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Richmond County, Georgia Biographies Previous Gehrken, Diedrich, a successful grocer of Augusta, was born in the kingdom of Hanover, Germany, Sept. 19, 1853, and is a son of Frederick and G. Catharina (Mangels) Gehrken, both of whom passed their entire lives in Germany.  Mr. Gehrken was afforded the advantages of the excellent schools of his fatherland, where he continued to reside until he had attained to the age of seventeen years, when he severed the home ties and set forth to seek his fortunes in America, where so many of his countrymen have gained success through individual effort and honorable methods. He made the trip cross the Atlantic in 1870, and soon after landing on the shores of the New World he took up his residence in Augusta, having made the entire trip by water—first across the Atlantic from Bremen to New York, thence along the coast to Savannah and thence up the Savannah river to Augusta.  He secured a clerkship in a local grocery establishment, continuing to be employed in such capacity until 1875, when he engaged in the same line of business for himself, at the corner of Twiggs and Calhoun streets.  In 1877 he removed to his present attractive and eligibly located quarters, at 472 Broad street, where he has an excellent trade, catering to a discriminating patronage and carrying a large and complete stock of groceries, table delicacies, etc.  He has thus been engaged in the retail grocery business in Augusta for thirty years, and has at all times commanded the confidence and esteem of those with whom he has had dealings.  Mr. Gehrken is a loyal supporter of the Democratic party and its principles, is identified with the Augusta Schuetzen club and the Knights of Pythias, and both he and his wife are members of St. Matthew’s Lutheran church.  Mr. Gehrken has made two visits to his native land—the first in 1880 on which he was accompanied by his family and the second in 1903.  In 1902 he made an extended tour through the western states, visiting the Yellowstone national park, the principal Pacific coast cities and other places of interest.  On Oct. 26, 1876, at Augusta, he was united in marriage to Miss Catharina Dreyer, who likewise was born in Hanover, Germany, and who had been his playmate and schoolmate in his childhood and youth. They have six children,--Gesina A. M., Anna M. S., Fredericka C., John H., Arnold R. and Walter D. (Georgia: Comprising Sketches of Counties, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form. VOL III Publ. 1906. Transcribed by Marilyn Clore) Glanton, Patrick L., formerly a quartermaster-sergeant in the United States army, is now established in the retail grocery business at 1110 Fenwick street, Augusta.  He was born at Cold Springs, Edgefield county, S. C., April 14, 1866, and is a son of John W. and Martha E. (McDaniel) Glanton, both of whom were likewise born and reared in that county.  The father was a prosperous farmer and merchant and was a loyal soldier of the Confederacy in the Civil war.  He died in his native county, in 1879, at the age of forty-nine years, and his widow passed away in 1887, at the age of fifty-one years.  Four sons and two daughters are living.  Patrick L. Glanton was educated in the schools of his native county, whence he removed to Augusta in 1885, here continuing his residence until 1888, when he enlisted in Troop K, Sixth United States calvary, with which he served three years, as quartermaster-sergeant, being first stationed at Fort Wingate, New Mexico, and later at the Pine Ridge Indian agency, in South Dakota.  He took part in the campaign against the Sioux Indians in 1890-91, being an active participant in the battle on White river, S. D., in January of the latter year, and he qualified as a sharpshooter on Oct. 1, 1891.  He received his honorable discharge on Feb. 16, 1892, and on the same appear the following words of commendation: “A good non-commissioned officer, an obedient soldier and a reliable man.”  Upon leaving the regular army Mr. Glanton returned to Augusta and engaged in the wholesale and retail mercantile business at 1026 Broad street, where he associated himself with W. P. Bryant, under the firm name of Bryant & Glanton.  In 1898 he sold his interest to Mr. Bryant, and on April 10, of that year he established himself in the retail grocery business at his present location.  On Aug. 31, 1893, he was appointed commissary-sergeant on the staff of Lieut. Col. I. C. Levy, commanding the First Battalion of Georgia volunteer infantry, and he served in this capacity until the death of Colonel Levy, a few years later.  He is a staunch advocate of the principles of the Democratic party but has never been active in political affairs.  On Feb. 22, 1894, Mr. Glanton was united in marriage to Miss Cornelia B. Hopkins, of Augusta.  