White County GaArchives Biographies..... Underwood, Abner Franklin 1825 - nk ************************************************ 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: Iris Thompson Fry IrisAngelLink@aol.com May 21, 2005, 11:05 am Author: Memoirs of Georgia Biographical Sketches for White County Memoirs of Georgia The Southern Historical Association, Atlanta, 1895 Abner Franklin Underwood, physician and surgeon, Cleveland, White Co., Ga., son of Dr. Joseph and Macriah (Dunagan) Underwood, was born in Elbert Co., Aug. 6, 1825. His paternal grandfather, Joseph Underwood was one of seven brothers of English decent, born in Virginia, who after his marriage migrated to Ga. and settled in Elbert Co. near the Savannah river. His maternal great-great- grandfather was a native of Ireland who migrated to this country and settled in South Carolina where he married. His maternal great-grandfather, Joseph Dunagan, son of the above was born in S.C., was a frontiersman and a Methodist preacher and a pioneer of western civilazation. He met Daniel Boone and later helped him build the first block house, in Nashville, Tenn. He died west of the Mississippi early in the present century. His mother's father, Abner Dunagan was a farmer in Habersham Co. Dr. Underwood's father was born in Elbert Co. in 1799 where he was raised and married. In 1832 he moved to Habersham Co. where he practiced medicine all of his life. In 1872 he moved to Alabama where he died in 1875. He had ten children to reach maturity, Abner F., the subject of this sketch; Thomas Gibbs, MD, Franklin Co., Ga.; Delilah, wife of Jeptha A. Merritt, MD, White Co., Ga.; Frances E., wife of M.V. Edwards, White Co.; Bersheba Adeline, deceased, wife of Ped Latham; Sarah Emeline, widow of John C. McMackin, Atlanta; Mary L., deceased, wife of Thomas L. DeVoe; Jasper W., MD, White Co.; William B., Baptist minister, Texas; Reuben Case, died in Kansas in 1871. Dr. Underwood was about seven years old when his parents moved from Elbert to Habersham and settled on land now, White Co. Approaching manhood he decided to become a physician, commenced his study under his father and in Jan., 1847 was licensed and began his practice. Years later he attended lectures at the Atlanta Medical college and graduated in 1860. Since that time he practiced medicine in White Co. and adjoining counties. He became interested in politics. He was opposed to secession but when it became an actuality he went with the state; believing in the right, he seriously questioned the policy of secession. He was elected in 1863 to represent the Thirty-second senatorial district in the general assembly, serving his constituents faithfully. In 1865 he was elected to delegate to the constitutional convention of 1877. After the war he patriotically accepted the situation, the measures of reconstruction. He was a fim supporter of the uniform education of white and black; and believes that the education of the colored race will, in the end, solve the racial question, a stanch supporter of his conviction. He was a Democrat. Dr. Underwood was married June 3, 1850 to Sarah Ann- born in Lumpkin Co.,- daughter of John and Martha Cantrell and of the children born to them, five survive; Joseph W.H.; Amanda M., wife of George M. Quillian, Hall Co.; Thomas G., physician, born March 9, 1858, now at Maysville, Banks Co.Ga.; Hopson B., born Jan. 8, 1861, farmer, White Co.; Martha L., born March 23, 1864, wife of Dr. A.S. Cantrell, Milton Co. On Dec. 11, 1890 Dr. Underwood contracted a second marriage, Mrs. Mary J.(nee Eubanks) Faulkner, daughter of Giles Eubanks. Joseph W.H. Underwood was born in Hall Co., Ga., Sept. 15, ?, lawyer of Towns Co. In 1875 he was appointed postmaster at Cleveland but resigned in 1877. Oct. 25, 1877 he married Miss Mary O., daughter of John H. and Nancy Craven of White Co., Ga. Transcribed by: Iris Thompson Fry File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/white/bios/underwoo309bs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/gafiles/ File size: 4.2 Kb