History of Worth County Georgia pgs 201-300

Transcription

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CHAPTER XVII
LAWYERS
T E R R E L L R A I N E Y PERRY, SR.
Terrell Rainey Perry, Sr., is the oldest living lawyer in
Worth County, and the first one t o reside in Sylvester, Ga.
He is a son of Allen ancl Kancy Perry of Macon County. Ga.,
and was born Noveml>er 21, 1860, in Macon County. I I e first
visited W o r t h County in September, 1880, and was so impressed with the possibilities ancl the citizens of MTorth that
he retui-ned the latter part of t h a t year and made it his permanent home. H e taught school a t Warwick, T y T y and in the
Warren settleinent of Worth County, after ~ v h i c hhe studied
law under John Murrow, who a t that time resided a t T y Ty,
and nras engaged in the general practice of his profession.
T. K. Perry was admittecl t o the bar in April, 1887, and has
resided in Wort11 Couilty since that time. H e has been actively
engaged in the practice of law since his admission t o the bar
and is yet hale and hearty, active in body ancl mind, and is
the senior nlernl~erof the firm of Perry & Perry, Sylvester,
Ga. T h i s fir111 is con~posedof T. R. Perry and T. R. Perry,
Jr., and is one of the best ancl most extensi\rely k n o ~ v nlaw
firms in the state of Georgia.
He is a Democrat, Captist and Masoil and ~ v a sone of the
committee that erected the courthouse in Sylvester. H e was
also one of the group that organized the First Baptist Church
of Sylvester. H e obtained the first charter of Sylvester Banking Company and has represented that iilstitution as its attorney since. H e has been attorney for the Atlantic Coast IJiile
Railroad Company for 45 years ; attorney f o r the G. A. S. Sr C.
Railroad Company since its organization ; is attorney for W o r t h
County, and has beell at various times for 42 years.
Col. Terrell R.Perry, Sr., w a s married t o Amanda Jane IVilliams o n the 10th of July, 1884, a t T y Tq-, Georgia. T h i s year,
1934, makes the 50th anniversary of their marriage.
Mrs. Perry is the d a u g l ~ t e rof William Washington Wil-
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liams and wife, Elizabeth (Knight) Williams, of IVorth County. She is a D. A. R., a member of Barnard Trail Chapter of
Sylvester, through descent from William Cone of North Carolina who died in Bulloch County, Georgia. She is a charter
member of the Baptist Church of Sylvester. She is also a member of the Woman's Club and has given active service almost
all the years since its organization. She came with her IIUSband t o Sylvester in the clays of its infancy when there were
few families. I t ~ v a sin a time when great dinners were prepared for public occasions. T h e work that she and other good
\vometl of that clay did to feed the innumerable hosts that assembled will never be known. For forty-two years, the longest
term of service that any living woman has given t o Sylvester,
she has given of her energies, her means, her hospitality and
her Christian influence.
The children of Col. and hlss. Perry:
Ana Fern, married to Armatlcl Baggs; Nancy Elizabeth,
married Iieginal M. Porter; William Allen, deceased; Mamie
Ethel, Terrell Rainey, Jr., married Edith Nance; Amanda
Jane, married Charles Darling.
TERRELL RAINEY PERRY, JR.
Terrell Kainey Perry, Jr., was born September 17, 1901, in
Sylvester, \Vorth County, Georgia. Graduated from McPhaul
Institute, Sylvester, Ga., in 1919. Entered University of Georgia, a t Athens, Ga., September, 1919, and graduated, obtaining B.*4. degree in Jtlne, 1922; entered Lumpkin Law School
of the University of Georgia, and graduated, obtaining Rachelor of Law Degree in June, 1925. Admitted to practice law in
the State of Georgia on the 17th day of June, 1925; admitted
to practice law in the Federal Courts of the United States on
the 17th day of June, 1925. Practiced law in the offices of
Shackelford & Broxvn, Tampa, Fla., from June, 1925, to September 1st. 1926. Engaged in the practice of law a t the present
time, and from Sel~temberlst, 1926, with Perry & Tipton,
Sylvester. Ga., a firm composed of T. R. Perry, Sr., J. 11. Tipton, and T . R. Perry, Jr. Democrat, Baptist, member of the
Sigma All111a Epsilon Fraternity, Georgia Beta Chapter of the
University of Georgia.
