A. J. McWHIRTER, farmer, Banks county(post-office, Harmony Grove), Ga., son of James and Desina(Fowler)McWhirter, was born in Union district, S.C., in 1835. His paternal grandfather, James McWhirter, of Irish descent, was a native of Virginia, was a farmer and a soldier in the last war with Great Britain; was with Gen. Jackson at New Orleans. Mr. McWhirter's father was born in South Carolina and in 1857 moved to Georgia and settled in Franklin county. He was a prosperous farmer, a good citizen and a prominent member of the Methodist church. His maternal grandparents were Godfrey and Kissey Fowler, He was a native of South Carolina, a farmer and a soldier in the war of 1812.
Mr. McWhirter was raised on the farm and received his schooling in the old time log-house. In 1861 he enlisted in Company D, Capt. Montgomery, Sixteenth Georgia regiment. In 1862 a company of sharp-shooters was selected from a brigade; Mr. McWhirter was assigned to duty in it, and participated in very many of the bloodiest and most important battles in that unhappy conflict, among them Seven Pines, Sharpsburg, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, the Wilderness, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Yorktown, Williamsburg, Savage's Station, White Oak, Malvern Hill, Boonesboro, Culpeper Court-House, Winchester, Hagerstown, Knoxville, Chickamauga, North Anna, Fisher's Hill, Middleton, Sailor's Creek, etc. He started in life without a penny but realizing that "a pound of pluck is worth a ton of luck", he went to work, made and saved what money he could until he purchased the old homestead of his wife's family. He now owns an excellently well-equipped farm of 325 acres and is enjoying an ample competency. Besides his farm he owns stock in the Harmony Grove factory, thus setting a good example to his brother farmers in the matter of encouraging the establishment of home markets for their surplus farm products.
Mr. McWhirter was married June 24, 1867, to Miss Oner(born in Franklin county in 1830), daughter of Hope and Hannie(Yeargan)Simms. He was born in Fredericksburg, Va., was a farmer and a soldier in the Seminole war. His wife was born in the Newberry district, S.C., and lived most of her life in Georgia, in which she died at the advanced age of ninety-seven years.
Mr. and Mrs. McWhirter are exemplary members of the Methodist church.
Source: Memoirs of Georgia, Volume I, Southern Historical Association, 1895
Submitted by: Jacqueline King
NEAL, Thomas A.
THOMAS A. NEAL, farmer, Banksville, Banks Co., GA., son of William and Lavinia(Conley) Neal, was born in Franklin(now Banks) county in 1829. His paternal grandparents were Robert and Tabitha(Chandler)Neal. He was a native of North Carolina, migrated to Georgia early in life, and settled in Elbert county. He was a large and prosperous farmer. Mr. Neal's father was born in North Carolina and came to Georgia with his parents when a small boy. He lived and died a farmer. His mother was a daughter of Charles and Kesiah(Stokes) Conley, native North Carolinians who settled in Franklin county.
Mr. Neal was raised on the farm and educated at nearby schools, and when he reached manhood engaged in farming. In 1862 he enlisted in Company I-of which he was elected captain-Thirty-fourth Georgia regiment; but being taken sick shortly afterward he returned home. After the war he had nothing-had to take a fresh start, and has devoted himself exclusively to farming with entirely satisfactory results. He is the owner of a 600-acre farm as good as any in the county, and ranks among the best as a farmer and citizen, and for business integrity.
Mr. Neal was married in 1856 to Miss Margaret(born in Franklin county in 1835) daughter of Alexander F. and Elizabeth(McCracken)Ash. (See sketch of William Ash in Biographies) To them the following children were born: Ella L., wife of W.S. Mise(Mize);William A.; Mary E., wife of R. L .Neal; Laura, and Albert. He is a Master mason, and himself and wife are prominent members of the Presbyterian church.
Source: Memoirs of Georgia, Volume I., Southern Historical Association, 1895
Submitted by: Jacqueline King
OLIVER, W.C.
W. C. OLIVER, farmer, Arp, Banks Co., Ga., son of Jackson and Mary(Maxwell) Oliver, was born in Elbert County GA., in 1836. His paternal grandparents, Dionysius and Jane (Jackson) Oliver, were natives of Virginia, who early in life settled in Elbert county. He was a captain in the patriot army and served through the revolutionary war. His brother built the first house in Petersburg, Elbert county, and his wife's family was related to that of "Stonewall Jackson". Mr. Oliver's father was born in Elbert county, was a farmer and a Methodist preacher; and in 1840 moved to what is now Banks county and settled on the farm where Mr. Oliver now lives. His maternal grandparents, William and Jane E. (Higginbotham) Maxwell, moved to what was then Franklin, now Banks, county, from Elbert county.
