That Little Fat Man (Tombstone Tuesday)

Amory Lewis Brown
(Nov 15, 1832 - Feb 23, 1915)
Photo by James Allen

..."with a hole in his head, done at Chancellorsville, is Amory L. Brown, and as clever as he is plump" is a description given in 1873 of an employee of the Great Dry Goods Emporium of Middle Georgia.¹

We can learn a lot more about A. L. Brown's Confederate service by reading his pension applications at Ancestry, as well as his service record file at Fold3. Amory applied for an Indigent Pension in the years 1903 through 1907 (at least). The paperwork for 1903 states he was born 1834 in Burke County, Georgia, and remained a resident of the state of Georgia from that point on. Amory enlisted 4 March 1862 and served in Company H of the 45th Georgia regiment. He remained a soldier in said unit until late March of 1865, when he was taken as a prisoner of war at Petersburg and sent to Fort Delaware. He was not released until June of that year -- a couple of months after the war was supposedly over.

After the war, Amory supported himself as a salesman in a dry goods store. But by the late 1890's (if not before) was unable to do so. He states:

I suffer all the time from Rheumatism - and have for years - I have a wound in my head received during the war. Leaves a sunken place above my eyes just below the top of my forehead, and it causes some great pain - Headaches - Vertigo - [awful?] [?] for all work. Cant get employment on account of this head attack and Rheumatism.

The application also included an affidavit from physicians Gewinner and Gostin:

On account of frequent attacks of Rheumatism, coupled with his age (he is now 68 yrs of age) he is utterly unable to make a living. At the battle of Chancellorsville, Va. he was shot in the head leaving a depression in the skull and this at times causes him considerable trouble.

Amory's Confederate service record (at Fold3) describes him as having a light complexion, dark hair, blue eyes, and a height of 5' 5". It also shows Lt. Brown in a hospital at Richmond, Virginia in May of 1863. He was transferred to Macon, Georgia for 30 days.

What amazes me is Lt. Amory L. Brown returned to his unit and kept pressing forward!

Recap: Amory enlists 4 March 1862. A little more than a year later he is shot in the head during the Battle of Chancellorsville, Virginia and taken to a Richmond hospital. He is given a transfer to Macon, Georgia for 30 days. Amory then returns to his unit and continues to serve until he is captured as a prisoner of war in Petersburg, VA late March 1865 and taken to Fort Delaware. He is not released until June, so he cannot even begin to make his way home until two months after Lee's surrender.

Wow.


Footnote:
1. "The Great Dry Goods Emporium of Middle Georgia." Macon Weekly Telegraph (Georgia), 25 March 1873, pg. 7; digital image, GenealogyBank, (http://www.genealogybank.com : accessed March 2013), Historical Newspapers.

Here Lies a Musician

Photo by James Allen

DEATHS AND FUNERALS: JOE CAMPBELL
The funeral of Joe Campbell was held yesterday afternoon at 4 o'clock at St. Joseph's Catholic church, the service being conducted by Rev. Father Wilkinson.

The following were the pallbearers: F. A. Huthnance, W. P. Bennett, John Harrison, Dennis Ca[ssidy?], E. E. Pound, R. E. Cason, M. J. Redmond and Dr. W. D. Wells.

Mr. Campbell was a musician and was prominent in Catholic church and society circles. [Macon Telegraph (Georgia), 13 February 1922, pg. 7 -- Viewed online at GenealogyBank.]

Obituaries for Mother and Daughter Conner

Photo by James Allen

MISS CONNER BURIED

One of Macon's Noblest Women Laid to Rest in Rose Hill.

The funeral services of Miss Georgia Conner, who died at the family residence on Walnut street Thursday evening, were conducted at Christ Episcopal church yesterday afternoon and the remains were laid to rest in Rose Hill cemetery.

Miss Conner's death has cast a gloom over the entire community and bowed the hearts of loving relatives and many dear friends with grief. She was one of those gentle women that help to purify and make better mankind, and a nobler, truer Christian woman never lived. Her life was a beautiful one, and her example is worthy of emulation. She died as she had lived, peacefully and gently, with strong faith in him who doeth all things well. This community suffers an irreparable loss in the death of Miss Conner. Heaven is richer.

Miss Conner was a sister of Messrs. Granville C., Thomas U., Fred and Henry C. Conner and of Mrs. W. A. Hopson.

The funeral was largely attended and the many handsome floral designs that covered the casket lid were evidences of the high esteem in which she was held. [Macon Telegraph (Georgia), 22 September 1894, pg. 6 -- Viewed online at the Digital Library of Georgia's Historic Newspapers project.]

Photo by James Allen

MRS. CONNER PASSES AWAY.

The Mother of Alderman Conner Closes a Long and Useful Life.
Mrs. Louisa Conner, one of Macon's oldest and best-known residents, departed this life at the residence of her daughter, Mrs. V. A. Hopson, on Walnut street, at 2 o'clock yesterday afternoon.

This announcement will sadden the hearts of the many who knew this estimable woman. She had lived in Macon for more than fifty years, but was a native of Virginia. Although she had reached the venerable age of 76 years, time had dealt so leniently with her that she was more handsome than most ladies thirty years younger.

She leaves seven children: Granville C. Conner, a member of the board of aldermen; T. V. Conner, a merchandise broker; Frank H., David B. and Frederick G. Conner, who are also in business, and two daughters, Mrs. Virginia A. Hopson and Miss Georgia Conner.

The funeral will be held on Sunday morning, from Christ church. [Macon Telegraph (Georgia), 11 April 1891, pg. 2 -- Viewed online at GenealogyBank.]