They have no children. (Georgia: Comprising Sketches of Counties, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form. VOL III Publ. 1906. Transcribed by Marilyn Clore) Glascock, Thomas, was born in Georgia and educated in the public schools of Augusta.  He served as a lieutenant in the Revolutionary and Indian wars, was a delegate to the constitutional convention in 1798; was elected to Congress in 1834 and reelected for the succeeding term.  He died at Decatur, in 1851. (Georgia: Comprising Sketches of Counties, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form. VOL III Publ. 1906. Transcribed by Marilyn Clore) Glen, John, was an enthusiastic advocate of American independence and was one of the early members of the Council of Safety.  In April, 1776, he was elected chief justice of the colony, the first man to be elected to that office by the people.  After the adoption of the constitution of 1777 he was reelected. (Georgia: Comprising Sketches of Counties, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form. VOL III Publ. 1906. Transcribed by Marilyn Clore) Gehrken, Fred, a leading wholesale grocer of Augusta, was born in province of Bremen, Germany, Jan. 17, 1856, his parents having passed their entire lives in that province.  Three of the elder brothers of the subject of this sketch preceded him to American,--John, Claus H. and Diedrich,--and all located in Augusta, Georgia.  John immigrated to the United States in 1858, and rendered valiant service as a soldier of the Confederacy during the entire period of the Civil war, as a member of a Georgia regiment.  After the war he located in Savannah, where he died in 1870.  Claus H. returned to Germany and there passed the remainder of his life.  Diedrich is still a resident of Augusta.  Fred Gehrken was educated in the excellent schools of his fatherland, where he remained until 1872, when, at the age of sixteen years, he set forth to seek his fortunes in America.  He forthwith took up his residence in Augusta, where he secured a position in the wholesale establishment of which he is now sole owner, his recompense at the start having been ten dollars a month.  That he has pressed forward to the goal of success is clearly shown in the position which he holds to-day as one of the representative business men of Augusta.  In 1881 the firm of Richers & Gehrken was formed, and this association continued until the death of Mr. Richers on Dec. 27, 1905, when his interest was acquired by Mr. Gehrken.  The finely stocked and equipped establishment is located at 401 Greene street, where groceries, liquors and tobaccos are handled at wholesale, the house controlling a large and extended trade. In 1897 Mr. Gehrken erected his present beautiful modern residence at 405 Greene street.  He is also president of the Augusta Ice Company; a director of the Mutual Fire Indemnity Association and the Southern Transportation Company, both of Augusta, and in January, 1906, was elected a director of the National Bank of Augusta, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of his former partner, Christian Richers.  He is president of the Deutscher Schuetzen club, a German social and rifle club of Augusta, and is also affiliated with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Deutscher Order Harugari.  His political support is given to the Democratic party, and both he and his wife are members of the Lutheran church.  On May 16, 1881, Mr. Gehrken was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Stoffel, of Augusta, and they have five children,--Hilda, Fred, Jr., Henry S., Rudolph C. and Alberta. (Georgia: Comprising Sketches of Counties, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form. VOL III Publ. 1906. Transcribed by Marilyn Clore) Girardy, Victor J. B., who won distinction in the Confederate service, was a native of Georgia.  At the beginning of the Civil war he was living in Augusta.  His sympathies were with the South and he at once enlisted in the Third Georgia regiment, which was sent to Virginia in 1861.  When Colonel Wright assumed command of the brigade, he appointed Girardy adjutant-general with the rank of captain.  