Thomas-Montgomery County GaArchives Biographies.....Gandy, Thomas Neal 1836 - living in 1913
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 October 21, 2004, 2:24 pm

Author: William Harden
p. 881-882

   CAPT. THOMAS NEAL GANDY. Occupying an honored position among the substantial
business men of Brooks county, Capt. T. N. Gandy for a quarter of a century was
actively identified with the advancement of the mercantile interests of Dixie as
one of its leading general merchants. A son of Book A. Gandy, he was born
December 30, 1836, in Thomas county, Georgia, of pioneer stock. According to
tradition, the immigrant ancestor of the Gandy family came from England to
America in colonial times, settling in South Carolina. He was twice married, his
first wife bearing him twelve daughters, while his second wife became the mother
of twelve sons, from whom the Gandys of the present generation are descended.

   Brinkley Gandy, the captain's grandfather, was born and reared in South
Carolina. In 1803, accompanied by his family, he came to Georgia, locating as a
pioneer in what is now Montgomery county, where he bought land, and was
subsequently engaged in farming until his death. His wife, whose maiden name was
Leah Nasworthy, was born in South Carolina, of English ancestry.

   Born in Darlington district, South Carolina, in September, 1801, Book A.
Gandy was but two years old when his parents brought him to Georgia. Growing to
manhood in Montgomery county, he remained on the home farm until 1825, when he
became one of the earlier settlers of Thomas county. Buying a tract of land five
miles east of Thomasville, he began the pioneer labor of hewing a farm from the
forest. Four of his brothers came with him to Thomasville, and each subsequently
married, and raised large families. After clearing quite a portion of his land,
he sold, and bought another tract twelve miles east of Thomasville, and was
there a resident until his death, in the seventy-fifth year of his age. He
married Elizabeth Browning, who was born in Montgomery county, Georgia. Her
father, Daniel Browning, a native of North Carolina, settled in Montgomery
county, Georgia, in 1803. In 1827 he removed to Thomas county, and having
purchased land four miles east of Thomasville was there engaged in tilling the
soil a number of seasons. Retiring then from active pursuits, he spent the
remainder of his long life of four score years with his children. He married
Honor Grace, who was born, it is thought, in Tattnall county, Georgia. Seven
sons and three daughters were born into their household, all of whom were living
at the breaking out of the Civil war, at its close the mother, one daughter and
four sons had joined the silent majority on the other side. Of the marriage of
Book A. and Elizabeth (Browning) Gandy, ten children were born, as follows:
Thomas N., Henry, Book, Brinkley and Maria, twins, Fatima, Albert, Taylor, Mary
and William. Five of the sons served in the Confederate army during the war
between the states, four of whom, Henry, Book, Brinkley and Albert, lost their
lives in the service.

   Brought up in Thomas county, T. N. Gandy acquired his early education in the
public schools, and was well trained in the different branches of agriculture as
a youth. About 1859 his father gave him a farm, and two years later, at the
outbreak of the Civil war, he enlisted in the company known as the Thomas County
Volunteers. He was mustered in as first sergeant of his company, and six mouths
later was promoted to the rank of lieutenant. The company was attached to the
Twenty-ninth Georgia Volunteer Infantry, which was first sent to the Atlantic
coast, and later to northern Georgia to oppose Sherman's forces. In the summer
of 1864 Mr. Gandy was commissioned captain of a company of Georgia Reserves,
which was assigned to the Twelfth Georgia Volunteer Infantry, and of that
company he had command until the close of the conflict.

   Returning then to Georgia, Captain Gandy resumed work on the farm which his
father had given him. He subsequently sold out, purchased eleven hundred acres
of land in the same county, and for eight years successfully managed his large
plantation. Selling that property, Captain Gandy was for a few years engaged in
the livery business at Thomasville. In 1887 he opened a general store in Dixie,
and here, by his systematic business methods, his strict attention to all of its
details, and his thoroughly upright dealings, he met with most gratifying
results, winning for himself an honorable record as a merchant. He sold out his
place of business in August, 1912.

   Captain Gandy married, January 26, 1859, Miss Maggie Kemp, daughter of Peter
and Alley Kemp, of Thomas county. Both the captain and Mrs. Gandy are members of
the Methodist Episcopal church, South. Politically the captain was formerly a
Whig, but is now an earnest supporter of the principles enunciated by the
Democratic party. Although not an aspirant for public office, he has served as
justice of the peace the past nine years.


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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