Terrell-Troup-Coweta County GaArchives Biographies.....Griggs, James Mathews 1861 - 1910 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 October 18, 2004, 7:30 pm Author: William Harden p. 771-775 HON. JAMES MATHEWS GRIGGS. A man of superior judgment and rare discrimination, thoroughly progressive and public-spirited, Hon. James Mathews Griggs, late of Dawson, attained distinction not only for his loyal citizenship and unquestioned legal ability, but for the services he rendered his fellow-men as a public servant. Summoned from the scene of his earthly endeavors while yet in the midst of life's most useful and honorable activities, his death having occurred January 5, 1910, his name will be held in loving remembrance and lasting honor in the annals of Terrell county. A native of Georgia, he was born, March 29, 1861, in La Grange, Troup county, of Welsh ancestry, being fifth in direct line of descent from the immigrant ancestor, his lineage being thus traced: William,[1] John,[2] Wesley,[3] Augustus Franklin [4] and James Mathews.[5] William [1] Griggs was born and reared in Wales. In early manhood he came to America, accompanied by a brother who settled in New England, while he located in Virginia. During the Revolution he fought with the Colonists in their struggle for freedom, after which he settled permanently near Norfolk, Virginia, where he spent his remaining years. John [2] Griggs was born and educated in Virginia, but when ready to begin life for himself migrated to Georgia, locating in Hancock county, which was his home for many years. He died, however, in Harris county, and his body was there buried on his son's plantation. The maiden name of his wife was Rebecca Pritchett. Wesley [3] Griggs engaged in agricultural pursuits, and with the help of slaves cleared and improved a valuable plantation in Putnam county, near Eatonton. He married Nancy Elizabeth Brown, a daughter of Jeremiah and Annie (Beasley) Brown, life-long residents of Clark county, Georgia, Augustus Franklin [4] Griggs was born on the old home plantation in Putnam county, and was there brought up. He finished his education at Mercer University. Soon after the breaking out of the war between the states, he enlisted in Company E, Forty-first Georgia Volunteer Infantry, under command of Capt. Charles A. McDaniel. At Murfreesboro he joined Capt. C. B. Ferrell's Artillery Company, in which he served faithfully until the close of the conflict. He subsequently embarked in mercantile pursuits, first at La Grange, and later in Atlanta, Georgia, where he continued in business until his death, m 1870. He married Elizabeth Rebecca Mathews, who was born in Stewart county, Georgia, of distinguished ancestry, having been a descendant in the fifth generation from Isaac Mathews, who was a grandson of Sir Thomas Mathews, of Mathews county, Virginia, and a lineal descendant of Sir David Mathews, of Llandaff, Wales. Isaac [3] Mathews, third in descent from Sir Thomas Mathews, the immigrant, married his cousin, Mary Mathews, who, like himself, was a Virginian by birth. Mary Mathews was the fifth in line of descent from one Samuel Mathews, the line being thus traced: Samuel,[1] Samuel,[2] John,[3] Samuel,[4] and Mary.[5]. Samuel [1] Mathews was born in England, a son of Tobias Mathews. When young he was sent by King James the First to Virginia, and by him appointed commander of the British army, later being made governor of the colony of Virginia. This Governor Samuel [1] Mathews married a daughter of Sir Thomas Hinton of Virginia. Their son, Samuel [2] Mathews, represented Warwick county, in the years 1652 and 1655, in the Virginia assembly. He was active in military and public affairs, having served as lieutenant colonel in the King's army, and as a member of the King's council. John[3] Mathews. the next in line of descent, was born in Virginia, and became a citizen of prominence. He married Elizabeth, the only daughter, and the heiress, of Michael Taverner, of York county, Virgina, and subsequently occupied the old Mathews homestead, “Denbeigh," near Blunt Point, Virginia. Samuel [4] Mathews, father of Mary Mathews, married a Miss Braxton, and their daughter Mary, as mentioned above, became the wife of Isaac [3] Mathews, and their son Moses was the great-grandfather of Elizabeth Rebecca Mathews. Moses [4] Mathews learned the trade of a gun maker in Virginia, his native state, and when ready to establish himself in business removed to Winfield, South Carolina, where, during the Revolutionary war he made guns for General Sumter. His wife, whose maiden name was Sarah Findley, was born and bred in Virginia. Their son, Rev. James [5] Mathews, went from Virginia to South Carolina, and did service as a soldier in the Revolutionary war. Soon after the close of the conflict he settled in Lincoln county, Georgia, where he bought a plantation, and in addition to his agricultural labors served as pastor of a Baptist church in Burke county, a brief account of his pastorate being given in Campbell's History of the Georgia Baptists. The maiden name of his wife was Rebecca Carlton. She was born, reared and educated in old Virginia. Her father, Robert Carlton, who, with his brother, Thomas Carlton, emigrated