Grady-Bulloch-Decatur County GaArchives Biographies.....Wight, John Byron 1859 - living in 1913
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 November 1, 2004, 7:23 pm

Author: William Harden
p. 1054-1057

   JOHN BYRON WIGHT, proprietor of Pecan Grove farm, nursery and orchard at
Cairo has been a man of much prominence, and among the pioneers in the
agricultural development of this state. He was one of the very first, some
twenty-five years ago, to undertake pecan culture on a commercial basis. His
accomplishments as a successful grower of pecans are now known all over the
southeastern states. He has had a career of varied and valuable service. Mr.
Wight was born at Sofkee, in Decatur (now Grady) county, September 28, 1859.

   His early life was spent during the decade of the Civil war and
reconstruction. From the rural schools he entered Emory College, graduating with
the degree of A. B. in 1881. For a brief while he taught in Sofkee; then in 1882
entered Vanderbilt University at Nashville, and spent two years preparing for
the Methodist ministry, graduating from that institution in 1884. In the
meantime he taught a year and a half at Cairo, and in December, 1886, joined the
South Georgia Conference and served consecutively the Trinity circuit, Darien
Station, and the Eden circuit. In 1888 he was chosen principal of the Macon
District High School at Snow. He was there for one year, and then taught as
principal of the Cairo high school for eight years.

   The professions of teacher and minister were not to keep him permanently from
his career as an agriculturist and pomologist. While at work in the school room
he had become interested in farming and fruit growing. In 1887 he planted his
first nuts for the cultivation of pecans on a commercial scale, and his first
pecan grove was among the pioneer groves in Georgia. In a paper read by Mr.
Wight before the American Pomological Society, February 11, 1911, he gave the
productive records of a tree, a budded Frotscher, which had been set at his home
in Cairo in January, 1892. Mr. Wight explained that it was an exceptional tree,
by situation and care bestowed upon it, but its production is not less
interesting as showing the possibilities of Georgia pecan culture. The first
pound of nuts was gathered in 1897. In the ten year period from 1903 to 1912
inclusive, the average production of the single tree was one hundred and
sixty-seven pounds, the largest seasonal yield, 352 pounds, being produced in
1909. The average value of the crop during the last five years has been one
hundred dollars. The last three paragraphs of Mr. Wight's paper deserve
quotation:—"The bugbear of overproduction has been haunting some who are afraid
that more nuts will be produced than can be profitably marketed. With a product
as nutritious and palatable as pecans, this generation nor the next will ever
see a glut in the pecan market. As nuts become more plentiful, and consequently
cheaper in price, there will not only be more consumed but those who are already
eating them will use more. Furthermore, they will be introduced into the markets
of the world, and hundreds of millions of people will be consuming them where
there are now only millions. Our physicians and scientists are telling us that
if more nuts and fruits were eaten and less meats, that we would be healthier,
and if healthier, then happier. Pecans are getting to be more and more a staple
product. Future generations may see over-production; but when that far distant
time is reached, wheat will be a glut in the market, and porterhouse steak will
go begging for a buyer.

   "I cannot close this paper without urging that every person in the pecan
belt, which is practically commensurate with the cotton growing region should
grow at least a few pecan trees. The unfortunate dwellers in the most crowded
parts of our cities may not have room. But there are few homes, even in our
cities and large towns, where there is not enough space to accommodate one or
more trees. One tree, when well established, will furnish nuts sufficient to
last the average family for a year. And a farmer, though he may have only a few
acres of land, is neglecting a most profitable money crop when he fails to set
out a few pecan trees around his garden and yard. These trees will furnish a
shade in summer, nuts in the winter, and will add beauty and stateliness and
comfort all the time. There are few New England homes that have not their apple
and other fruit trees; and the day should not be far distant when the same can
be said of pecan trees growing about the homes in our Southland. As shade trees
they are beautiful; and there are none that yield more in pleasure and profit
than do pecans.

   "Twenty-three years ago I read this advice from a veteran pecan grower, who
still abides with us: 'Young man, set a pecan grove, and when you are old it
will support you.' I believed then that the advice was sound; I now know it is
so. And so I will pass the word along: Young man, plant a pecan grove. It will
help to make your days happier and your pockets heavier. It will lighten your
burdens while here; and when you are gone, your children and children's children
will rise up and call you blessed."

   Mr. Wight has prospered and built up a splendid enterprise as a farmer and
nut grower. He is now owner of eight hundred acres of land, of which one hundred
and fifty are planted in pecans. As a successful fruit and nut grower, he has a
prominent place among Georgia horticulturists. He is a member of the Georgia
Horticultural Society, and is now its treasurer. He is prominent in the National
Nut Growers' Association, has served two years as president of the Association
in 1908 and 1910, and is now its secretary.

   On July 25, 1888, Mr. Wight married Miss Alice Slater. She was born in
Bullock county, Georgia, June 20, 1864, daughter of John G. and Susan (Cone)
Slater. Mr. and Mrs. Wight's seven children are George Ward, John Slater, Robert
Pratt, Laleah Adams, Warren Candler, Edward Allen and John Byron, Jr. Mr. Wight
has a beautiful home in Cairo, built in modern colonial style. Mr. Wight is a
member of Cairo Lodge No. 299, A. F. & A. M., of which he is now worshipful
master; and is also a Royal Arch Mason.