F A M I L Y D E T A I L S : I s the son of Terrell Rainey Perry,
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COL. TEKRELL RAIXEY PERRY, SR.
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who was born November 21st, 1860, in Macon County, Georgia, school teacher and attorney a t law, living a t Sylvester,
Ga., and Mrs. Amanda Jane Williams Perry, who was born
May 11th. 1865, in Lolvndes County, Ga., living at present in
sy<vester, Ga. H e is the grandson of Allen Perry of Macon
County, Ga., and Nancy Elizabeth Herrington Perry of
Twiggs County, Ga., and of William Washington Williams,
of Lowndes County, Ga., and Elizabeth Knight Williams. of
Clinch County, Ga.
H e was married -4pr. 9, 1931 in Sylvester, Ga., t o Mary
Edythe Nance, daughter of IVilliam Orlanda Nance, who was
born October 29, 1867, in Roberson County, N. C., and Mrs.
Claudia Virginia Jackson Nance, who was born August 5,
1877, in Dooly County, Ga. Mrs. Perry is the granddaughter
of William F. Nance, who was born Dec. 29, 1846, in Roberson County, N. C., and of Penny Jane Inman Nance, of
Roberson County, N. C., and of William Andrew Jackson
Nance, born Nov. 26, 1853, in Dooly County, Ga., and of Riolly
H a m Jackson, born March 22, 1857.
COL. JOHN GOLDWIRE POLHILL
Col. John Goldwire Polhill came to Sylvester about 1890
and began the practice of law soon after graduating from the
Law School of the University of Georgia in 1890. Sylvester was
a little village then and the Court House was a t Isabella. He
was a popular man in social and professional life. H e served
the town as Mayor in 1905 and was County School Superintendent for twelve years. H e was always deeply interested in
educational affairs. H e was a man of strong convictions and
upright in all his dealings with his fellowman. H e was a loyal
Democrat, Mason and leading member of the B. P. 0. E. H e
was public spirited and numbered his friends by his acquaintances. H e fully illustrated the distinguished forebears from
which he was descended. H e was the son of Frederick Taylor
Polhill and Mary Jane (Cochran) Polhill, and grandson of
John Goldwire Polhill and Harriett (Allen) Polhill.
Col. J. G. Polhill was married to Martha Lewis Collins
November 5, 1908. Their children are Mrs. Rosa Collins Dupriest (Mrs. Raymond) and Mary Laura Polhill.
Mrs. Martha Lewis (Collins) Polhill is descended from the
most prominent families of Georgia and South Carolina. She
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i s the daughter of Lewis Andrew Marion Collins and wife
Laura A. Fitzgerald Collins of Mitchell County, Georgia,
granddaughter of Bryant Collins and wife Martha (Bullard)
Collins and of James Fitzgerald and wife, Nancy (Hilliard)
Fitzgerald of Stewart County, Georgia. Bryant Collins was
the son of Andrew Collins and wife, Pheraba (Ballenger) Collins. Andrew Collins was a Revolutionary soldier of South
Carolina.
Mrs. Polhill is a splendid business woman of high Christian
character. After her husband's death she took the estate in
hand and has managed it very successfully.
JAMES HARRISON TIPTON
James Harrison, eldest son of Charles Greenberry Tipton,
was born October 28, 1872, in Worth County near Oakfield,
Georgia and not far from the plantation of David Ridley, his
grandfather. H e is a descendant from distinguished old English families, who were arnong the first settlers of Virginia.
H e obtained his education in the elementary and grammar
schools of Worth County, where he taught school for four
years. H e is a lover of books and has, through his determination, perseverance, and diligence acquired an unlimited knowledge of affairs equaled by few of much greater opportunites.
H e studied law in the office of Colonel T. R. Perry, Sylvester, Ga. H e was admitted t o the Bar in 1896 and has devoted his energies and profound ability to the practice of his
profession, in ~vhichhe attains distinction and which he digniy life and services.
fies l ~ his
H e filled the unexpired term-made vacant on accottnt of
the death of Hon. IVillian~E. Wooten, as Solicitor General
of the Albany Jutlicial Circuit. Served several terms a s Solicit o r City Court of Sylvester and was Mayor of Sylvester for
t w o terms.
l-le was a I,ieutet~ant Colonel on Governor Terrell's Staff.