His gallantry frequently won favorable mention, and on July 30, 1864 he was made brigadier-general with temporary rank and commanded Wright’s brigade until he was killed near Petersburg in August. (Georgia: Comprising Sketches of Counties, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form. VOL III Publ. 1906. Transcribed by Marilyn Clore) Hayne, Linwood C., president of the National bank of Augusta, and also the Planters’ loan and savings bank, of the same city, was born in Waynesboro, Burke county, Ga., April 23, 1858. He is a son of James B. and Julia Whitehead (Clinton) Hayne, the former of whom was born in South Carolina and the latter in Richmond county, Ga., both being now deceased. The father was a lawyer by profession and was a veteran of the Mexican war, in which he served as a member of the Palmetto regiment, from South Carolina. Linwood C. Hayne attended the common schools of Burke county and supplemented this discipline by study in the high school at Hephzibah, Richmond county, while later he was graduated in Moore’s business university, in the city of Atlanta. He initiated his business career as clerk in the mercantile establishment of J. B. White & Co., of Augusta, soon afterward being made assistant bookkeeper for the concern, in whose employ he remained consecutively for a period of fourteen years, within which time he rose through various grades of merited promotion to the responsible position of credit man and confidential adviser. He severed his connection with this well known house in 1894. In the preceding year he had been elected president of the Planters’ loan and savings bank, which is now the largest and strongest savings bank in Augusta, and he has remained its executive head to the present time. In January, 1894, he also became president of the National bank of augusta, which was established in 1865 and which is one of the stanch financial institutions of the state, being capitalized for $250,000. In addition to these two important position Mr. Hayne is also president of the Southerland Manufacturing Company, of Augusta; vice-president of the Georgia Chemical Works, of Augusta; member of the board of directors of the Warren Manufacturing Company, of the same city; and a director of the Augusta Land Company and the United States Fidelity and Guarantee Company, the headquarters of the latter being in the city of Baltimore, Md. In politics he accords allegiance to the Democracy, and his religious faith is indicated by his membership in St. John’s Methodist Episcopal church South, of whose board of trustees he is chairman. He is a member and ex-president of the Georgia bankers’ association and a member of the American bankers’ association. My. Hayne is a appreciative member of the Masonic fraternity, in which he has completed the circle of the York Rite, being a past master of Webb Lodge, No. 166, Free and Accepted Masons; past eminent commander of Georgia Commandery, No. 1 Knights Templars, the oldest in the state; and a member of Yaarab Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, in the city of Atlanta. He is also a member of the Augusta Country club and is president of the Augusta Game Preserve club. (Georgia: Comprising Sketches of Counties, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form. VOL III Publ. 1906. Transcribed by Angelia Carpenter) Hayne, Paul H., poet, was born at Charleston, S. C., Jan. 1, 1830. His early education was received at home, but later he took a course at the South Carolina college. For a time he practiced law, but his natural bent was toward poetry. During the bombardment of Charleston his home was destroyed and with it his fine library. After the war he removed to Augusta, Ga., where he engaged in literary work. He died in July, 1886. Among his most noted poems are “Daphles”, “Cambyses and the Macrobian Bow”, “The Story of Glaucus the Thessalian”, and “The Wife of Brittany”. (Georgia: Comprising Sketches of Counties, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form. VOL III Publ. 1906. Transcribed by Angelia Carpenter) Hayne, William Hamilton, poet, son of Paul H. Hayne, was born at Charleston, S. C., in 1856. As a child he was delicate and his parents educated him at home. His first work was published about 1879, after which time he became contributor to the best magazines of the country. He read an original poem on the occasion of the unveiling of the bust of Sidney Lanier at the public library in Macon. His poems have been published in a volume entitled “Sylvan Lyrics and Other Verses”. (Georgia: Comprising Sketches of Counties, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form. VOL III Publ. 1906. Transcribed by Angelia Carpenter) Hays, Malcolm R., a representative retail grocer and meat dealer of Augusta, was born in that city April 22, 1875, and is one of the progressive young business men of his native city. He is a son of John M. and Rosa L. (Jones) Hays, the former of whom was born in Florida and the latter in Georgia. The father became a resident of Augusta in his boyhood days and was here reared and educated. He is now engaged in the shoe business, having a well  equipped store at 1140 Broad street. He and his wife are members of the First Presbyterian church, as is also the subject of this sketch. Malcolm R. Hays was educated at Richmond academy and Osborne’s business college, of Augusta, leaving school at the age of seventeen years and taking a position in the store of his father. Soon afterward