   For more than eighty years the Wight family has been represented in southern
Georgia. The first generation was among the earliest pioneers in the settlement
and development of Decatur county. In the second generation were worthy men and
women who bore with equal fidelity their responsibilities to the world, and
several representatives of the name were soldiers in the Confederate army during
the great struggle between the states.

   The original American ancestor was Thomas Wight. He was born on the Isle of
Wight, came to America as early as 1635, remained for a short time at Watertown,
in Massachusetts, and in 1637 became a resident and free holder in Dedham,
Massachusetts. He moved to Medfield about 1650, spending the rest of his days on
a farm in that town. One of his descendants, William Ward Wight, of Milwaukee,
Wisconsin, has compiled a very interesting history of the Wight family. Its
pages state that Thomas Wight and his four sons and a son-in-law contributed to
the fund for the erection of the first brick college on the campus in Cambridge,
which is now Harvard University. Thomas Wight's contribution was four bushels of
Indian corn, which was good legal tender in those days.

   The more immediate ancestry of the Georgia family begins with Rev. Henry
Wight, D. D., who was a student in Harvard University, when the Revolutionary
war broke out, and left his studies for a time to serve in the patriot army. He
subsequently was graduated from Harvard, and became a minister of the
Congregational church, and served as pastor of the church in Bristol, Rhode
Island, for fifty years.

   His son, Henry Wight, transferred the family history to Georgia. Born at
Bristol, Rhode Island, November 5, 1791, in early life lie followed the sea and
was later commander of vessels in the coastwise trade. Leaving the sea, he
engaged in the mercantile business, and in 1829 came South and located in
Georgia. A boat brought him as far as Savannah. From there he used teams to
convey his goods and family across the state to Decatur county. Decatur county
at that time lay in the almost unbroken wilderness of Georgia. There were no
regular roads except the trails cut out among the trees by the pioneers. The
woods teemed with wild game of all kinds; and in the hills and valleys the
Indians still lingered, loath to quit this country which had so long been their
hunting ground. Mr. Wight bought a large tract of timberland; and in the first
clearing built the log house which was the original home of the Wight family in
Georgia. Henry Wight, in keeping with the traditions of New England where he was
born and reared, was a man of superior education; and after coming to South
Georgia, taught school. He later opened a store at Sofkee. His stock of goods
was drawn overland in carts from St. Marks, Florida, wagons being then almost
unknown as vehicles of transportation. Henry Wight was a resident of Sofkee,
until his death in February, 1885, when in his ninety-fourth year. He had
married in Bristol, Rhode Island, Miss Abby Wardwell. Her father, Capt. Samuel
Wardwell, was a large ship owner, and eighteen of his vessels were destroyed by
French privateers in 1798 and 1799, when there was a quasi state of war between
France and the United States. In reparation for this loss payment was demanded
from the French government, and the claim was still pending when the Louisiana
purchase was made. At that time, in addition to the sum paid for the western
territory, the United States assumed responsibility for the settlement of all
claims against France. But in this case, an entire century passed before
settlement was made, a remarkable illustration of government delay. In 1899 the
heirs of Captain Wardwell were awarded payment for the loss of one ship
destroyed a century before, and Mr. J. B. Wight, as one of such heirs, got a two
hundred and fortieth part of the total sum, his share amounting to $8.33. Abby
(Wardwell) Wight died in October, 1871, and her children were named: William
Henry, Abby Wardwell, Samuel Bowen, John, Byron Diman, and George Alden.

   George Alden Wight, father of John Byron, established a store at Sofkee, when
nineteen years of age. In 1863 he enlisted in the Georgia Volunteers, and was in
service with his company and regiment in Georgia and Florida until the close of
the war. In 1871 he began business at Cairo, being one of the earliest merchants
in the town. When he located there, business was conducted in two small stores
kept in log cabins. Mr. Wight himself erected a good frame building and put in a
stock of general merchandise. Wight & Powell was the first business title, and
subsequently G. A. Wight & Sons. He continued as a merchant at Cairo until his
death occurred on August 21, 1894. In the meantime having bought the property of
White Springs, Florida, he erected a hotel which was operated by a lessee.
George Alden Wight was married November 11, 1858, to Julia Florence Herring, who
was born in Decatur county, Georgia, July 7, 1845, a daughter of Hanson and Amy
C. (Anders) Herring. Her death occurred September 7, 1860. For his second wife
he married Margaret Louisa Powell, a daughter of Kedar and Amanda Melvina
Powell. John Byron Wight was the only child of the first marriage, and of the
second union there were children named Henry, Kedar Powell, William Samuel,
Carrie Bell, Thomas. Walter Lee, Alice Pearl, George Alden, and Margaret
Augusta. All these ten children of George A. Wight have grown to maturity. Most
of them are still living in Cairo where they are prominent factors in the social
and business life of their section. The parents were both members of the
Methodist church, and the father belonged to the Masonic fraternity.


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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