worthy citizen
of Gum Log, and at the same time the mill on Rocky Creek was looked after by a
free negro named Force, generally known as Godfrey Alphan.
John Stonecypher was a tall, robust man, of very great muscular strength,
weighing about 200 pounds without an ounce of surplus flesh. He had an iron
constitution, and in old age could stand fatigue and endure exposures under
which most young men would have fallen. Without the ability to read or write, he
was a man of good general information, had a clear idea of business and was
uncommonly successful in all his business undertakings. He was abrupt, rough and
uncouth in his address, but at heart as gentle as a child, and never sent the
poor away empty handed. Men who had money to pay for food were often turned away
with the remark that there are plenty of people to eat my corn and meat who have
no money. His membership in the Baptist church, extended back to times
immemorial, and he always occupied the place of a leader. No man is perfect, Mr.
Stonecypher was not. He sometimes wrestled with John Barleycorn, and under
extreme provocation would vent his feelings in profane words, but he had so many
noble and excellent traits, that the church took no notice of his shortcomings.
He died at the age of one hundred and six years, and up to the time of the
accident that caused his death he was strong and healthy. The indirect cause of
his death, was a fall from the door of the house of John Adams, his miller. He
lived a year or two afterwards but never recovered from the injuries received by
the fall which, together with the confinement and inability to take exercise,
caused his death. Mr. Stonecypher had two sons, Benjamin and James. Uncle Ben as
everybody called him, spent a long and useful life in this county and died at
extreme old age a few years ago. He taught school at intervals for several years
and was one of the best men, the county every produced. He was the father of
Charles and Garnett Stonecypher who are citizens of this county. His other sons,
James, John and Ben, are long since dead. He had several daughters, but all are
dead but two, Mrs. Ann Fuller and Mary Stonecypher, who never married. One of
the daughters married William Randall now of this county, but has been dead many
years. Sarah married A. J. Scott, and died long ago. Mrs. Ann Fuller was the
wife of Cooper B. Fuller, who was something of a character, but a most excellent
man. Rev. G. B. Fuller is his son.
James Stonecypher, the younger son of John Stonecypher, married a son to
Daniel Camp [daughter of Daniel Camp], and when quite a young woman she was
drowned in Tugalo River in attempting to ford it on horseback. Afterwards he
married Patsy Morris, a sister of Eppy and Thomas Morris, and settled in Rabun
County. Rev. Thos. J. Stonecypher of our county is one of his sons. When James
settled in Rabun, his father had a road cut from his house to the house of his
son in Rabun county, and even now we sometimes hear of the Stonecypher road.
John Stonecypher had several daughters, but all but two of them left the
county after marriage, and so long ago that there is hardly any one that even
remembers them. Phoebe the youngest but one, married Daniel Mosely and was the
mother of James A., John C., and Samuel H. Mosely, all well known to our
readers. Mrs. Mosely was an unusually quiet, placid, kindhearted woman. It has
been often said and its truth is not doubted that she was never heard to say an
ill word of any human being.
The youngest daughter married Anderson Mosely, and died about fifty years
ago. She left three children, Samuel, Nancy and John H. Samuel died in the
Confederate army. John H. raised the second company that went from this county
to the war, and was elected captain. He died at Washington, North Carolina. His
body was brought back to this county and buried at the old Mosly homestead. The
daughter, Nancy, still lives and is the wife of our excellent fellow citizen, M.
B. Crawford.
John Stonecypher was a sturdy man of strong common sense and strong
constitution. His descendants are hardy, strong, genial, clever, and noted for
their strong common sense.
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Stovall Family and
Pocahontas
"Descendants of Pocahontes," Franklin County Register
[Carnesville] 29 March 1887.
DESCENDANTS OF POCAHONTES.
The Stovalls who reside in Banks, Franklin
and Elbert counties, claim to be the only direct descendants from the famous
Indian girl Pocahontas. Mr. Ab. Stovall, now living in Elbert county can
give the family tree in all of its branches. The Harber Brothers, now the
most prominent merchants of Harmony Grove, are one of the limbs of the
Pocahontas family tree.--Banner Watchman.
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Vandiver Family
"The Rev. Mathew Vandiver," Franklin County Register
[Carnesville] 1
March 1887.
THE REV. MATHEW VANDIVER.
We saw a newspaper
statement a few days ago, that a man living in Oconee county had five children
all of whose names began with D. Rev. Matthew Vandiver who once lived in this
county had six children, five of whom had names begining with A. His childrens
names were Alfonzo, Almarine, Albert, Alfred, Artamissa and Desdemonia. Mr.