I n 1932 he was elected to represent Worth County in the
General Assembly of Georgia, for the years 1933-'34.
H e is a thirty-second degree Mason, a Shriner, and a member of Alee Shrine Temple.
Deceml~er 14, 1904 he married Miss Rosalie &fangham,
daughter of Willoughby H. and Amanda Roper Mangham,
and to them were born five children: William Kay, Samuel
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Ridley, Richard clied it1 infancy, Janles Harrison, Jr. and Wilb u r Jackson.
RlIrs. Tipton is prominently identified wit11 the iiltellectual
ailcl social life of Sylvester and community; ever thoughtful
of those who need llelp and encouragelneilt; a true wife, devoted mother atlcl faithftll friend. She is acti1.e in church and
civic club w o r k ; a member of the Sylvester \TToman's Club,
D. A. K. ant1 \V. 31. U. of the Sjrlvester Baptist Church.
Wm. KAY TIPTON
J i m . Kay Tipton, eldest sot1 of Col. J. H. Tipton ancl ~ v i f e ,
Rosalie (51a11gharn) Tipton, gracluatccl a t LlcPhaul Institute
in 1922. H e spent one year at Korman Park Junior College,
and then entered Mercer University fro111 which lle received
his 1,L.D. degree in 1927. H e nlarriecl Miss Estelle Reynolds
of Chattanooga, Tenn. June 20, 1931. H e was Fieltl IIie1)resentative for T h e Pent1 Allutual Life Iilsurailce Co. in 1931-'33 with
11eadquarte1-s a t hlacon, Ga. H e was l>romoted it1 1931 to manager of The Penn hlutual Life Insurance Co. a t Sl)ritlgfield,
Mo.
JESSIE J. FOREHAND
Jessie J. Forehand, lalvyer, was born Jatluarj- 8th) 1858, in
i\.,Iacon County, Georgia, ancl educated in the D a m o n H i g h
School. H e studied law in the office of Jessie W. VbTalters in
All>any, Ga.. and l ~ c g a nthe practice of that professiol~in 1894
a t Isabella, Ga. H e afternrards mo\-cd to Sylvester and continued to practice until his death on the 25th day of November,
19-73. H e was a member of the Baptist Cllurcl~and a Democrat.
H e was the son of Solo111011 Forehand ancl Percy C. W a l t e r s
Forehand who were illarriecl it1 1857.
Jessie J. Forehand nlarried Daty S. Tisoil April 311, 1878,
tlie latter being born aticl reared in UTorth County, Georgia,
and was the grandclaugl~terof Robert G. F o r d originally of
Dooly, now UTorth County. T o this union were born nine
children, Minnie Lee, JVilliam Clyde, Grover C., Eola G., aiid
Eula Lee, L. Edgar, Herschel B.,and Elizabeth.
WILLIAM CLYDE FOREHAND
Colonel \Villiain Clycle Foi-ehand, Solicitor General of
Tifton Judicial Circuit, colnposed of Worth, Turner, Tift, and
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COL. W. C. F O R E H E A D .
Solicitor General Tifton Circuit
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I r ~ v i nCounties for the term of 1933 to 1937, inclusive, has had
a broad ancl ainple experience as prosecuting attorney. F o r
sixteen years he was Solicitor of the City Court of Sylvester
with county vide jurisdiction. H e was Attorney for the city
of Sylvester for twenty pears. H e has elTery natural endowment necessary for his profession, a keen and alert mind,
careful of detail, a mind that is broad and comprehensive in
its grasp, possessing unusual legal wisdom and discretion. H e
has a strong personality, is a tireless worker and close student,
and when enlisted in a cause, he applies all the vigor and diligence in his power to that end.
