MUSCOGEE COUNTY, GA - 1827-1865 Bios

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From "The Making of a Modern City: Columbus Georgia, 1827-1865," by John H. MARTIN (1875, reprinted 1972), Volume I:

Biography

P. 42:  "Samuel R. ANDREWS was for a long time one of the
most useful and trusted citizens of Columbus.  No man stood
higher for unyielding integrity and an old-time candor and
sincerity that commended him to the entire confidence of his
fellow-citizens.  Besides holding the office of Town
Treasurer, he was for years an Alderman and a Justice of the
Inferior Court, which position he graced by his impartiality
and good sense.  He was a builder by occupation, and many
edifices whose erection he superintended dot the city.  He
died in 1862, at a good old age."

P. 16:  "Walter T. COLQUITT was for a number of years the
most brilliant (perhaps not the most solid) member of the
bar of Columbus.  He was noted for keenness of wit and
repartee and versatility of talent.  As a lawyer, judge,
both a representative and senator [elected to State Senate
in OCT 1834, per p. 50] in Congress, he was equally
conspicuous and efficient.  He died in Macon, Ga., on the
7th of May, 1855, after a long and painful illness."

P. 43:  "John GODWIN, builder of the first bridge across the
Chattahoochee, was a native of North Caorlina, but removed
from Cheraw, S.C., to Columbus after making the contract to
build the bridge.  He did not reside immediately in the city
for any length of time, but went over into Alabama, and
lived in the immediate vicinity of Fort Ingersoll, a little
military post on the hill upon which the Baptist Church in
Girard now stands [1875].  A number of business men of
Columbus lived there at that time, transacting their
business in town during the day, and sleeping across the
river at night.  Mr. GODWIN was a man of much mechanical
skill, and became quite famous as a bridge builder.  He was
a most useful man in a territory such as this when he
removed to it, and though he is now dead, some of his works
of public improvement ‘live after him.’  He acquired a
quantity of valuable land in Russell county, and made some
improvements far in advance of those common in the country
at that time.  He never filled or sought public office.  He
died in February, 1859, at the age of 61 years."

P. 42:  "Dr. Stephen M. INGERSOLL was a man of original
views and much business enterprise.  He removed quite early
to Russell county, nearly opposite Columbus, and for some
years gave the city trouble by his litigation for Alabama
rights which he claimed for the west bank of the river.  He
was much liked by the Indians, and, while he was prompt to
inform the Whites of any hostile demonstrations or
intentions by the Red Men, he always opposed any harsh
treatment of the latter.  He acquired considerable property
in Russell county, and had generally on foot some business
enterprise in which the public were interested.  He died two
or three years ago, at an age not far short of four score [a
"score" is twenty years]."  [First published in 1875]

PP. 42-43:  "Seaborn JONES removed from Milledgeville to
Columbus.  He was one of the shrewdest and most successful
lawyers in Georgia, well versed in the pleadings, and
managing his cases with an adroitness that often surprised
opposing counsel.  He was elected to Congress, this year
[1833], in a contest that greatly divided the vote of
Muscogee county – both M. B. LAMAR and John MILTON opposing
him, and LAMAR especially taking off many votes that JONES
would have received had he not been in the field.  He
[JONES] made an able member of Congress, and was again
elected in 1844, by a close vote, after a spirited contest
with the able Whig candidate, Wm. H. CRAWFORD of Sumter.  He
died March 18, 1864, in the ____ year of his age."

P. 16:  "Mirabeau B. LAMAR severed his connection with the
‘Enquirer’ [Columbus newspaper] on the 1st of October, 1830.
He represented Muscogee county in the Legislature of Georgia
in 1829’30.  Shortly after his retirement from the
‘Enquirer’ he removed to Texas, and there received the
highest honors within the gift of the people.  He was
elected President of the young and independent Republic in
1838.  He died in Texas in December, 1859.  Gen. L[AMAR] was
twice married.  His first wife is buried in the cemetery in
this city; his second was a daughter of the Rev. John
Newland MAFFITT."

PP. 43-44:  "Ulysses LEWIS was a man of characteristics
peculiarly fitted to impress and mould frontier society, and
no doubt contributed much to the giving of tone to the
civilization of both Columbus and Russell County, Ala., to
which county he removed with the first wave of white
settlement.  He was sternly upright and just, with a courage
for any emergency, and a fund of hard common sense that made
him the very man for leadership in such a country.  After
his removal to Alabama, he was for a number of years Judge
of the County (now Probate) Court of Russell, and made one
of the best and most satisfactory county officers in the
State.  He died in August, 1856."