Vandiver was one of seven brothers all of whom were Baptist preachers. Two of
his six sons, Almariue and Albert were preachers. As a minister, Almarine was
rather indifferent, but Albert though quite a young man, was ___* a very able
minister. He died early in life. Mathew Vandiver was considered an able man, and
forty-five years ago, he filled a large space in the minds and hearts of the
people in this county. It is likely that no minister since his day, has been
more noted among the people than he, yet there are hundreds of grown men and
women, in this county who were born and raised here, that never heard his name.
Such is life and such is fame.
*unreadable
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Wheeler Family
"Clippings from an Old Paper: Weekly Tribune," Lavonia Times and
Gauge 28 May 1920, excerpt from the Weekly Tribune 25 April 1890.
THE WHEELER FAMILY
The ancestors of the Wheeler family of this county was William Wheeler who
was a native Virginian and came to this country sometime prior to the year 1800.
Nothing is known to the family anterior to the time of William Wheeler and his
descendants know nothing of his parents or his brothers or sisters. He married
Mary Freeman nearly a century ago who we learn is related to Frederic and Dr.
Henry Freeman.
His children were Hannah, who married a man by the name of Barnhill, Lucy
who married Thomas Gazaway, Katy who married James Martin, James who married a
Miss Smith, Freeman who was never married and Richard, the youngest, and best
known who married Miss Carolyn Payne, daughter of Captain Thomas Payne, and a
sister of John H. Payne. William Wheeler died nearly 80 years ago at the house
of James Wiley where he was spending the night. He went to bed in good health
and was found dead the next morning. His children are all dead, of whom the
writer knew only Freeman and Richard. Freeman lived a bachelor, or on a
plantation surrounded by his negroes to whom he was as kind and indulgent as if
they had been near relatives. He died 35 or 40 years ago from the effects of a
carbuncle. He was a quiet, upright and honorable man and probably did not have
an enemy in the world.
Richard Wheeler was born in the year 1803 or 1804, on Broad River just below
Akin Bridge and died on the same stream on the 8th day of August, 1873, within
less than a mile of the place where he was born. He lived for a number of years
near Flintsville Court yard but some 38 or 40 years ago he bought and settled on
what is known as the Penn place opposite the residence of B. P. Vandiver where
he spent the remainder of his life. He accumulated a large fortune which was
greatly depleted by the freedom of slaves but he was still left with independent
means.
His oldest daughter, Sarah, married Robert Craig, and resides in S. C. The
youngest daughter, Mary Freeman married William Eskew and resides in Anderson,
S. C., and is dangerously sick at this time.
The oldest son, James S., married a daughter of Talmon Harber and resides in
S. C.
William F., married a Miss Perry of S. C., a relative of the B. F. Perry.
They live at Hartwell, Ga.
J. F. (Frank) married Miss Martha Eskew and lives on Broad River in this
county on the Martin road. He is one of the staunchest and best citizens of the
county, his wife is a very inteligent and charming woman and they have raised an
interesting family of children.
Richard, Jr., married a daughter of Joseph H. Vickery and lives on the Tyrie
Swift place on Tugalo River.
Russell J., the youngest child married a daughter of Hyram Vaughters and
went west several years ago. When last heard from he was in Arkansas. Mrs.
Wheeler survived her husband about two years. Richard Wheeler was quite a
prominent citizen and was well and most favorably known through the county. He
was a man of pure moral and stern integrity, simple and unostentatious in his
habits, a very good and kind father, a good neighbor and a true friend. He was a
member of the Methodist church for many years and left a pure spotless name
besides considerable means as a legacy to his children.
J. S. D.
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Old Franklin: Wofford and Little
Groves H. Cartledge, "Old Franklin: Our County As It Was
Before and Soon After the Beginning of Nineteenth Century," Franklin County Register
[Carnesville] 12 July 1887.
OLD FRANKLIN
Our County as it was Before and Soon after the Beginning of Nineteenth
Century.
Prominent men who Controlled Affairs in Old Times.
In
my first article I wrote of the Wofford family, but could not give the Christian
name of the old man Wofford, who had an active agency in the purchase of the
strip of land on the upper side of Franklin sometimes called Wofford's purchase
and sometimes the four mile purchase and bounded northward by Woffords trial.