H e was educated in the schools of the county and the University of Georgia. He gradtlated with B.L. degree in 1910,
and began the practice of law June, 1910, at Sylvester, W o r t h
County. H e is a Mason, a member of the Board of Trustees of
the Sylvester Consolidated School District, and Past President
of the Sylvester Ki~vanisClub. H e served as Local Council for
the Federal Government during the World W a r period, heginning in April, 1917, and continuing until after the Armistice
was signed. He owns coilsiderable farming interests. Although
the clainls of the bar have always been more or less paramount
in the busy life of Col. Forehand, he has always taken a leading
part in the puhlic affairs of his county. H e is a Democrat and
deeply interested in the political welfare of his county, state,
and nation.
Colonel \Vm. Clyde Forehand is descended from the earliest
pioneer families of this section. O n his maternal side he is
descended from \V. IV. Tison, of Pindartown, the first white
settleinent in what js now \Vorth. Dr. Theopholis Tison. one
of the most l~elovedand influential physicians of the County,
was his grandfather. He is also through his grandmother, the
wife of Dr. Tison, Georgiana Ford ancl her father Robt.
Graham Ford, a descendant of another pioneer of distinction,
John Jackson Ford. H e is a clesce~~dant
of John Ford, the
Revolutionary Soldier. H e is son of Colonel Jesse James Forehancl and wife Data S ~ n i t h(Tison) Forehai~d.
Colonel U7. Clyde Forehand was born in IVortll County
Jan. 28th, 1883. H e married Miss Ethel Morse August fj, 1917.
She is the daughter of Dr. L. S. Morse and Mrs. Sallie (Goolsby) Morse of Forsyth, Ga. Their union has been blessed with
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five children: William Jesse, Sara Ethel, Oliver Clyde, Mary
Nell and Florence Jean.
Mrs. Ethel (Morse) Forehand received her education a t
Banks Stephen Institute and Bessie Tift College a t Forsyth,
Ga. She is a member of the Woman's Club and P.-T. A. She
takes great interest in, and actively supports, all civic and religious organizations.
Mr. and I\/Irs. Forehand and family are affiliated with the
Missionary Baptist Church. Their home is one of Christian
refinement and culture.
History of Forehand Family, Worth County, Ga.
A n ~ o sForehand came to Georgia (probably) from South
Carolina soon after the Revolutionary W a r and settled at
what is now Clinchfield, Georgia, Houston County.
Solomon Forehand, the son of Amos Forehand, was born
on Sept. 28,1793. H e married Annie McCreary, of Burke County, Georgia. She was born May 17th, 1805. From this union
were born six sons, to-wit : Solomon Forehand (the 2nd), William Forehand, John Alford Forehand, Edwin Forehand,
Thomas J. Forehand and Geo. W. Forehand. Solomon Forehand, the father of the above named sons, died February 23rd,
1873, and his wife, Mrs. Annie Forehand, the mother, died February lst, 1872.
Solomon Forehand (the second) was born May 23, 1829, in
what is now Macon County, Georgia, and married Percy Walters. From this union was born Jesse James Forehand, late
of Worth County on Jan. 8th) 1858, the father, mother, and
son moving to Worth County in 1870.
Walters Family
Percy LValters, the mother of Jesse James Forehand, was
the granddaughter of Jesse Walters and the daughter of
Jeremiah Da~vsonWalters and Rebecca Matilda Dykes ~ v h o
were married Octol~er14, 1847. Jeremiah Dawson Walters
was reared near Albany, Georgia, but moved to Macon County
about the time he married, and died May 1915. Percy Walters
Forehand died March 1st) 1875, and her husband, Solomon
Forehand, died February 8th) 1883, both of whom were buried
a t Mt. Horeb Church, in ?Vorth County.
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Jesse James Forehand died November 26th, 1923, in W o r t h
County. His wife, Data S. Tison, to whom he was married
December 5th, 1878, was the daughter of Dr. Theopholis W.
Tison. T o this union were born William Clyde, Grover C., Eola
Georgian, Lilious Edgar, Eula Lee, Theopholis R., Benjamin
Herschel, and Elizabeth May. Mrs. Data S. Forehand was
born January 2nd, 1860, and departed this life on January 13th,
1913.
ROBERT A. HOLMES A N D FAMILY
Robert Andrelvs Holmes was bor11 near Milner, Ga., July
28th, 1860.
