Charlton County, Georgia History and Genealogy Biographies

Robert Milledge Charlton.

ROBERT MILLEDGE CHARLTON was born in Savannah, Ga., on January 19, 1807, and died there on January 18, 1854. In his forty-seven years of life he compressed an amount of splendid work, both in private life and in public service, which has left his name high up on the roster of distinguished citizens of Georgia. He was a son of Judge Thomas Usher Pulaski Charlton and his first wife, Emily Walter. His grandfather, Thomas Walter, of South Carolina, was the author of "Flora Caroliniana," one of the early and most valuable contributions to Southern botany. Robert M. Charlton, in addition to receiving the most liberal education obtainable, had the very great advantage of association with a father who was one of the foremost men of his day. Admitted to the bar before he was of legal age, at the age of twenty-one (like his father before him), he was elected to the State Legislature. At twenty-three he was appointed United States district attorney by President Jackson,and at twenty-eight became judge of the Eastern Judicial Circuit. His father had served six terms as mayor of Savannah, and perhaps no honor which came to the younger Charlton during his life was so highly appreciated by him as his first election to the office of mayor of Savannah, at the age of thirty-two, and he subsequently served two other terms. He thus tracked along in the way that his father had traveled before him. Charlton street in Savannah was named in honor of his father shortly after his death, and Charlton county in South Georgia also perpetuates the family name. At the age of forty-four, in the year 1852, he succeeded his distinguished townsman, John McPherson Berrien, in the United States Senate, and while holding that position was honored with the appointment as a trustee of the Smithsonian Institution, at Washington. He was among the incorporators of the Georgia Historical Society, and to him is chiefly due the existence of the Episcopal Orphans' Home.
Judge Charlton did an enormous amount of work in his comparatively short life. His reputation at the bar was second to that of no lawyer of his day, and his legal work will bear the tests of the most exacting criticisms. The legal firm with which he was associated and of which he was the head built up a very large practice. In addition to his legal work and his public service he was a man of fine literary tastes, with strong poetic tendencies, and rested himself in the intervals of his labor by literary work, such as contributions to the Knickerbocker, the leading magazine of that day, and by the publication of poems, which he finally gathered together into a volume, including a few written by his brother, Dr. Thomas Jackson Charlton, who died at the early age of thirty, a mail of the most brilliant promise. Judge Charlton's "Sketches of Court and Circuit Life" give full play to that kindly humor which was the delight of his friends. In 1838 he published a volume of Georgia Reports, and his son, himself a distinguished lawyer, in quoting some brief extracts from that work, draws out that sense of humor, strong common sense, and exact equity, which distinguished his father and has a strong likeness to the work of that distinguished jurist, Chief Justice Joseph Henry Lumpkin.

Judge Charlton was a man of strong religious spirit, and his kindliness of disposition was a proverb among those who knew him. At the age of twenty-two, he married Miss Margaret Shick, of Savannah, daughter of Peter Shick, and granddaughter of John Shick, one of the famous colony of Salzburgers, in Effingham county, and a veteran of the Revolution, who lost an arm at the siege of Savannah in 1779, while a soldier in the Continental line. Ten children were born of this marriage. Five of them died in childhood. Of the other five, Mary Marshall married Julien Hartridge; Thomas Marshall died unmarried ; Robert Milledge, Jr., after serving as a faithful soldier of the Confederacy during the entire period of the Civil War, died unmarried one year after the close of the war. Margaret married Charles P. Hansell, of Georgia; and Walter Glasco Charlton, the present male representative of the family and a leading citizen and lawyer of Savannah, married Mary Walton Johnston, a daughter of that famous Georgian, Richard Malcolm Johnston. Thomas U. Charlton and his no less distinguished son, Judge Robert M. Charlton, contributed faithful and valuable work in the days when the commonwealth of Georgia was beginning to be an important unit in this great republic, and the memory of them is a precious possession to the present citizenship of the Empire State of the South.

Thomas Usher Pulaski Charlton

PROMINENT among the long line of brilliant men who made the first half of the nineteenth century such a noted period in the history of Georgia was Thomas Usher Pulaski Charlton, of Savannah. Judge Charlton was born in Camden, S. C., in November, 1779. His father, Thomas Charlton, was a native of Maryland, and married Lucy Kenan, a native of North Carolina. On the paternal side the family came to America from Shropshire, England, and is said to have been a branch of the Northumberland county family of the same name. It first settled in Maryland, and members of the family were quite prominent in that colony, one member notably, having been appointed by the Governor of Maryland to hold the Mason and Dixon's line against Pennsylvania. Thomas Charlton, the father of Judge Charlton, was a physician, and the eldest son of Arthur Charlton. He joined the Revolutionary Army in South Carolina in 1775, and served both as a surgeon and a lieutenant of the line. After his retirement from the service, he served as a member of the Legislature of South Carolina. After his death his widow moved to Savannah, in 1779, and there Judge Charlton was reared and educated.