from England to America, settling in King and Queen county, Virginia, where he married a Miss Wafford. He fought with the colonists in their struggle for independence, and later, in 1785, migrated with his family to Georgia, becoming a pioneer settler of Wilkes county, where he spent his remaining days. Rev. James [6] Mathews entered the ministry when a young man, and for a time preached in "Wilkes county. Moving from there to Stewart county, he bought a plantation in the vicinity of Lumpkin, and for many years carried on farming with the help of slaves. He held pastorates in Lumpkin and Benevolence, and served as one of the first moderators of the Bethel Association. He died when but fifty years old, on his home plantation. He married Kiturah Pope, a descendant in the sixth generation from Lieutenant Colonel Nathaniel Pope, who was styled "A Gentleman of England," the line of descent being as follows: Lieutenant Colonel Nathaniel [2] Pope, Nathaniel [2] Pope, Nathaniel [3] Pope, John [4] Pope, John Henry [5] Pope, Capt. John [6] Pope, and Kiturah [7] Pope. Lieut. Col. Nathaniel [1] Pope sailed from Bristol, England, for America in 1634, and located in Maryland, where he became a leader in affairs of state, in 1637 and 1638 serving as a member of the Maryland house of burgesses. Prior to 1650 he was granted by King Charles the First ten hundred and fifty acres of land in Westmoreland county, Virginia, and immediately assumed its possession, naming his new home place Pope's Creek. In 1652 he was appointed lieutenant colonel of militia, and had among his officers, as major, his son-in-law, John Washington, great-grandfather of George Washington. Nathaniel [2] Pope married Mary Sissons. Their son, Nathaniel [3] Pope, through whom the line of descent was continued, married Jane Brooks Brown, and continued a resident of Virginia until his death. Their son John 4 married his cousin, Elizabeth Pope. John Henry [5] Pope, a native of Virginia, married Mary Burwell. He was an ensign in the Revolutionary army, serving in North Carolina. After the war he came to Georgia, settling in Wilkes county, where he remained a resident until his death, in 1804. Of his five sons, one died ere the family left North Carolina, and the others settled in Georgia. Capt. John [6] Pope commanded a company of North Carolina troops in the Revolutionary war, and after locating in Georgia had command of a body of soldiers in Wilkes county. He married Elizabeth Smith, and both spent their last years in Wilkes county. Kiturah [7] Pope, who became the wife of Rev. James [6] Mathews, survived him, and married for her second husband Henry Long. She died, at the age of seventy-six years, in Senoia, Georgia. Elizabeth Rebecca [7] Mathews, mother of Hon. James Mathews Griggs, married first at a very early age Ephraim Smith Vernal. After his death she became the wife of Augustus Franklin [4] Griggs, whom she survived, passing away in Dawson, Georgia, June 21, 1910, having then lived a widow for forty, years. She reared four children, as follows: Ella Vernal; James Mathews, the special subject of this sketch; Charles Brown, and Augustus Pope. Hon. James Mathews [5] Griggs acquired his elementary education in the public schools of Senoia, After the death of his father he made his home for a time with Dr. Albert Mathews, in Elberton, where he continued his studies in the public schools. Subsequently completing the course of study in the Peabody Normal School, at Nashville, Tennessee. Mr. Griggs went from there to Palatka, Florida, where for two years he was principal of schools. Desirous of entering the legal profession, he then began the study of law in Canton, Georgia, with Hon. George Brown, and was admitted to the bar in 1884. Locating immediately in Jackson, Georgia, Mr. Griggs was for awhile there associated with Judge Marcus Beck. Going then to Berrien county, he embarked in journalistic work, editing a paper in Alapha. Taking up his residence in Dawson in 1885, Mr. Griggs soon built up an extensive and lucrative law patronage, and likewise became prominent and influential in public affairs. Prom 1888 until 1893 he was solicitor general of the Pataula Circuit Court, and from 1893 until 1896 was judge of the Superior Court, Pataula Circuit. In 1896 Mr. Griggs was elected to represent the Third Congressional District of Georgia in the United States Congress, and gave such eminent satisfaction in that high position that he was continued as a representative to Congress by re-election until his death, in 1910. He served on many important committees, including that of Committee on Ways and Means. Mr. Griggs was not known as a temperance man or a church worker, but he won recognition as an able lawyer and legislator, and was popular with the masses. On July 14,1886, Mr. Griggs was united in marriage with Miss Theodosia Stewart, who was born in Randolph county, Georgia, a daughter of Hon. Daniel Randall Stewart, and granddaughter of John Stewart, who was for more than four score years a resident of Georgia. Mrs. Griggs's great-grandfather, Daniel Randall Stewart, was born and bred in Scotland, and there married Margaret Smith. Shortly after that important event, he came with his bride to