JOHN ADAMS

farmer, Gratis, Walton Co., Ga., was born in Walton county in 1820. His grandparents, Reuben and Nicey (Simpson) Adams, were natives of South Carolina, who, early in life migrated to Georgia and settled in what is now Walton county. He was a farmer, and served as a soldier in the patriot army during the revolutionary war. Late in life he moved to Randolph county, Ga., where he died in 1846. Mr. Adams was reared on the farm, and the limited education he received was obtained at the old-time log school-house. He began life a very poor boy, and has had a trying struggle; but has worked hard and long until he has placed himself in easy and comfortable circumstances. In 1849 he made his first small purchase of land, to which he has steadily added and now owns nearly 1,000 acres of good farming land, a large farm under profitable cultivation, and operates a superior cotton gin of large capacity. During the late war he made shoes for the Confederate government. Mr. Adams was married in 1844 to Miss Patsey Shepard-born in Elbert county in 1814-daughter of James and Susannah (Hilley) Shepard. He was a native of Elbert county and reared a farmer, was a soldier in the last war with Great Britain, and moved to Walton county early in life, where he lived until he died. Five of the children born to Mr. and Mrs. Adams are living: Richard S., Sallie F., Amanda J., Judy S., and Eugenia T. The mother of these, who was a member of the Methodist church, died early in 1876, and late in that year Mr. Adams married Miss Ellen Park, born in Jackson county, Ga., daughter of Russell J. and Sarah (Stokes) Park. He was born in Madison county, was a farmer and also operated a blacksmith shop. He moved to Jackson county, and in 1854-55-56 and '58 represented his county in the general assembly. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and died in 1885. Eight of the children born to Mr. Adams by this marriage are living: Robert P., Willie B., Ruvie M., Dovie O., Ezra B., Pearl V., Ellen V., Troy H. He is a member of the masonic fraternity, and himself and wife are members of the Universalist church.
(Memoirs of Georgia, Vo. II, 1895)
Submitted by Cathy Danielson

JOSIAH BLASSINGAME

merchant and capitalist, Jersey, Walton Co., Ga., son of W.T. and Matilda M. (Barrett) Blassingame, was born in Walton county, in 1855. His paternal grandparents, Powell and Phoebe (Stark) Blassingame, were natives of South Carolina, and early in life moved to Georgia and settled in Walton county. He is still living, and still follows farming. Mr. Blassingame's father was born in Walton county and was reared a farmer. In 1861 he enlisted in a company commanded by Capt. J. T. Mitchell, and went to the front. He was taken sick on a march to Vicksburg and died two months after reaching that city. Before the war he was a large slave and land-owner, and during his life was an ardent member of the Methodist church. His maternal grandparents were Josiah and Mary (Raines) Barrett. He was born in Morgan county, the son of a Primitive Baptist minister of English descent. Mr. Blassingame was reared on the farm, and having grown up during war time, did not receive a very good education. At the age of twenty-two he entered the store of T. M. Abercrombie and three years later, Aug. 1, 1880, he became a partner, under the firm name of Abercrombie & Blassingame. He is still a member of the firm, but its name has been changed to T. M. Abercrombie & Co. Besides his merchandise business he is a stockholder and director in the bank, and oil mills, and a stockholder in a guano company at Social Circle. His farming interests are very large, he owning 1,300 acres of excellent land, of which a large portion is under cultivation. He is a wide-awake, progressive farmer and financial operator, solid, substantial and progressive. Mr. Blassingame was married in 1880 to Miss Amanda E. Mobley, born in Walton county, Sept. 23, 1857, daughter of Thomas M. and Harriet (Coleman) Mobley. He was a native of South Carolina, whence he came with his parents to Walton county when seven years old. He was a prosperous farmer, and served as a volunteer in the Seminole war. Of the children born to them the following are living: Edna K., Josiah B., Adell, Effie E., Willie G., and Amy. He is a member of the masonic fraternity and also of the Baptist church, and his wife is a member of the Methodist church.
(Memoirs of Georgia, Vo. II, 1895)
Submitted by Cathy Danielson

