Samuel South

Born:  April 15, 1833 in Breathitt Co, Kentucky

Died:  January 25, 1889 in Franklin or Fayette Co, Kentucky

Buried:  Frankfort cem, Franklin Co, KY

Married: Malvery Blackwell Jett October 14, 1857 in Breathitt County, Kentucky.  Daughter of Curtis Jett, Sr. and Nancy Susan Bryant.  She was born July June 30, 1840 in KY and died May 13, 1911 Franklin Co, KY and the great grand-niece of Daniel Boone

 

Samuel South, eldest son of Jeremiah Weldon South and Mary Magdalene Cockrell
 

The Lexington Press
Lexington, Ky
Jan. 23, 1889
COL. SAM SOUTH DEAD
A Prominent and Wealthy Citizen of Frankfort Expires
Frankfort, Ky, Jan 22 - Col. Sam South, oldest son of Col. Jere South, deceased, who was once the lessee on the penitentiary and a political power in the state, died at his residence in this county today. Col. South was about 55 years of age, and, as a partner with his father in the penitentiary lease, acquired an extensive acquaintance, as well as a considerable fortune, during the course of his life. He was a private soldier in the Confederate Army, and participated in nearly all, if not all, the engagements of the Orphan Brigade, to which command he belonged. At the battle of Chickamauga, he was wounded and left on the field with the dead and dying, when a Federal soldier chanced to see him and succor him in his suffering. Long after the war, Col. South availed himself of the opportunity to show his gratitude in a substantial mark of friendship to his then needy benefactor. He leaves four grown children, among whom is the wife of Dr. E. E. Hume, the well-known physician of the city. The deceased, in addition to his large relationship with the State, has a wide circle of friends which the virtues of his character riveted to him, who will be deeply pained to learn of his death.

The Frankfort Roundabout
Frankfort KY
Feb. 2, 1889

Remarks of Rev. George Darsie at the Funeral of Mr. Sam. South
Mr. Sam South, the oldest son of the late Col. Jere W. South, was born in Breathitt Co. Ky April 5th, 1833. At the time of his death, therefore, he was nearly 56 years old. October 13th, 1857, at the age of 24, he was married to Miss Malvery Little [sic, her surname was actually Jett], of the same county, who, after journeying sided by side with him for 32 happy years, survives him, with six children, three sons and three daughters.

In 1859 he first came to Frankfort to live, and here ever since, with the exception of four years spent on his farm in Arkansas**(see below) immediately after the war, and the years he was in the army, he has made his home.

In January, 1862, he enlisted as a soldier in the Confederate army, casting his lot with the famous Orphan Brigade. Believing sincerely in the righteousness of the cause for which he fought, and impatient of the delay involved in a Colonel's commission that was proffered him, he entered the ranks as a private. On the bloody field of Chickamauga his gallant services brought him speedy and deserved promotion . But a serious wound received in that fierce battle, in which, undressed and unattended, he lay all night upon the field, doomed him to reluctant inactivity for the rest of the war, save what little service he could render for defense in the rifle pits.

An incident of the battle in which he was wounded is characteristic of the large-heartedness of the man. A Union soldier lay dying as he passed by, hearing whose cries for water, in the spirit of Him who says, "if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink." Mr. South, forgetting all sectional hatreds and remembering only that he was a brother man in need, gave him his full canteen.. A few steps further and he himself was stricken down, and saw his enemy perish, his last hours comforted with the priceless water which he could but so illy spare. It is not mine to speak today of Mr. South's relations to his maker, and to the eternal future upon which he has entered. The infallible wisdom and abounding mercy of God alone are sufficient to justly adjudicate in questions so far above the poor and erring vision of mortals. He is now in the hands of his God, and there we leave him in the full confidence that the Judge of all the earth will do right. But I do wish to speak a brief word to-day expressive of my appreciation of his sterling honesty and uprightness as a man in all his dealings with his fellow men.
He believed in and daily sought to practice that elevated principle of conduct, that "whatsoever you would do that men should do to you, do ye even so to them." He sought to defraud no man and to wrong no man. And as he aimed to be a man of fairness and integrity himself, so he admired and honored these qualities in others. No man could gain his respect and confidence who did not, in all transactions, show himself square and honest.

He was not a man of many words, but those he spoke were to the point and were always the sincere expression of his real thoughts and feelings. He was strong, brave, generous, and manly, but I think the quality of greatest prominence in his character is named when I say, "he was an honest man." And for this, as for other admirable qualities, he commanded the respect of all who knew him. This large gathering here to-day speaks no less eloquently for the esteem in which he was held by the whole community, than for the tender sympathy that is felt for the widowed wife and the fatherless sons and daughters. Upon them all may the tender compassion of the All-Father above descend, and to them all may the precious comfort which he above can give, be vouchsafed in richest measure. And to his brothers and sisters, who mourn and will sadly miss his manly presence, and his brotherly counsels and affections, may He give that patience and submission which are the fruit of the confidence that God knoweth what is best and doeth all things well. And to all present here today, kindred, neighbors, friends, and acquaintances, let me say in the presence of this strong man thus laid low by the grim reaper, whose fatal scythe awaits us all, there is no wish or prayer so becoming to an hour like this as that which humbly says with upturned eye, "So teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom."

** Samuel and Malvira (sic) South and their four children, Samuel, Jr., Mary Ellen, Annie, and Jerry (six months old) came to Baxter County, Arkansas in 1867, making the trip overland from Frankfort, KY., their old home and the birthplace of all the children. They settled near Norfork where they homesteaded land, farmed, and ran a general store in the old Wolf House. Samuel, Jr. died shortly after they came here and after about four years the rest of the family returned to Kentucky."

Military Service- Company B of the 5th Kentucky Infantry, CSA
Enlisted- September 13, 1862 at Hargis Fields, Jackson, Breathitt County, Kentucky
Wounded- Battle of Chickamauga
Highest Rank- Quarter Master Sergeant

Post War- Samuel moved his family to Norfolk, Baxter County, Arkansas in 1867 for 4 years. At Norfolk, Samuel operated a general store and farmed. He returned to Franklin County, Kentucky and lived there the remainder of his life.

Died- January 25, 1889 at "Roselawn" near Frankfort, Franklin County, Kentucky
Buried- Lot 244, Frankfort Cemetery, Frankfort, Franklin County, Kentucky

Children
1. Mary Ellen South (1858 -1915) m. Enoch Edgar Hume, MD
2. Beriah McGoffin South (1860 -1860)
3. Anna "Annie" South (1861 - 1932) married Stephen Fitzjames Trabue, Jr
4. Samuel South (1863 -1867)
5. Jerry Curtis South (1867-1930) married Ellen Chappel Hargis
6. Martin Van Buren South II (1870 - 1919) married (1) Lucy McGinniss (2) Edith Schaefer
7. Thomas Jackson "Stonewall" South (1868 -1872)
8. John Glover South, MD (1873 -1940) m. Christine Duncan Bradley
9. Gertrude South ( ?? ) married Thomas Lindsey Blayney, PhD

Notes
From E P Thompson's "A History of the Orphan Brigade":
"Samuel South, Breathitt County, received a colonel's commission from Gen. Kirby Smith, with authority to recruit a regiment, but Bragg's retreat from Kentucky prevented this and he went into the ranks; was made quartermaster-sergeant, but went into the battle of Chickamauga, where he was wounded and disabled for other service than the duties of his office. He was awarded medal of honor for gallant and meritorious conduct at Chickamauga."