Birth:
|
May 22, 1838
Lumpkin County Georgia, USA |
Death:
|
Mar. 27, 1899
Atlanta Fulton County Georgia, USA |
JAMES WILLIAM LOYD, JR. PASSES AWAY
Former City Marshal and Pioneer Citizen of Atlanta,
HAD BEEN ILL LONG TIME
Captain Loyd's Career Has Been Long, Eventful and Interesting -- He Was One of the Members of the Original Gate City Guard.
Atlanta, March 27.--(Special)--Captain James W. Loyd died of paralysis at his home, 59 Courtland avenue, at *:20 o'clock this morning.
His death was not unexpected. He had been sinking since 10 o'clock Saturday morning, lingering in an unconscious state until he passed away.
At his bedside when he died was his brother, Mr. John Loyd, his youngest sister, Mrs. Ella Haynes, his niece, Miss Emeline Haynes, his cousin, Mrs. William Collins, his nephew, Mr. David Haynes, his cousin Mr. John C. Campbell and several other close friends.
Captain Loyd had been a great sufferer, but no man ever bore his sufferings more uncomplainingly or with greater fortitude than he. His health had been failing for more than a year. Over a year ago he had a serious attack, from which he never fully recovered. He was a victim of neuralgia and within a few months after the serious attack above mentioned he became gradually paralyzed. A few weeks ago he was seized with paralysis of the throat, which was followed by paralysis of the optic nerve.
Two weeks ago he lost his eyesight and began to grow weaker daily until the dread summons came.
He is survived by Mrs. Judge William M. Wilson, his eldest sister, Mr. John W. Loyd, his only brother, and Mrs. Ella Haynes, his youngest sister, who together with a number of relatives are left to mourn his passing.
He was generous, big-hearted, and whole-souled. He lived for his friends, and there never was a sacrifice too great which he did not cheerfully make for them.
One of his friends said today: "Generosity was the key note of his life, the crowning feature of his character. He lived squarely up to it. He never turned a deaf ear to the appeal of the lowliest for help--and there are numberless instances in which his unfaltering kindness was shown not only to those with whom he had slight acquaintance, but to strangers in need.
The tenacity with which Captain Loyd held on to life was remarkable. Even when Dr. Abner Calhoun told him that he would never recover his eyesight and Dr. James F. Alexander informed him that he was beyond the power of medical skill, Hope still beamed in his bosom. He did not give up, but calmly and with beautiful patience clung to the hope that he would one day regain his health.
The body of Captain Loyd was removed to the residence of his sister, Mrs. Ella Haynes, 334 Woodward avenue, this morning. From her home the funeral will take place tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock.
The Rev. Clement A. Evans will conduct the funeral services, and the funeral will be at Oakland cemetery.
Former City Marshal and Pioneer Citizen of Atlanta,
HAD BEEN ILL LONG TIME
Captain Loyd's Career Has Been Long, Eventful and Interesting -- He Was One of the Members of the Original Gate City Guard.
Atlanta, March 27.--(Special)--Captain James W. Loyd died of paralysis at his home, 59 Courtland avenue, at *:20 o'clock this morning.
His death was not unexpected. He had been sinking since 10 o'clock Saturday morning, lingering in an unconscious state until he passed away.
At his bedside when he died was his brother, Mr. John Loyd, his youngest sister, Mrs. Ella Haynes, his niece, Miss Emeline Haynes, his cousin, Mrs. William Collins, his nephew, Mr. David Haynes, his cousin Mr. John C. Campbell and several other close friends.
Captain Loyd had been a great sufferer, but no man ever bore his sufferings more uncomplainingly or with greater fortitude than he. His health had been failing for more than a year. Over a year ago he had a serious attack, from which he never fully recovered. He was a victim of neuralgia and within a few months after the serious attack above mentioned he became gradually paralyzed. A few weeks ago he was seized with paralysis of the throat, which was followed by paralysis of the optic nerve.
Two weeks ago he lost his eyesight and began to grow weaker daily until the dread summons came.