J M. BRADLEY 

farmer, India, Walton Co., Ga., son of Thomas and Susan (Oliver) Bradley, was born in Walton county in 1845. His paternal grandparents were natives of North Carolina, whence they migrated to Georgia in 1820, and settled near Jefferson, Jackson Co., Ga. Mr. Bradley's father was born in North Carolina, came to Georgia in 1820, and settled near an old Indian fort in the woods in what is now Walton county. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and lived to accumulate a quite large estate. He was an ardent member of the Primitive Baptist church. His maternal grandparents, Elijah and Sarah (Wise) Oliver, were natives of Virginia and migrated to Georgia and settled in Jackson county. Mr. Bradley was reared on the farm and received a limited education in the country schools. In 1861 he enlisted in Company F and was afterward transferred to Company B (Capt. Reynolds), Sixteenth Georgia regiment. Among the battles in which he with his command were engaged were Malvern Hill and South Mountain, and in the last-named battle he was wounded and captured and remained a prisoner about a year. After the war he engaged in farming, and in 1866 made his first purchase of land. Since then he has added to it until now he owns 400 acres of good land, and besides operates a cotton gin. He is a progressive and prosperous farmer and public spirited citizen and is highly esteemed. Mr. Bradley was married in 1865 to Miss Mary Lochlin, born in Clarke county, Ga., in 1843, daughter of Samuel C. and Rebecca (Stevens) Lochlin. He was one of Walton county's early settlers, but late in life moved to Madison county, Ga. Seven children, who were the fruit of this marriage, are living: Oscar L., Sallie A., Thomas B., James M., Mollie, Samuel and Rhodelle. He is a royal arch Mason and himself and wife are members of the Missionary Baptist church.
(Memoirs of Georgia, Vo. II, 1895)
Submitted by Cathy Danielson

SAMUEL HOUSTON BRODNAX, 

ex-merchant and farmer, Walnut Grove, Walton Co., Ga., son of Samuel and Margaret (Aycock) Brodnax, was born in Newton county, Ga., in 1844. His paternal grandparents were Edward B. and Vivian (Brookin) Brodnax. He was of English descent, born in Virginia, and raised a farmer; was a soldier in the last war with Great Britain, and also in the Seminole war during which he was wounded. Migrating from Virginia to Georgia he settled in Hancock county. Mr. Brodnax's father was born in Virginia and came with the family to Georgia when he was young. He made farming his life occupation, was a good farmer and manager, and accumulated quite a large property, the value of which was heavily reduced by the emancipation proclamation. The maternal grandparents of Mr. Brodnax were Joel and Elizabeth (Bradford) Aycock. He was a native of North Carolina, whence he moved to Georgia and settled in Oglethorpe county and afterward moved to Newton county. Mr. Brodnax was raised on the farm and received a high school education. At the age of eighteen he espoused the cause of the Confederacy and in January, 1863, enlisted as a private in Company A, Second regiment state troops, and served in that company till July, 1864, when he was transferred to Company D, Second regiment, Georgia cavalry, under Gen. Joe Wheeler, and served till the war closed. He was engaged in a number of battles and skirmishes during' the time he was a soldier. In 1866 he commenced merchandising, making his first purchases on a credit. After continuing in this business for ten years with very great success he retired from mercantile life and engaged in farming. Here his business methods, careful oversight and good management and progressive ideas have resulted in continued prosperity, so that he is now one of the solid men of Walton county. He owns about 2,000 acres of choice farming land and a profitable milling property. In 1890 he was elected to represent Walton county in the general assembly and did efficient service on the committees on finance, agriculture, lunatic asylum, excuses of members and mines and mining. Mr. Brodnax was married in 1871 to Miss Edda Selman, born in Walton county in 1851, daughter of Benjamin F. and Mary (Colley) Selman, whose families were early settlers of the county. Of the children born to Mr. and Mrs. Brodnax three are living: Joel C., Samuel E. and George H. He is a member of the masonic fraternity, and himself and wife and three sons are members of the Christian church. Two sons of Mr. Brodnax, J. C. and S. E., are engaged in the mercantile business at Walnut Grove, his home.
(Memoirs of Georgia, Vo. II, 1895)
Submitted by Cathy Danielson