He was admitted to the bar in 1800. At twenty-one he was a member of the State Legislature, and at twenty-five years of age was attorney-general of the State. At twenty-nine, he became judge of the Eastern Circuit. He was an intimate friend of General James Jackson, and also of Governor Milledge. He was General Jackson's literary executor, and in 1808 published a life of that distinguished soldier and statesman. Six time? he served as mayor of Savannah, was chairman of the Committee of Public Safety in the War of 1812, and in 1825 served on the committee which compiled the statutes of Georgia. A prominent Mason, he served as Grand Master of the State.

He was married twice. His first wife was a daughter of Thomas Walter, of South Carolina, who published a valuable botanical work entitled "Flora Caroliniana." His second wife was Ellen Glasco. His children were all born of the first marriage, and but two arrived at years of maturity, Thomas Jackson and Robert Milledge. Robert Milledge attained great prominence during his life, and his son, Walter Glasco Charlton, is now one of the leading members of the bar of Georgia.

Judge Charlton died December 14, 1835, leaving behind him a spotless record, both in his private life and in his public service, and was recognized by his generation as a man of the most eminent ability and devoted patriotism. He was interred at Savannah, where three generations of the family now rest.

Source: Men of mark in Georgia: a complete and elaborate history of the ..., Volume 2 By William J. Northen

Judge Walter Glasco Charlton

Judge Walter Glasco Charlton. One of the oldest active members of the Savannah bar, 'Walter G. Charlton has been in practice for more than forty-three years and has filled with credit some of the most coveted places in public affairs in line with his profession.

Superadded to his own merits and honors is a distinguished ancestry, and the name Charlton has been one of prominence in Georgia, particularly at Savannah, since the closing years of the eighteenth century. Walter Glasco Charlton was born at Savannah June 5, 1851, the youngest son of Robert M. and Margaret (Shick) Charlton. His ancestors on both sides were identified with the early history of Georgia and the United States. The Maryland Charltons held Mason and Dixon 's line against Pennsylvania for many years. Judge Charlton's Great-grandfather Charlton volunteered in the Revolutionary forces in 1775, while in the maternal line the Great-grandfather John Shick fought at the siege of Savannah, having his right arm shot off by a cannon ball from the British. This John Shick afterwards became a prosperous and prominent citizen at Savannah.

The great-grandfather of Judge Charlton already mentioned was Thomas Charlton, who was born in the vicinity of Frederick, Maryland, but afterwards moved to Camden, South Carolina. During the Revolution he was with the South Carolina troops under Col. William Thompson, serving as a surgeon and lieutenant. Afterwards he was a member of the South Carolina Legislature. At his death his widow Lucy Charlton moved to Savannah, locating there in 1790.

Thomas Usher Pulaski Charlton, who was the oldest son of Thomas and Lucy Charlton, and the grandfather of Judge Charlton, was born near Camden, South Carolina, in 1780, was reared at Savannah after his tenth year and in 1801 was called to the bar of the Eastern Judicial Circuit. In the same year he was elected a member of the Georgia Legislature, in 1804 became attorney general, and in 1808 judge of the Eastern Circuit. In later year? he was elected and served six years as mayor of Savannah. In 1812 he was head of the local committee of safety, and he also did many important services during the epidemic of 1820. Later he was again elevated to the bench and his death occurred in 1835. He was of strong mentality and high courage and possessed in an eminent degree the judicial temperament. Many of his decisions appear in a volume of reports published by him. He also partially completed a life of James Jackson, designed to cover the period of his military services. That eminent man designated Judge Charlton, one of his closest friends, as his literary executive. Thomas Charlton inherited some of the enemies of James Jackson, though it is noteworthy that their criticisms were not heard until after Judge Charlton's death. He was possessed of decided literary ability and a high order of wit. In 1803 Thomas U. P. Charlton married Emily, daughter of Thomas Walter of South Carolina, author of "Flora Caroliniana" the first considerable work on Southern botany. To this marriage were born two sons, Thomas Jackson Charlton and Robert Milledge Charlton. In Savannah Charlton Street was named in honor of Thomas U. P. Charlton.

