Tattnall County, Ga Biographies  Washington Manassas Foy

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FOY, Washington Manassas, merchant and manufacturer, Manassas,
Ga., was born near Egypt, Effingham Co., Jan. 23,1862. He was
the son of George W. and Mary Jane Foy, the husband having been
born Oct. 23,1825, in Effingham county, two miles from Egypt,
and has been a resident of that county all his life. He was a
farmer, a lumber and timber dealer, and was the oldest of
sixteen children. He is still living, and is a faithful member
of the Baptist church, and a high Mason, he was married to Mary
Jane Brinson of Screven county, Ga, a daughter of Simon
Brinson. There were born to them five children, viz.: Entoil
Tallulah; Geo. Brinson, deceased; Ida Gertrude; Washington
Manassas; and Edward Jackson. Mr. W.M. Foy married Miss Maxie
Poneta Olliff, of Excelsior, Bulloch Co., a daughter of W.W.
and America Kenedy Olliff. They were married July 8,1891, and
have two boys, both dead, Geo. W., born Nov. 9,1892, and died
at fourteen months; and William Olliff, who died when nine
months old. Mr. W.M. Foy first entered the turpentine and
sawmill business when he began life on his own account. He sold
out the latter and has in recent years been engaged in raising
sea island cotton, in the manufacture of turpentine and resin,
and in his mercantile interests. He came to the place where he
now resides Nov. 18,1889. It was just before the S. & W.
railroad was built, and liking the location he laid out the
town of Manassas and so named it, and built the first house.
The neat little town now has over 250 people, and bids fair to
increase for many years to come. The principal shipments from
the place are naval supplies, lumber and sea island cotton. He
has three places for manufacturing the former, and the past
year produced two thousand barrels of spirits of turpentine and
eight thousand barrels of resin, and employs about 125
laborers, which is the largest output in this section of the
state. He operates about 525,000 boxes, which increased in 1895
about twenty per cent. Mr. Foy's merchandise trade in his store
at Manassas is about $25,000 annually. Mr. Foy attended school
for several years at a private institution situated near his
father's home. He entered Mercer college in 1880, and graduated
in 1883 at the state university at Athens. He is a member of
the Kappa Alpha fraternity. He and his wife joined the Baptist
church at Excelsior, Bulloch Co., and transferred their letters
and helped organize the church at Manassas. The town of
Manassas has a fine school, and in a business way is considered
one of the best towns on the S. & W. railroad. The place is
located with natural drainage, which is a great health
protector. It is in the heart of the pine timber belt, and is
surrounded by splendid farming lands. Near it is the largest
saw mill in the county, which cuts about 40,000 feet per day.
The town was commenced in 1889, and promises in the next decade
to show a marvelous increase in population. Mr. Foy is regarded
as one of Tattnall's best business men. He is progressive, and
does not hesitate to go into any enterprise which will redound
to the development of Manassas and his country.