HUGH A. CARITHERS, 

merchant-farmer, India, Walton Co., Ga., son of William C. and Mary (Griffith) Carithers, was born in Madison county, Ga., July 14, 1827. His paternal grandparents were native South Carolinians and lived and died in their native state. Mr. Carithers' father was born in Abbeville district, S. C., came to Georgia when a young man and settled in Madison county. He accumulated considerable property farming and died in 1855. His maternal grandparents were Robert and Sarah (Bronner) Griffith. He was a farmer and an early settler of Madison county. Mr. Carithers was raised on the farm and the limited education he received was obtained at the historic log school house. During the war between the states he served in the militia or home guard. He is very enterprising and energetic, possessing superior business and financial ability, has been successful in all his undertakings, and is one of the most popular as well as among the most solid and substantial citizens of the county. He resumed farming immediately after the war and made money. Then, in 1869, he engaged in general merchandising, which he has continued ever since. In addition to his extensive farming and mercantile interests he built a very large grist mill on the Appalachee river, which does a very heavy business, and also operates a cotton ginnery on the same stream. He started in life with comparatively nothing, and lived many years in a log cabin; now he owns between 4,000 and 5,000 acres of valuable land, and is conducting the large interests already mentioned. He served many years as a justice of the peace and in 1880 was elected to represent Walton county in the general assembly, and so much appreciated were his services that he was re-elected three successive terms. In that body he was assigned to the committees on banks, finance and agriculture, etc. Mr. Carithers was married in 1848 to Miss Mary A. Griffith, born in Clarke (now Oconee) county in 1831, daughter of James L. and Asyneth (Eberhart) Griffith. He was an early settler in Madison county, was a large farmer, and for many years a justice of the peace. Early in life he moved to Oconee (then Clarke) county, where he died.
Of the children which blessed this union three survive: James Y., Robert L. and Hugh A., Jr. His wife is an exemplary member of the Baptist church, and he is a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity.
(Memoirs of Georgia, Vo. II, 1895)
Submitted by Cathy Danielson

J. W. CARTER

farmer, Walnut Grove, Walton Co., Ga., son of John and Judia (Auslin) Carter, was born in Walton county in 1828. His paternal grandmother was Elizabeth (Nash) Carter, a native of Virginia. His grandfather was of English descent, was a soldier in the patriot army during the revolutionary war and subsequently moved to Georgia and settled in Elbert .county. Mr. Carter's father was born in Virginia and was fourteen years old when his parents moved to Georgia. At the age of sixteen his father died and he had to assume the grave responsibilities and duties of the head of the family, and ably discharged them. He was a soldier in the last war with Great Britain, was an unusually good manager and accumulated a large property. Although the emancipation proclamation deprived him of forty-seven slaves, the close of the unpleasantness left him in good circumstances. He was a devoted and exemplary member of the Methodist church. His maternal grandfather, John Auslin, was of Irish lineage and was among the early settlers of Elbert county, whence, after a short stay, he moved to Alabama. Mr. Carter was raised on the farm and received such education as could be obtained at the country schools during his boyhood. Farming has been the pursuit of his life, and he was satisfactorily successful before the war, during which he served with the state troops eighteen months and participated in the defense of Atlanta. The result of the war left him comparatively poor, and he had to begin life anew. But by push and energy and good management he has become the owner of 1,850 acres of good land, on which he has a good home, and in addition owns valuable cotton-ginning interests. In 1875-76 he represented Walton county in the general assembly and did valuable service on the committee on manufactures. No citizen of the county is more highly esteemed. Mr. Carter was married in 1856 to Miss Laura Q. James, born in Henry county in 1839, daughter of David and Sarah (Saunders) James. He was born in North Carolina and was a farmer and trader. Eight of the children born to them are still living: Sylvanus, Ida, Robena E., John J., Marcus L., Mollie, Sallie and Carl. His wife is a consistent member of the Baptist church and he is a master Mason.
(Memoirs of Georgia, Vo. II, 1895)
Submitted by Cathy Danielson

JESSE GILL CROUCH

M. J. DAY

farmer, Social Circle, Walton Co., Ga., son of Nathaniel and Hannah (Mindenhall) Day, was born in Taliaferro county, Ga., in 1826. His paternal grandparent, David Day, was an early settler of what is now Columbia county, Ga. Here Mr. Day's father was born in 1775, spent his boyhood and grew to manhood. He was a farmer and school teacher, and had Hon. Alexander H. Stephens for a pupil, he being the first teacher of that remarkable man and eminent statesman. In 1833 he moved to Walton county, where he died in 1855. His maternal grandparents, Marmaduke and Alice (Benson) Mindenhall, were also natives of what is now Columbia county. Mr. Day was reared on the farm, and farming has been his life occupation. Unambitious, he has been content with farm-work and the yield of his land in response to well-directed, honest labor. He owns between 800 and 900 acres of good land and a good saw-mill, is of unquestioned reliability and held in high esteem. Mr. Day was married in 1855 to Miss Martha E. Tucker, born in Newton county in 1834, daughter of McKenzie and Eliza (Rakestraw) Tucker. He was a native of North Carolina, was a farmer and preacher, and early in life came to Georgia and settled in Newton county. Late in life he moved to Alabama, where he died. Of the children which blessed this union five are living: James M., Milton ?., Robert L., Julius B. H. and John T. Mrs. Day is a member of the Baptist church and he is a master Mason.
(Memoirs of Georgia, Vo. II, 1895)
Submitted by Cathy Danielson