Robert Milledge Charlton, father of Judge W. G. Charlton, was born at Savannah January 19, 1807, and died there January 18, 1854. He was early school at Athens. The next three years were passed in taking a literary course at Gordon Institute, and at the end of that time he entered upon his legal studies at Cumberland University, Lebanon, Tennessee, where he was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Laws in the class of 1915. With this thorough preparation, he immediately upon graduation settled at Swainsboro, where he is nicely situated and has already made a good beginning. He is a keen, alert, modernly-trained young man, full of enthusiasm and devotion to the best professional ethics, and at present is the Emanuel County representative for the Empire Loan and Trust Company. He is the owner of a valuable farm in Bulloch County which is being operated by tenants.

A standard history of Georgia and Georgians, Volume 6 By Lucian Lamar Knight

Hon. Scott T. Beaton

Hon. Scott T. Beaton. When in 1915 Hon. Scott T. Beaton was elected mayor of Waycross without opposition, it was the second occurrence of this kind in the history of the city. During his first term he had shown himself able, conscientious, energetic and faithful, a true friend of progress and an untiring worker in behalf of civic improvement, moral advancement and the elevation of citizenship. With such a record the people were more than satisfied, and their approval was signified at the polls when Mr. Beaton was seated in the mayoralty chair without a dissenting voice.

Mayor Beaton was born in Charlton County, Georgia, August 19, 1877, and is a son of James T. and Florence (Holtzendorff) Beaton. His father was born near Norfolk, Virginia, August 11, 1851, a son of David E. and Elizabeth Ann (Davis) Beaton, both natives of Norfolk, Virginia. The respective parents of David and Elizabeth came from Scotland. David Beaton was a large planter in Virginia, was a soldier in the War of 1812, and died when about sixty-one years of age, his wife passing away at the age of fifty. She was a member of the Baptist Church.

James T. Beaton during the latter '70s came to Waycross, where for thirty-seven years he was engaged in successful mercantile pursuits. Formerly he was for several years engaged in farming after his marriage, but turned his attention to business affairs in preference to the tilling of the soil. Mr. Beaton is now retired from active pursuits, although he still supervises the handling of his city interests, having evidenced his belief in the future prosperity and advancement of Waycross by investment in property there. He is a deacon of the Baptist Tabernacle, and his wife an active member of the Methodist Church.

Mrs. Florence Beaton, mother of Mayor Beaton, was born at St. Mary's, Georgia, January 28, 1857, a daughter of John L. K. and Julia A. (Scott) Holtzendorff. Her father was born near St. Mary's, Georgia, was a farmer and merchant, and died when between sixty-five and sixty-six years of age. During the war he served four years as a Confederate sharp shooter, and though once shot through the lung recovered and lived. His parents Alexander and Sarah (Spalding) Holtzendorff were both natives of Germany, and after coming to the United States Alexander served in the' Indian wars. Julia Scott, mother of Mrs. Florence Beaton, was also born near St. Mary's, Georgia, and spent most of her life there, dying at the age of fifty-three. Her parents Alexander C. and Eliza J. (Brown) Scott, were natives of Scotland, where they married, and as young people came to the United States, Alexander Scott becoming an extensive planter in Camden County, Georgia.

Of the five children born to James T. Beaton and wife two died in infancy. Clifford, formerly a successful Waycross merchant died at El Paso, Texas, whither he had gone in search of health at the age of twenty-eight years; Dr. James Julian, a graduate of the Atlanta College of Physicians and Surgeons, is now one of the leading specialists of Waycross; and Scott T. is the oldest.

Scott T. Beaton attended the public schools of Waycross and at the age of eight years began to contribute to his own support by selling newspapers on the streets. At the age of fourteen he had his first advancement when he was made a railroad news agent and in the meantime secured his own education, although this was directly against the wishes of his parents, who would have preferred to give him an education in the regular way while he lived at home. The youth was of a somewhat precocious and independent nature, however, and was not in sympathy with the methods employed in his home city, so chose his own schools and at his own expense, his education coming chiefly from schools in Florida. Always ambitious and willing, any honorable work that fell to his hands was done thoroughly and well, and in this way he accumulated a fund of experience that he probably could have gained in no other way.

With funds secured from cutting wood and hauling it to town, Mr. Beaton was enabled to embark upon his first independent business venture, a modest retail grocery at Waycross. This proved a success, and he felt that he was able to afford a home of his own, and accordingly in 1897 was married and took his bride to Fitzgerald, where he established himself in the mercantile business. One year later, however, he returned to Waycross and founded another business with which he is still identified.