America, crossing the ocean in 1800, and locating first in Buncombe county, North Carolina. Coming from there to Georgia in 1816, he purchased a tract of land bordering on Tobesofkee creek, in Bibb county. At that time all of South Georgia was in its primeval wildness, Indians claiming the country roundabout as their happy hunting grounds, while the forests were inhabted by deer, turkeys, and wild animals of many kinds. He subsequently moved to Marion county, where he resided until his death, at the advanced age of four score and four years. John Stewart was quite young when brought by his parents to Georgia. When ready to establish a home of his own, he bought land in Randolph county, and was there engaged in general farming until his death, at the venerable age of eighty-nine years. His wife, whose maiden name was Catherine Giles, died when but forty-three years old. She was a daughter of John and Mary (Tarver) Giles, the former of whom was born in Jones county, Georgia, and the latter in Hancock county, of Virginian ancestry. Honorable Daniel Randall Stewart, father of Mrs. Griggs, was born in Marion county, Georgia, and there obtained his early education in the rural schools. When seventeen years old he enlisted for service in the war between the states, joining the first body of state troops, and with his command going to the coast. Afterwards becoming a member of Company G, Fifty-fifth Georgia Volunteer Infantry, he served until the close of the conflict. Two of his older brothers served throughout the entire war, and a younger brother was an active participant during the latter part of the conflict. After the war, he was for a time employed as a clerk in the store of Captain Ben Smith, at Cuthbert, and later bought a farm lying twelve miles south of Cuthbert, and there spent the remainder of his active life engaged in agricultural pursuits. Active and alert, and possessing sound judgment and good executive ability, he was successful from the beginning of his career, by means of thrift and excellent management accumulating a fortune. On retiring from active business, he moved to Dawson, where his death occurred at the age of three score and ten years. Mr. Stewart became prominent in public affairs, for upwards of twenty years serving as jury commissioner, while for two terms he was representative to the State Legislature, and for one term was state senator. The maiden name of the wife of Honorable Daniel Randall Stewart was Nancy Olivia Pope. She was born in Washington county, Georgia, a daughter of Reverend Wiley Mobley Pope, and is now living in Daw-son with Mrs. Griggs, her only child. Her paternal grandfather, Jonathan Pope, was born and bred in Virginia, from there going as a young man to Sampson county, North Carolina, where he resided several years. In 1814 he migrated to Georgia, settling in Laurens county, where he bought a tract of wild land, and began the pioneer task of clearing and improving a farm. He was making very good progress in his work when, three years later, in 1817, he passed to the life beyond. Jonathan Pope married Elizabeth Cooper, who was born in Duplin county, North Carolina, a daughter of Reverend Fleet Cooper, Jr. Her grandfather, Fleet Cooper, Sr., who married Emily Anders, a life-long resident of North Carolina, was one of the signers of the North Carolina Oath of Allegiance and Abjuration passed by the Assembly at Newbern, November 15,1777. He was exempt from taxes in Duplin county, where, as far as is known, he spent his entire life. His son, Reverend Fleet Cooper, Jr., was a prominent preacher in North Carolina, holding pastorates in various Baptist churches, and both he and his father received large grants of land in Duplin county. The maiden name of his wife was Sarah Scott. Reverend Wiley Mobley Pope was born in Sampson county, North Carolina. Studying for the ministry, he became a Baptist preacher, and after coming to Georgia held pastorates in both Laurens and Washington counties. After the death of his wife he moved to Randolph county, and for several years filled the pulpit of the Rehobeth Baptist Church, near Shellman. He married Martha Williams Bryan, whose father, Jason Bryan, migrated from North Carolina, his native state, to Georgia, and spent his last days in Washington county, where he was a successful agriculturist. Jason Bryan married Penelope Gainer, whose father, William Gainer, married, near Petersburg, Virginia, Martha Williams, and settled in Washington county, Georgia, where, in 1790, land was granted him by the Government. Ten children, nine daughters and one son blessed their union, a descendant of one of the daughters, having married Honorable Daniel Randall Stewart, as before mentioned. Mr. and Mrs. Griggs were the parents of three children, namely: Ella Vernal, Daniel Stewart, and Augusta Pope. Ella Vernal Griggs, who married Edgar Whitfield Hollingsworth, died at the age of twenty-two years, leaving one child, Theodosia Hollingsworth. Augusta. Griggs married Thomas B. Raines. 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 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/terrell/bios/gbs300griggs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/gafiles/ File size: 16.0 Kb