He was the son of Shadrack and Sara ~ n d r e w sHolmes and
the grandson of Josiah and Nancy Hollis Holmes, who came
from North Carolina and were among the first settlers of
Barnesville, Ga. The family lines includecl staunch pioneers,
fatnous in Revolutionary ancl Civil War periods.
Robt. A. Holtnes' father fell on the battlefielcls of Richmond.
Mr. Holines was educated in the scl~oolsof h'Iilner and
Grifiin.
He chose the legal profession early in life, was admitted to
the bar ancl practiced in Pike County two years. , I n 1886 h e
went to Orlando, Fla. and l~ecamea member of the firm of
Hamnlollcl and Holn~es.The senior member of the firnl uras
Judge Dennis F. Hanlnlolld of Atlanta, father of t ~ v o~ v e l l
known sons, Judge \V. R. Hamtnond and Dr. John D. Hammond of the Methodist Church.
I11 1887, because of seriol~sillness, he left the office and retired to his orange grove a t Grancl Islancl, Fla., devoting
himself t o its cultivation until the big freeze in 1895 swept
away every l~rospectovernight.
Returning to his native heath he began casting about for
a new start in liEe. South\vest Georgia swayed his interest and
directed his decision. In Dec., 1897, the family landed at T y Ty.
In Sept., 1898, he decided t o cast his lot with the people of
Sylvester, as the most desirable location in all this section.
After practicing in the courts for several years, he retired
from active practice and gave his time t o office work, real
estate, insurance, and farming.
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He was once Mayor of Sylvester. I-Ie helped to organize the
Methodist Sunday School in Sylvester and was its first superintendent. H e was a devoted member of the M. E. Chttrch.
The staunch, Puritan stock of his ancestors was reflected
i n his uncompromising and unyielding character in questions
.of moral, political, and religious interests.
After several months of cleclining health, he died June 23,
1917, and sleeps in the family lot in Sylvester cemetery.
On July 26, 1888, Robert A. Holmes and Mildred Steed
were married in Earnesville, Ga.
In 1898 they came to Sylvester with their two children,
Robt. A., Jr., ancl Mildred, nine and four years respectively.
Robert graduated from McPhaul Institute in a class of five in
1905. In 1910 he graduated from Emory College, securing his
B.S. degree.
He entered business with his father and threw himself at
,once into the business, social, and religious life of the community with all the energy and zeal of youth.
Another call came to him very early in young manhood t o
enter realms of supreme opportunity. H e was prepared for
this call and passed on May 26, 1912.
Mildred left McPhaul Institute with the class of 1909, and
graduated from Agnes Scott College with an A.B. degree in
1914. I n 1917 she was married to Dr. Chas. R. Dickert of
Tifton. They, with one son, Robert Holmes, are living in
Knoxville, Tenn.
Mildred Steed Holmes was born in Woodbury (Sandtown),
Meriwether County, Ga., March 6, 1862, the daughter of William Ashmore Steed and Mary E. Bailey Steed.
The family moved to Barnesville when she was a small
child and she grew up with Gordon Institute from its beginning. From here she graduated, taking a full classical
course. T h e fall of 1879 she entered Peabody College, Nashville, Tenn., taking the teachers' degree L.I., in 1881.
She has taught a t intervals since her graduation until the
last eleven consecuti~~e
years. Her first work was in Girls'
High School, Griffin, Ga.
Mrs. Holmes has roundetl out t~venty-eightyears of school
room work and has delivered another valeclictory to the Ruard
of Education, Local Board, beloved faculty, ancl student 1,ody.
She has been identified in an active way with every phase
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of comnlunity up1)uilding-the educational, patriotic, social,
and religious. 7'0 serve her church was the n-ork nearest and
dearest to her heart. Oi thirty-four years of her work it1 her
Missionary Society she was president nearly twenty years.
Mildred Steed ISolmes is descended frotn Steeds or Steads
from England and other families, Seymours, Marl~urys,and
Ashmores. Maj. Belljamin Catchings is her Revolutionary
Ancestor through the Ashmores, her paternal granrltnother,
34ildred Ashmore Steed.
She still lives a t her 11ome in Sylvester and though leaving
the school room a t 70 she is still active in her home, church,
and civic duties.