He is survived by Mrs. Judge William M. Wilson, his eldest sister, Mr. John W. Loyd, his only brother, and Mrs. Ella Haynes, his youngest sister, who together with a number of relatives are left to mourn his passing.
He was generous, big-hearted, and whole-souled. He lived for his friends, and there never was a sacrifice too great which he did not cheerfully make for them.
One of his friends said today: "Generosity was the key note of his life, the crowning feature of his character. He lived squarely up to it. He never turned a deaf ear to the appeal of the lowliest for help--and there are numberless instances in which his unfaltering kindness was shown not only to those with whom he had slight acquaintance, but to strangers in need.
The tenacity with which Captain Loyd held on to life was remarkable. Even when Dr. Abner Calhoun told him that he would never recover his eyesight and Dr. James F. Alexander informed him that he was beyond the power of medical skill, Hope still beamed in his bosom. He did not give up, but calmly and with beautiful patience clung to the hope that he would one day regain his health.
The body of Captain Loyd was removed to the residence of his sister, Mrs. Ella Haynes, 334 Woodward avenue, this morning. From her home the funeral will take place tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock.
The Rev. Clement A. Evans will conduct the funeral services, and the funeral will be at Oakland cemetery.
SKETCH OF
HIS LIFE
Capt. James W. Loyd was born in Lumpkin county on the 22nd of May, 1838, and was therefore 61 years of age at the time of his death. His father, James Loyd, removed to Cobb county, and later, in 1844, settled in Marthasville, while Captain Loyd, his eldest child, was a child. Marthasville, the first name of Atlanta, was then a straggling hamlet. The father, Mr. James Loyd, went into business with Mr. James Collins, the firm being Loyd & Collins. They opened the first store on the spot on which Atlanta now stands. It was located on the road which afterward became Loyd street, taking its name from the father of Captain James W. Loyd.
Captain Loyd grew to manhood in Atlanta and has lived here all his life.
He was one of the original members of the famous Gate City Guard, and entered the service of the Confederate states in that company, which formed one of the best companies in the First Georgia regiment.
The old Gate City Guard was made up of the flower of the young manhood of Atlanta, and was among the first commands to answer the call to arms.
That company had no braver, gallanter member than James W. Loyd. He was with it at Laurel Hill, and served through the terrible campaign in the Virginia mountains.
Capt. James W. Loyd was born in Lumpkin county on the 22nd of May, 1838, and was therefore 61 years of age at the time of his death. His father, James Loyd, removed to Cobb county, and later, in 1844, settled in Marthasville, while Captain Loyd, his eldest child, was a child. Marthasville, the first name of Atlanta, was then a straggling hamlet. The father, Mr. James Loyd, went into business with Mr. James Collins, the firm being Loyd & Collins. They opened the first store on the spot on which Atlanta now stands. It was located on the road which afterward became Loyd street, taking its name from the father of Captain James W. Loyd.
Captain Loyd grew to manhood in Atlanta and has lived here all his life.
He was one of the original members of the famous Gate City Guard, and entered the service of the Confederate states in that company, which formed one of the best companies in the First Georgia regiment.
The old Gate City Guard was made up of the flower of the young manhood of Atlanta, and was among the first commands to answer the call to arms.
That company had no braver, gallanter member than James W. Loyd. He was with it at Laurel Hill, and served through the terrible campaign in the Virginia mountains.
GUIDE TO
GEN. JOHNSTON
Toward the close of the war he was transferred to the western army and became a courier and guide to Gen. Joseph F. Johnston when he took command of the army at *****. He served with General Johnston during his famous retreat and until he was relieved of his command on Peachtree Creek by President Davis.
After the war Captain Loyd returned to his home in Atlanta. With hundreds of others he put his shoulder to the wheel and aided in the upbuilding of this city which had been burned by Sherman. He loved Atlanta and was ever ready to lend a helping hand to push her forward. He became a prominent and influential factor in local politics, ever ready to help his friends in their campaigns for office.
Toward the close of the war he was transferred to the western army and became a courier and guide to Gen. Joseph F. Johnston when he took command of the army at *****. He served with General Johnston during his famous retreat and until he was relieved of his command on Peachtree Creek by President Davis.