he entered the employ of the Central of Georgia Railroad Company, as a clerk in the local offices, retaining this position two years, and passing the ensuing two years in service as a stenographer in the law office of Hon. Leonard Phinizy, of Augusta. Thereafter he traveled in various parts of the Union, being absent from Augusta for a period of four years. Upon his return he took the position of billing clerk in the freight office of the Central of Georgia railroad, holding this position two years, at the expiration of which, in January, 1900, he engaged int eh retail grocery business at 618 Fourth street, as the successor of his father. The business is still conducted under the firm name of J. M. Hays & Son, and is a most flourishing one. The establishment is attractive in appointments and in addition to groceries special attention is given to the handling of fresh and salt meats. Mr. Hays is a member of the American Protective Association and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He served as private and later as corporal in Company C, Second Georgia volunteer infantry, during the late Spanish-American war. Dec. 14, 1898, witnessed the marriage of Mr. Hays to Miss Clara Ida Menken, who was born in Atlanta, Ga., on Aug. 3, 1876, and is a daughter of Gottfried and Sarah (Jones) Menken. (Georgia: Comprising Sketches of Counties, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form. VOL III Publ. 1906. Transcribed by Angelia Carpenter) Hildebrandt, Nicholas, Jr., is a successful retail grocer of Augusta, having succeeded to the business of his uncle, Nicholas Hildebrandt, Sr. He was born near Bremerhaven in the Province of Hanover, Germany, June 28, 1876, and is a son of Louis and Carolina (Ehlbeck) Hildebrandt. The father came from Germany to the United States when a young man, passing eight years in New York city and then returning to his fatherland, where he married Miss Carolina Ehlbeck, after which he turned his attention to farming, a vocation with which he continued to be identified, in Germany, until his death, which occurred in 1897. His widow still resides in the homestead, near Bremerhaven. The subject of this sketch has two brothers and one sister in America,--Wilhelmina is the wife of Nicholas Von Soosten, of Brazilton, Crawford county, Kan.; Rev. John C. is a clergyman of the Lutheran church and is stationed at Redbud, Randolph county, Ill., and Fritz H. resides in Independence, Kan. Nicholas Hildebrandt, Jr., was reared to the age of sixteen years in his native land, where he secured good educational advantages. He then, in 1892, came to America, in company with his uncle, Nicholas Hildebrandt, Sr., who had taken up his residence in Augusta, Ga., in 1881, and who had been back to his native land for a visit. On his return to Augusta he brought his nephew and namesake, as indicated. In this city young Hildebrandt entered the employ of the wholesale and retail grocery firm of Richers & Gehrken, with whom he remained nine years, serving as house salesman and later representing the concern as a traveling salesman. In 1901 he entered the employ of his uncle, Nicholas, Sr., who conducted a fancy grocery and fish market at 224-6 Sixth street. On Jan. 1, 1903, he purchased the business of his uncle and has since continued the same with gratifying success, having an attractive and finely stocked establishment and making a specialty of the handling of fancy groceries, fish, oysters, game, etc. Mr. Hildebrandt has identified himself with the Democratic party and with the Augusta German-American shooting club, and is a member of St. Matthew’s Lutheran church. (Georgia: Comprising Sketches of Counties, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form. VOL III Publ. 1906. Transcribed by Angelia Carpenter) Hill, Audley, is one of the representative wholesale merchants of Augusta, being senior member of the firm of Hill & Merry, dealers in produce and provisions. He was born in the city of Savannah, Ga., Oct. 15, 1864, and is a son of Joseph A. and Mary Eleanor (Maxwell) Hill, the former of whom was born in Wilmington, N.C., and the latter in the State of Georgia. They now reside in Grovetown, Columbia county, Ga., the father being a retired planter and cotton merchant. He was a member of an artillery corps in the Confederate service during the entire period of the war between the states. When the subject of this review was a child his parents removed from Savannah to Grovetown, where he secured his early educational training, later being a student in private schools in Augusta. At the age of seventeen years he initiated his business career, becoming a clerk in a business establishment in Augusta. In 1889 he engaged in the wholesale commission business, handling produce and provisions, and in 1893 he admitted to partnership