Alfred H. Colquitt.
    A life conspicuous for the magnitude and variety of its achievement was that of the late Hon. Alfred H. Colquitt, who was a native son of Georgia, who -became one of the leading members of the bar of this favored commonwealth, who served as governor of the state for six years and who represented Georgia with marked distinction in the United States Senate, as had also his father, Hon. Walter T. Colquitt, a brief tribute to whose memory appears elsewhere in this publication. So noteworthy achievement as was that of Governor Alfred H. Colquitt must needs imply exalted character and large ability, and above all he merits perpetual honor by the very strength and nobility of his manhood, which well may be said to have been consecrated to the service of his native state. To the state and the nation he rendered service to the fullest extent of his powers; his labors were unsparing and his integrity of purpose was beyond cavil. The reflex of the honors conferred upon Him was the honors he in turn conferred. It is not easy adequately to describe a man who was as distinct in character and who accomplished so much in the world as did Governor Colquitt, and the limitations of this article are such as to make possible only a cursory glance at the individuality and achievements of the man,— not permitting extended genealogical data or critical analysis of character.
    Alfred H. Colquitt was born in Walton County, Georgia, on the 20th of April, 1864, and his death occurred in the City of Washington, D. C., in 1893, where he was at the time serving as a representative of his native state in the United States Senate. He was a son of Hon. Walter T. and Nancy B. (Lane) Colquitt and in view of the fact that his father is individually accorded tribute in this publication no further details concerning the family- history are demanded at this juncture, though it may well be stated that he was reared in a home of distinctive culture and refinement,—under conditions that had important bearing in making him the strong and positive character that was destined to impress itself benignantly upon the history of the state that ever represented his home and to which his loyalty was ever of the most insistent order. . .
    The best of educational advantages were not denied to this distinguished son of Georgia, as is evident when it is stated that he was graduated in the College of New Jersey, now familiarly known as Princeton University. In the year following his graduation he was admitted to the bar of Georgia, but the intrinsic animus of the personality was soon afterward shown, when he sacrificed all other interests to go forth as a soldier in the Mexican war, in which he served with distinction and attained to the rank of major.
    After the close of this conflict Mr. Colquitt engaged in the practice of his profession in Georgia, and that he soon came to the front in matter of civic influence and priority is evidenced by the fact that in 1849 he was elected a member of the State Senate, further distinction coming to him in 1855, when he was chosen to represent his district in the United States Congress.
    Senator Colquitt was one of the influential men in public affairs in Georgia in the climacteric period that found its culmination in the Civil war, and in the national election of 1860 he was a presidential elector on the democratic ticket, the presidential and vice presidential candidates of which were respectively J. C. Breckenridge, of Kentucky, and Joseph Lane, of Oregon. In the same year he was a member of the convention which acted upon and signed the ordinance by which Georgia seceded from the Union. During the war between the states it has well been said that he "served with commanding distinction in the Confederate army, in which he became a brigadier general and won the sobriquet of ''The Hero of Olustee."
    With characteristic courage and confidence General Colquitt faced the grave problems that confronted his beloved Southland after the close of the war, and he gave the best of himself and his services in the reviving of its prostrate energies. In 1876 he was elected governor of Georgia, for a term of four years, and such was his.hold upon popular confidence and esteem that he was re-elected in 1880, though in the meanwhile impeachment charges had been brought against the comptroller general and also the treasurer of the state. His record, in every respect admirable and denoting inviolable loyalty, during his six years' regime as governor of Georgia has become an integral part of the generic history of the state and needs no wbrds of commendation in this connection.
    A man of great circumspection, of fine intellectuality and of broad views, Governor Colquitt was naturally destined for higher civic honors, and in 1884 he was elected to the United States Senate, to which he was re-elected in 1888 and in which he represented his native state with distinguished ability until the time of his death, which occurred within a short time prior to the expiration of his second term. Concerning his career in the national legislature the following estimate has been written, and the same is worthy of reproduction in this connection:
    "In the Senate of the United States he was an imposing figure, and it may be of interest to note that his distinguished father had been an honored member of the same body, in which he represented Georgia for several years prior to the Civil war; but the son was not less devoted to the public service and was not a less important factor in national affairs than had been the father."
    At the time of his election to the office of governor of Georgia General Colquitt established his residence in Atlanta, which city he thereafter looked upon as his home until the close of his life,—a man whose memory the city and the state delight to honor. Though admitted to the bar when a young man, Senator Colquitt never severed his allegiance to the great fundamental art of agriculture and he always manifested the deepest interests in this industry, which must ever be the basis of material progress and prosperity. He served for many years as president of the Georgia State Agricultural Society and was one of the substantial landholders and agriculturists of his native state at the time of his demise.
    Senator Colquitt was a man of deep religious convictions and showed forth his faith in his daily life, besides having frequently had the supervision of public worship in the church of which he was a devoted member,—the Methodist Episcopal, South. It is needless to say, in view of his early training and natural predilections, that he was unwavering in his support and advocacy of the principles and policies for which the democratic party has always stood sponsor in a basic way.