After the war Captain Loyd returned to his home in Atlanta. With hundreds of others he put his shoulder to the wheel and aided in the upbuilding of this city which had been burned by Sherman. He loved Atlanta and was ever ready to lend a helping hand to push her forward. He became a prominent and influential factor in local politics, ever ready to help his friends in their campaigns for office.
In 1883 he
succeeded Mr. Cap Joyner as city marshal. He held this position for three
terms, and made the best marshal Atlanta ever had. His administration was
extremely judicious, and at the same time very liberal, and won to him scores
of friends. A more unselfish official and one more devoted to the interests of
the people never held office in Atlanta.
Unselfishness, indeed, was a capital feature of Captain Loyd's character. It endeared him to the people. He was a man who literally lived for others. Generous to a fault, he thought not of self, but only of helping the helpless, of giving to the needy. There was not a moment during his life that he would not have made almost any sacrifice to serve a friend, not a moment that he would not have divided his last dollar with the needy.
--He died as he had lived, a brave, true man--
And he will sleep in Oakland sincerely lamented by thousands who knew his great heart and loved him.
Mar 28, 1899, Augusta Chronicle (Augusta,GA)
Unselfishness, indeed, was a capital feature of Captain Loyd's character. It endeared him to the people. He was a man who literally lived for others. Generous to a fault, he thought not of self, but only of helping the helpless, of giving to the needy. There was not a moment during his life that he would not have made almost any sacrifice to serve a friend, not a moment that he would not have divided his last dollar with the needy.
--He died as he had lived, a brave, true man--
And he will sleep in Oakland sincerely lamented by thousands who knew his great heart and loved him.
Mar 28, 1899, Augusta Chronicle (Augusta,GA)
 |
| This map depicts early battles that James Loyd with the Georgia First Regiment (Ramsey's) would have fought in the opening months of the war. |
******************************
My comments: I am thrilled to finally learn of a Loyd ancestor who actively served in the Civil War, and apparently with distinction. From other sources I have learned that James Loyd enlisted on March 18, 1861 and served with Generals Stonewall Jackson and Robert E. Lee during the first land battles of the war in present day West Virginia. This was even before the more widely known Battle of Bull Run. Serving later under General Joseph F. Johnston in the Atlanta campaign, my ancestor had the privilege of being commanded by three of the South's top generals of the entire war. When I informed my brother of these facts he reminded me that when we were boys I always liked playing the role of "scout" or "spy." It seems it was a family trait.
Another note of interest. I was at first confused by James Loyd jr.'s birth in Lumpkin County. A look at a Georgia map shows that Dahlonega, site of America's first gold rush, is the largest town in the region. This fits with the following likely scenario:
James Loyd, sr., my great-great-great grandfather was the deed holder of the 202 acre Loyd Homeplace lot. Apparently his first wife had died sometime after 1830, when they had two children, a boy and a girl. The boy, Jabez M. Loyd, was born in 1820. Gold was first discovered in Dahlonega in 1828, but continued to be panned and mined right up until the California gold rush of 1849. I theorize that James Loyd, who had remarried to Mildred Collins, moved to the gold country about 1837. Jabez would have been 18 when his half-brother James Loyd, jr. was born in 1838. Since it is known that James Loyd, sr. opened the Loyd-Collins Store in 1844, it is likely the family had returned to the DeKalb County farm sometime before then. With the father being 42 years old, and perhaps having some capital from the gold rush, he left his son Jabez to run the farm (at age 24) and relocated to the railroad town of Marthasville (to become Atlanta) just a few miles away, where his new family would grow and prosper. The Loyd Homeplace would remain in his name until his death in 1862.
Some of this is fact, some of it I surmise. But while more investigation remains, I am confident that my speculation is reasonable, and certainly has as much merit as my theory just a few years ago that James Loyd was my ancestor. Wouldn't it be interesting to know that there is more to the "Loyd Treasure" than I had ever imagined? Time will tell. In any event, with each group reading of Mystery at the Loyd Homeplace, I seem to have new "riches" to share. And for that I am thankful.
No comments:
Post a Comment