A. H. Merry, with whom he has since been associated, under the firm name noted in the opening lines of this article. The firm controls a large wholesale trade in produce and provisions and has high standing in the business circles of the city. Mr. Hill is a member of a local lodge of the Free and Accepted Masons, is found stanchly arrayed as a supporter of the cause of the Democratic party, and both he and his wife are communicants of the Protestant Episcopal church. On April 29, 1890, he was united in marriage to Miss Hortense Panknin, daughter of Dr. Charles F. Panknin, of Charleston, S.C., and they have six children, viz: Audley, Jr., Maxwell, Mary Eleanor, Hortense, Frederick P. and Elizabeth N. (Georgia: Comprising Sketches of Counties, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form. VOL III Publ. 1906. Transcribed by Angelia Carpenter) Col. Edwin G. Kalbfleisch. The courage that makes one stand firmly to his purpose in spite of all discouragements is the very quintessence of character and it is character that counts in the battle of life. Hampered for many years by lack of education and ennobling environment, one of Augusta's well known men, now prominent in the law and a leader in civic affairs, retained that nature given proud spirit of courage that enabled him, through deep waters to swim to shore and find a solid foundation rock beneath him. Men of this type of experience never boast of what they have accomplished but their history, simply told, has a mighty influence in encouraging others similarly situated. It is not so difficult a voyage to a safe port when weather is fine and wealth has provided a sound ship, but to run the rapids in a leaky canoe without oars and still reach the haven is as remarkable as it is creditable. Edwin G. Kalbfleisch, a representative member of the Augusta bar and officially identified for years with the city's most important public concerns, was born September 7, 1866, at Ninety Six, Greenwood County, South Carolina. His parents were John and Mary (Hobbs) Kalbfleisch. The father was a native of Germany and came to America with his parents when a child. He settled in Augusta when this city was but an inconspicuous village. For some years of his life he was a Government contractor but subsequently removed to a farm in Richmond County, Georgia, where he died at the age of sixty-five years. The mother was a native of Wilkes County, Georgia. She died in 1893 at the age of sixty. Edwin G. Kalbfleisch was the elder of his parents' two children. He had few educational opportunities in boyhood, beginning at the early age of twelve years to provide for himself as a worker in the cotton mills. The environment he found so distasteful that he determined to escape from these bonds, finding his opportunity by way of a freight car, in which he traveled many miles before being discovered. It required ingenuity as well as courage for this child of thirteen years, uneducated and untrained, to make an honest living and in search of employment he visited many cities including Atlanta, Chattanooga, New Orleans, Cincinnati and Birmingham. It was in the last named place that he came to the end of his resources, having expended everything but his integrity and courage. This was his situation when he applied for work in a sash, door and blind manufacturing plant. When told there was no vacancy that he could fill he assured the proprietor that he must have some kind of a job in order to live honestly, and so impressed the manufacturer that work was provided for him and thus he entered upon the first steady job he ever had, this leading to his learning the carpenter trade and an acknowledged place, later on, in the greater industrial army.   He secured employment with the Thompson Sash, Blind & Door Company of Augusta after returning here when eighteen years old. In 1888 Mr. Kalbfleisch went to work for the Georgia Railroad Company as a carpenter in the mechanical department and remained with the railroad for a number of years. He was a skillful mechanic but he constantly felt an impulse to be much more and began to feel the disadvantages of lack of education. Confiding his ambition to a friend, a wise one as events proved, he accepted his advice and entered a night school and made rapid progress although his days were full of the hard work his occupation made necessary. He discovered that his inclination led him in the direction of the law and in 1904, at the age of thirty-eight, after study under the guidance of Judge Joseph Reynolds, he successfully passed the bar examination and in February, 1905, he started in the practice of his profession. The fine courage which had enabled Colonel Kalbfleisch to overcome previous obstacles still accompanied him when he entered the arena of the law at Augusta in competition with old professional men