Brooks-Screven County GaArchives Biographies.....McCall, John Goldwire 1836 - living in 1913
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 October 17, 2004, 5:39 pm

Author: William Harden
p. 732-733

   JOHN GOLDWIRE McCALL, LL. D. A man of broad culture and high mental
attainments, John Goldwire McCall, LL. D., of Quitman, is a fine representative
of the legal fraternity of Brooks county, and a credit to the profession which
he has followed so many years, and with such distinguished success. A son of
Francis S. McCall, he was born, January 18, 1836, in Screven county, Georgia. He
is of Scotch ancestry, his great grandfather on the paternal side having
emigrated from Scotland to America in early colonial days, settling, it is
probable in the South, though very little is known of his subsequent history.

   Rev. William McCall, father of Francis S. McCall, was a preacher in the
Missionary Baptist church, and was also a planter of note, carrying on his
agricultural labor with the help of slaves. He lived to a ripe old age, spending
the later days of his long and useful life in Screven county. His wife, whose
maiden name was Mary Pierce, survived him a few years. They reared eight
children, as follows: George, Moses, Charles, Joshua, John, James, Francis S.,
and Laura.

   A few years after his marriage, Francis S. McCall removed from Screven
county, the place of his birth, to Telfair county, where he took up land, and
was for a few years engaged in agricultural labors. Selling his plantation in
1845, he removed to Lowndes county, and there purchased a tract of land that is
now included within the boundaries of Brooks county, it being situated nine
miles south of the present site of Quitman. The family journeyed from one county
to the other by private conveyances, the household goods having been transported
in carts drawn by oxen or horses. At that time all of southern Georgia was but
sparsely populated, while deer, bear, wild turkeys, and other game
was-plentiful, furnishing the new-comers with an ample supply of food. Clearing
a space, he erected a house from timber which was first hewed ten inches square,
and then split with a whip saw that was operated by two of his slaves, one
standing on top of the timber and the other below. Railroads, and telegraph and
telephone lines were then unknown, and Tallahassee, seventy-five miles away, and
Saint Marks, eighty-five miles distant, were the nearest markets and depots for
supplies. The cotton and other surplus productions of the land had to be taken
by -team to one of these points, the teamster on his return trip bringing back a
load of household supplies. All the sugar used was made at home, and in the
smithy which stood upon the plantation a slave made all the plows, wagons and
agricultural implements needed for use in carrying on the place, in the meantime
tannins all the leather used for harnesses and shoes. The shoes, however, for
the entire family, and for the slaves as well, were made by the typical cobbler
of those early-days, an Irishman who made the rounds of the new settlement each
year. On the farm which he cleared and improved. Francis S. McCall spent the
remainder of his life, passing away in 1876, at the age of sixty-six years.

   Francis S. McCall married Ann Dobson. She was born in Beaufort, South
Carolina, where her father, an extensive and wealthy planter, was a lifelong
resident. She died in 1901, aged eighty-five years. Thirteen children were born
into their household, as follows: John Gold-wire, James H., Rebecca, Jane,
Wilson C., Mary, Elvira, Clementine, Joshua R., Richard M., Thomas B., Harry J.,
and Adda.

   John Goldwire McCall received good educational advantages, in 18—, being
graduated from the Union University, in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. A few months
later he was made professor of Greek and Hebrew in that same institution, and
was successfully filling that chair when war between the states was declared.
Immediately offering his services to the Confederacy, Mr. McCall was
commissioned first lieutenant of Company K, Fiftieth Georgia Volunteer Infantry,
and with his regiment joined the Army of the Potomac in Virginia, having command
of his company until he was wounded. Immediately after the engagement at
Sharpsburg, he was given charge of a section of artillery and of three companies
of infantry that were guarding a bridge across Antietam creek, and while on duty
he was severely wounded by a minnie ball passing through his face. He was
immediately taken to the hospital for treatment, and during his convalescence he
was elected ordinary of Brooks county, Georgia.

   Being disabled for further service in the army, Mr. McCall returned to his
native state to accept the position to which he had been chosen, and for four
years filled the office acceptably to all concerned. While thus employed he
studied law, and having been admitted to the bar located in Quitman as a lawyer,
and has been in active practice here since, with the exception of four years
when' he was judge of the city court. Mr. McCall has been influential in public
affairs, the people having great confidence in his ability, judgment and
discretion. He has served as judge of probate for Brooks county, and as mayor of
Quitman, administering the affairs of each office wisely and well. He is
president of the board of trustees of Mercer University, which in 1894,
conferred upon him the degree of LL. D.

   Dr. McCall married, in 1867, Rosa Elizabeth Bobo, who was born in Glenville,
Alabama, a daughter of Dr. Virgil and Sarah Hanson (Black) Bobo. She is a sister
of Hon. Edward J. Black, and an aunt of Hon. George R. Black, members of
congress. Dr. and Mrs. McCall are the parents of five children, namely: Rosa
Lee, Rachel Black, Nonnie Bobo, John F. and Edna Florida.

   Rosa Lee married John 0. Lewis and has five children, Rosa Hunt, Minnie
Cleborn, John 0., Frank McCall and Virgil Bobo. Rachel Black, wife of Charles F.
Cater, has one child, John McCall Cater. Nonnie B. is living with her parents.
Edna F., wife of Albert L. Tidwell, has t\YO children, Rose Elizabeth and Edna
McCall. Dr. and Mrs. McCall and their family are members of the Missionary
Baptist church. In politics the judge is a stanch adherent of the Democratic
party.


Additional Comments:
From:

A HISTORY OF SAVANNAH AND SOUTH GEORGIA
BY
WILLIAM HARDEN

VOLUME II
ILLUSTRATED
THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY
CHICAGO AND NEW YORK
1913




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