Recently I have had an interview with Senator Absalom P. Wofford of Banks
county. He, having recently obtained from Washington city copies of the official
records kindly gave me the information desired, and which I will now give to the
public. William Wofford was the oldest, and the father of all the Wofford's, who
settled in Franklin county, and was a native of Maryland. His son Nathaniel
Wofford came with him and was a man in mature life, when he immigrated to this
county. Sometime after his settlement in Franklin as he supposed, he found that
he and others were located in the Cherokee nation on the upper waters of Tugola,
Broad and Oconee rivers. Upon the discovery of this fact Nathaniel Wofford
mounted his horse and rode on horse-back all the distance from this county to
Washington city to urge President Jefferson to appoint agents or commissioners
[...]* with the Cherokees for a purchase of territory. His mission was
successful. Commissioners were appointed by President Jefferson, and the four
mile purchase was added to Franklin county; but Nathaniel Wofford was not one of
the Commissioners as I had formerly been told. His only agency in the matter was
his requesting and urging of the President to move in the manner already
indicated. Nathaniel Wofford was the father of old Gen. William B. Wofford,
general of Malitia [Militia], member of the Legislature and an unsuccessful
Democratic candidate for Congress when congressmen in Georgia were elected under
the general ticket rule before the districting of the State. My recollection is
that General Wofford was a candidate for Congress in 1843, the last time
Congressmen in Georgia were elected on the general ticket plan; and that at that
time the entire Whig ticket was elected, and Alexander H. Stephens was elected
on the Whig ticket to his first seat in the House of Representatives. Before the
next election in 1845 the States were divided into Congressional districts.
Senator Absalom P. Wofford is a son of old Gen. Wm. B. Wofford, a grandson of
Nat Wofford, and a great grandson of William Wofford, and he now owns and
resides on a part of the land his grandfather first settled on.
Col. James Little commanded a North Carolina regiment in the war of the
Revolution on the side of freedom and against the fool-hardy tyrant king George
the Third. Under the laws of Georgia made to attract settlers and reward
revolutionary soldiers and officers, Col. Little came to Franklin county among
the earliest settlers, and laid his bounty warrant upon a large tract of land on
Nails creek, including the mouth of Littles creek, which took its name from him.
Being somewhat advanced in life when he came to this State, with children grown
and married, and with a constitution shattered by the hardships of the long war
through which he had recently passed, he did not long survive his settlement in
the county. His ashes repose peacefully in the bosom of the earth which Georgia
gave him in reward of his gallant services in the defense of American liberty.
His only children of whom I know anything were Mrs. John Westbrooks, the mother
of our aged fellow citizen Bartly Westbrooks, and William and James H. Little.
Col. Little divided his land between his two sons William and James H. About
1820 William Little sold his place and removed west; and after passing through
several hands since, his place is now owned and occupied by William Y. Holbrooks.
James H. Little, esq., lived and died in old age about 1858 on the place
inherited from his father, Col. Little. C. H. Little, esq. now owns and occupies
the place. James H. Little was a young man, when with his father, he settled in
this county. He was a man of more than ordinary intelligence and of great
excellence of character; he exerted great influence for good. In the early part
of this century previous to 1840 he often represented the county in the
Legislature. His greatest rival was Capt. afterward Gen. Thomas Anderson, a man
of like intelligence and character, of whom I shall write more later. In the
days of their public life, the political parties in Georgia were the Clarke
party and the party at first called the Crawford party [...]* later, the Troup
party. Anderson was a Clarke man, but Little was a Troup man, and as these
parties were nearly equally divided in strength in the county in those days, and
as both the men were equally competent and of excellent character their races
were often close and hotly contested, and success usually fell to the lot of men
who controlled most of the floating votes. The election of legislators was then
annual on the first Monday in October. Of the Clarke and Troup parties I will
write more later.
Robert R. Little was one of the several sons of James H. Little, esq. and
like his father, served the county in several offices. For many years he was
county surveyor; and there are not many tracts of land in what was then Franklin
county, which he has not surveyed or resurveyed. In surveying I have never
followed a more accurate surveyor. I have found only one material mistake in his
work. In passing from one station tree to another in running a new line where
there were no marked trees he took his eye from the pine to which he was going,
and afterwards fixed them on another very like it in size and appearance, which
was fifty yards to the right of his line. Robert R. Little several times
represented the county in the State Legislature. He never married, and died
before his father about the middle of this century, and lies in the grave yard
where the remains of his father and grandfather repose. His brother William
Little was also surveyor and in 1851 was elected to the State Senate from the
district then composed of Franklin and Madison counties. His defeated competitor
was Col. William Ash the father of our fellow citizen William M. Ash. John H.
Little, an excellent man having passed away recently, C. H. Little is the only
survivor of the children of James H. Little, esq.
GROVES H. CARTLEDGE.
* Unreadable
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Melinda Reddish
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