of experience and thoroughly trained young men of fortune and family. And then he had faith in himself. Many of his first cases were in the branch of criminal law and had he decided to pursue that line he undoubtedly would have met with great success but he soon discovered that such a course would involve him in undesired political trouble and he determined to make a specialty of advisory office work and title and probate law. He has developed a large business in this branch and is a recognized authority on titles. On August 1, 1886, Colonel Kalbfleisch was married to Miss Maggie Tice, who was a daughter of Seyburn Tice, of Augusta, who died of tuberculosis in 1890. They had two children, the younger of whom is deceased. The surviving daughter, Ethel, married John W. Pierce, one of the largest plantation owners in the South and they have one son, John W. Pierce, Jr. On January 13, 1902, Colonel Kalbfleisch was married to Miss Emma Ivey. A new impulse entered into his life with this marriage and he attributes much to her devotion and encouragement during his years of struggle. Colonel Kalbfleisch has always been a friend of the laboring man and has been most generous to this class in the way of professional service. For many years he has been president of the Federated Trades and president of the Carpenters' Union. He was largely instrumental in bringing about the settlement of the Georgia railroad strike and what one man said was the thought of many, "He is really too big for this town." He has been shown appreciation in numberless ways. He made the draft for the new Municipal Court Bill which recently was passed by the Legislature. He served as a member of the city council for one term. At the time of the disastrous flood, in 1898, he took full charge of the city offices, during the mayor's absence and re-established order out of chaos. "While in the council he was chairman of the fire department and was exceedingly useful in its re-organization and in securing its equipment and apparatus, is a member of the police commission and of the city flood commission, he has been tendered many other civic offices but has accepted few. He was appointed a member of the National River and Harbor Committee by Governor Hoke Smith and is also a member of the Southern Commercial Congress. Colonel Kalbfleisch is very popular with lovers of the great national game of baseball in this section. He re-established the Augusta team of which he has been president. The present outlook is that this team stands a fine chance of winning the pennant in the South Atlantic League. A Standard History Of Georgia and Georgians by Lucian Lamar Knight Volume 3 Maj.-Gen. LaFayette McLaws was born in Augusta on January 15, 1821. Before he concluded his first year in the University of Virginia he was appointed a cadet at West Point Military Academy, and in 1838 entered that School, from which he was graduated four years later. He was commissioned lieutenant in the army and sent to the frontier. Before the actual opening of hostilities in the Mexican war, he joined the army of General Taylor on the Texas frontier. Stationed at Fort Brown, the young lieutenant was assisting valiantly in the defense of that beleaguered post (May 3-4, 1846). while General Taylor was fighting the battles of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma. He accompanied Taylor's army; took part in the hard fighting around Monterey; was transferred to Scott's army and assisted in the siege of Vera Cruz. On account of failing health he was sent back to the United States on recruiting duty. During the last part of the war he was employed in convoying trains from Vera Cruz to the City of Mexico. The years after the Mexican war were spent largely on the frontier. In 1851 he was commissioned captain of infantry, and served in the Utah Expedition (1858), and did much escort duty in protecting emigrants crossing the plains and in escorting Mormons to California. When Georgia seceded Captain McLaws immediately resigned and offered his services to the state. On May 10, 1861, he was commissioned major in the Confederate army. On June 17, 1861, he was promoted colonel of the Tenth Georgia Regiment; and on September 25,1861, was promoted brigadier-general. He participated in all the Maryland and Virginia campaigns, commanded a division at Gettysburg which was transferred to Georgia in September, 1863, and in the following year was placed in command of the District of Georgia to obstruct Sherman's march to the sea. After the war he returned to Georgia and entered the insurance business; in 1875 was appointed collector of internal revenue at Savannah, and later postmaster and post warden. He died at his home in that city in 1898. A Standard History Of Georgia and Georgians by Lucian Lamar Knight Volume 3 ©Genealogy Trails