Mr. Beaton's first experience as a public official was in the office of alderman of the Fourth Ward, in which he served two years. Here he displayed enormous energy and initiative and a desire to forward the interests of his constituents that won him instant favor and placed him in the light of acceptable mayoralty timber. In December, 1913, he was elected to the chief executive's office, and December 2, 1915, received the re-election without opposition, which had only occurred once before in the history of the city. Mayor Beaton is the local representative for the Dodge and Cole Automobile Company and has various other large commercial and financial interests. He is a leader in promoting movements for the elevation of educational standards and is at present serving as a member of the school board. As a Dixie Highway booster, he was one of the leading factors in the first carnival entertainment held at Waycross, in 1915, promoted and organized by local people, with an entertainment given by local talent, which proved such a success that it was decided to make it a permanent affair. Much of the success of its management should be accredited to Mayor Beaton's untiring and unselfish efforts. In fraternal circles Mayor Beaton is one of the most popular men in this part of the state, holding membership in the Masons, in which he is a Shriner, the Junior Order of United American Mechanics, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Fraternal Order of Eagles and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He is a democrat and is considered one of his party's strong and reliable men in Ware County.

Mayor Beaton was married March 7, 1897, to Miss Louisa A. Edwards of St. Augustine, Florida, a daughter of John T., and Louisa B. (Holland) Edwards, both of whom are now deceased. Her mother died when Mrs. Beaton was only 3 1/2 years of age. She moved to Jacksonville, later to Brunswick, Georgia, "where she received most of her education. Both of her parents were born in Florida, and one of her father's ancestors was John T. Turnbull, who came to Saint Augustine, Florida, and secured a large grant of land given him by the Government for his service in the Indian wars. Mrs. Beaton's great-grandmother was a Grecian Princess, coming from Greece, and her tomb is still standing at Richmond, Virginia.

Mayor and Mrs. Beaton have had six children, two of whom died in infancy. The others, all at home, are Leslie Earl, Everett. Alberta and Jeanette. Both Mayor and Mrs. Beaton are members of the First Methodist Church of Waycross and active in its work, as are also their children.

ALEXANDER STEPHENS McQUEEN
Alexander Stephens McQueen, one of the foremost lawyers of southeastern Georgia, has made valuable contribution to the literature of his profession and is serving as city attorney of Folkston and county attorney of Charlton county. He was born October 4, 1889, in Montgomery county, Georgia, and his parents, Philip Alexander and Mary R. (McLeod) McQueen, were also natives of that county. The father, who was born September 4, 1857, became prominent in educational affairs, serving as county superintendent of schools of Toombs county, Georgia. The maternal grandfather, G. M. T. McLeod, was an officer in the Confederate army and was a descendant of Scotch ancestors who were pioneers in the settlement of North Carolina. The forebears of Philip Alexander McQueen were members of Clan MacQueen. They left their ancestral home on the Isle of Sky, Scotland, and immigrated to the new world, settling in Robeson county, North Carolina, during the formative period in the history of the south. In the acquirement of an education Alexander S. McQueen attended the public schools and also was tutored by his father. He was graduated from the Vidalia Collegiate Institute of Georgia in 1910, and he lived in Vidalia until 1917, when he removed to Folkston, where he has since been engaged in the general practice of law. He is attorney for the Citizens Bank of Folkston and has built up a large and desirable clientele. Mr. McQueen is thoroughly familiar with the fundamental principles of the law, with their origin, history, development and adaptation to new and changing conditions, and is the author of the "Georgia Justice Hand Book," published in 1915. He has been the recipient of many important public trusts and has acquitted himself with dignity, fidelity and honor in every office to which he has been called. He became city clerk and city attorney of Vidalia, Georgia, in 1914 and from 1912 until 1917 was justice of the peace for the fifty-first district of Georgia. As noted above, he now acts as city attorney of Folkston and county attorney of Charlton county, and he has established an enviable reputation as a public prosecutor. At Folkston, Georgia, February 4, 1919, Mr. McQueen was married to Miss Eva Linnette Rodgers, a native of Nassau county, Florida, and of English descent. She is a daughter of J. W. and Kathleen (Reddenberry) Rodgers, the former of whom was born in the state of North Carolina and the latter in Charlton county, Georgia. Mr. and Mrs. McQueen have a son, William Alexander, aged five years. Their daughter, Imogene McLeod, died April 19, 1924, when two and a half years of age. During the World War, Mr. McQueen was a member of the selective service draft board of Charlton county and he also served in Battery B of the Twenty-sixth C.A.C., which was stationed at Fort Screven, Georgia. In religious faith he is a Presbyterian, and is an elder in his church. He is a Blue Lodge Mason, and his political allegiance is given to the democratic party. Mr. McQueen is imbued with the sterling qualities of the Scotch race and has faithfully fulfilled every trust reposed in him, discharging to the best of his ability each task that he has undertaken. He is a young man who has not yet reached the zenith of his powers and in view of his past accomplishments his future career will be well worth the watching. ["History of Georgia" by Clark Howell, Chicago : S.J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1926 - Sub. by K.T.]