Benjamin Hurt Baker

Lawyer, was born April 1, 1811, in Walton County, Ga.; died June 4, 1864, at Crawford, Ala. Little is known about his ancestry save that his mother was killed by lightning while rocking the cradle in which he lay. His early educational opportunities were very limited and he acquired his education by very large reading after his maturity. He moved to Russell County in 1836; was sheriff of Russell from 1840 until 1843; read law in the office of Mr. Heidenfelt; began the practice of law in 1844; was elected to the Alabama legislature, serving in the house in 1847; was re-elected to the house, 1849; succeeded Capt Abercrombie in the senate, 1851, and continued there until the end of the session of 1855; represented the county in the constitutional convention of 1861. He was a captain in the early Indian wars; became lieutenant colonel of the Sixth Alabama infantry early in the War of Secession; served until he lost his health in 1863, was discharged and died at home the next year. He was a Bell and Everett Elector; debated with Yancey in eastern Alabama against Yancey's radical views; was a Mason and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, south. Married: (1) In 1830, Martha Oliver, an orphan, died six months later; (2) At Forsyth. Ga., 1833, Eliza Greer, daughter of Leonard and Elizabeth Greer, of Forsyth, Ga. Children: 1. Mary Ann Elizabeth Greer, m. Sidney Smith; 2. James Monroe; 8. Frances Marion, m. J. R. Holland; 4. Harrison; 5. Punch; 6. Albert Cornelius, lawyer, was chief justice of the supreme court of Arizona, resides in Phoenix, Ariz.; 7. Blisha Hunt, was in the Alabama legislature; 8. Benjamin Marbry, lawyer; served in three Texas legislatures; was state superintendent of public instruction, Texas; served as judge of the thirty-first judicial district of Texas for sixteen years; 9. Sidney Smith, merchant, was a member of the legislature, resides in Carthage, Tex.; 10. Helen Matella, m. W. A. McAlvey; 11. Lura Belle, m. H. H. Holland, resides at Houston, Tex. Last residence: Craw-ford, Russell County.

Source: History of Alabama and Dictionary of Alabama Biography, By Thomas McAdory Owen, Marie Bankhead Owen, Published by The S. J. Clarke publishing company, 1921; Submitted by Veneta McKinney

JOHN THOMAS GLENN

ALFRED HOLT

Statesman, b. in Walton county, GA., 20 April, 1824, was graduated at Princeton in 1844, studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1845, served during the Mexican war as a staff officer, with the rank of major, and in 1852 was elected to congress as a democrat, and served one term. In 1859 he was a member of the legislature, and in 1860 a presidential elctor on the Breckinridge ticket. He was a member of the secession convention of Georgia, entered the Confederate army as captain, was chosen colonel of the 6^th Georgia infantry, promoted a brigadier-general, and, after serving some time in that grade, was commissioned a major-general. In 1876 he was elected governor of Georgia for four years, and after the expiration of his term re-elected for two years under the new constitution. In 1882 he was elected U.S. senator for the term expiring 3 March, 1889.

Source : Appleton’s cyclopedia of American Biography 1887

JUDGE MARSHALL THOMPSON