Mr. Oliver was raised on the farm and received limited education in the near-by country schools. In 1862 he enlisted in Company A, Capt. Chandler, Twenty-fourth Georgia regiment, but he was soon taken sick and returned home. After the war he taught school for some time, and then returned to farming, in which his success has met his most sanguine expectations. In addition to operating his farm of 225 acres he operates a ginnery and threshing machine and runs a grist and cotton seed mill. He is a progressive and excellent farmer and business man, and is highly esteemed by his neighbors.
Mr. Oliver was married in 1868 to Miss Mary E. (born in Franklin county, now Banks, in 1844), daughter of John and Elizabeth (Scott) Mackey. He was a prosperous farmer of Franklin (now Banks) county. Of the children born to them eight are living; Dewitt, Lovick, Lenora, Denver, Atticus, Nettie, Leila, and John Jackson. He is a Master Mason, and himself and wife are active members of the Methodist Church.
Source: Memoirs of Georgia, Volume I., Southern Historical Asociation,
Submitted by: Jacqueline King
QUILLIAN, H.P.
H. P Quillian, physician and surgeon, Arp, Banks county, Ga., son of O. P. and Jane (Meadows) Quillian, was born in what is now White county, Ga., in 1850. His paternal great-grandfather was a native of Ireland, who married an English lady and settled in Virginia, whence they migrated to Georgia about 1804 and settled in Franklin county. He was a farmer, and a very prominent and widely known Methodist preacher. His maternal grandparents were Barnabas and Jane (Garrison) Meadows. He was a native of Virginia, migrated to Georgia and settled in Franklin (now Banks) county. He was a farmer and a volunteer soldier in the Seminole war. Dr. Quillian's father was born in Franklin county. When he was a boy his father moved to that part of the county now embraced by White county, where he supplemented his farming by engaging in general merchandising.
Dr. Quillian was raised on the farm and received his education from the country schools and the male high school at Elberton, Ga. He taught school for a few years. In 1876 he began the study of medicine under Dr. Matthews, and then attended the university of Georgia, from which he graduated in 1880, and at once entered upon the practice at Arp, and has remained there ever since.
Dr. Quillian was married in 1874 to Miss Mary E. (born in what is now Banks county in 1856), daughter of D. C. and Amelia (Saunders) Oliver. He was born in what is now Banks county, raised a farmer, served in the civil war under Capt. Chandler, Sixteenth Georgia regiment, and afterward went to Athens, Ga., where he is now chief of police. Six children have blessed this union: Tallulah, Edgar, Hattie, Bascom, William, and Annette. He is a member of the I.O.O.F., and himself and wife are members of the Methodist church.
Source: Memoirs of Georgia, Volume I., Southern Historical Association, 1895
Submitted by: Jacqueline King
STRANGE, John E.
JOHN E. STRANGE, farmer, Carnot, Banks Co., Ga., son of William and Polly (White) Strange, was born in Franklin (now Banks) county, Ga., in January, 1832. His paternal grandparents, Seth and Mary (Dobbs) Strange, were natives of Virginia, migrated to Georgia in 1900, and settled in Franklin county. He was of Scotch-Irish descent and a farmer. Mr. Strange'
s father was born in Virginia, and was about two years old when his parents moved to Georgia, and followed farming all his life. His maternal grandparents, Isaac and Rebecca (Hooper) White, were natives of South Carolina. He tendered his services to the government during the war of 1812, but peace was proclaimed before he could get mustered in.
Mr. Strange was raised on the farm, and was educated in the near-by country schools. In 1861 he enlisted in Company A, Capt. Chandler, Twenty-fourth Georgia regiment. With his command he participated in many of the important battles of the war-Seven Day'
s fight around Richmond, Gettysburg, Petersburg, etc.-in fact most of the battles fought by the Army of Northern Virginia. He was captured three days before the surrender, and was sent to Point Lookout, where he was held six weeks. Returning from the war he resumed farming. He commenced with very little, but by working hard, '
making every edge cut,'
and exercising care and attention, he has become the possessor of a good 600-acre farm, which is well improved, and in addition operates a cotton gin and grist mill. He is one of the county'
s best citizens, popular and held in very high esteem.
Mr. Strange was married in 1866 to Miss Judah E. (born in what is now Banks county in 1843), a daughter of George. W. and Nancy (Crow) Poole, native Georgians. He was a well-to-do farmer, and for many years a justice of the peace.
They have six children living: Josie L., wife of Tyrie Duncan; W. H., Robert E., George G., Jessie J., and John W. He is a Master Mason, and himself and wife are prominent members of the Baptist church.
Source: Memoirs of Georgia, Volume 1, by the Southern Historical Association, 1895.