COLONEL WILLIAM CLARENCE SMITH
Col. Wilianl Clarence Smith is a young lawyer of ability and
industry. His accurate knolrrledge of law and exemplary conduct give promise of great t~sefulnessin the legal profession.
H e was born in Irwinton, TVilkinson County, Georgia, May
31, 1894. His parents are 'IVilliam Washington Smith, born
in Irwinton, Nov. 23, 1854. Grandparents 011 paternal side were
David F. Smith and L4mai~cla
Jackson Smith. Grandparents on
maternal side, Thomas J. Hollimon, born in Wilkinson County, Georgia, grandmother, Stephenson Holliman.
H e received his A.B. Degree in 1917 a t Young Harris College, Young Harris, Georgia. When the shadow of the World
W a r fell across America he joined the 31st Division of U. S.
Army, March 2, 1918, and returned from France July, 1919. H e
attended the National School of Horticulture, at Versailles,
France, April to July, 1919, and received a certificate for same.
After returning to America he attended the Georgia-Alabama Business College, Macon, Georgia, in 1920-'21, receiving
a diploma for same. He then atteilclecl Mercer University Law
School 1921-24, receiving his LL. U. Degree 1924, being admitted to the Ear, State and Federal, 1924. H e belongs to the
Worth County Bar Association of Sylvester, Georgia. H e is
a member of the Masonic Lodge, Irnrinton, Georgia. H e is a
member of the American Legion, Bro~v~rnleePost 113, Sylvester, Georgia.
H e was married July 12, 1925, to Anna Louise McKoy, a t
Ne~vnan,Coweta County, Georgia.
She was educated in N e ~ v n a npublic schools and Bessie
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Tift College, Forsyth, Georgia, ailcl IYesleyan College. ;\lacon, Georgia. H e r parents are James Cottrtney h'IcKoy, Coweta County, Georgia, and Antla Elizal~ethCamp McKoy.
This young coul>le are earnest Christian workers of the
Baptist church of Sylvester.
JOE L. SUMNER HOUSTON
Joe L. Suinner Houston, Sylvester, Ga., was born January
8, 1908, in Worth County, Ga. H e graduated from Sylvester
High School, May 24, 1924, and entered Mercer University
Summer School, June 15, of the same year. H e contint~edhis
studies through the following year term, 1924'25, and entered
the University of Georgia, September 19, 1925. During the
nest two years he attended the University Literary School,
entering the University of Georgia Law School September
15, 1927. lHe graduated June 18, 1930, with the Bachelor of
Law degree and was admitted t o proctice law in the State and
Federal Courts the same clay. Since that time he has practiced
his profession continuously in Sylvester. Since January 1,
1931, he has been secretary and treasurer of the Worth County
National Farm Loan Association, and has recently been elected
as Solicitor of the City Court for the term beginning in 1933.
H e is a Baptist and Democrat.
J. I,. Sumner Houston was married to Miss Evelyn Strangward or1 April 26th, 1934. Mrs. Houston is the daughter oi
Mr. and Mrs. Chas H. Strangward of Sylvester.
Family details : Soil of Norman George Houston and Emma
Suiniler Houston; grandson, on his maternal side, of the late
Joe L. Sumiler and Josephine Thornhill Sumner, grandson,
on his paternal side, of the late Henry Hottston and Nancy
Gillis Houston.
COLONEL L.D. PASSMORE
Of the inen 1vl-10attained eminence in the legal pi-ofession
in IVorth County through the medium of their own talents
and industry, one of the best k t ~ o ~ vwas
n I,. D. Passmore, 1~110
was engaged in practice a t Sylvester for about twenty years.
Mr. Passtl~orewas ~videlyknown as a friend of eclucation,
and indeed, it was in an educational capacity that he first came
to Sylvester.
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HISTORY
O F WORTH COUNTY, GEORGIA
L. D. Passmore was born in Taylor County, Georgia. Aug.
23rtl. 1868, and was a son of G. A. and Rebecca (14oore) Passmore. The eldest of his parents' children, he spent his l~oyhood
days on his father's plantation, where he worked during vacation periods.
His early education was secured in the country schools of
Taylor County, follonring nrhich he attended Hearn Institute
and later entered Mercer University.
H e graduated with the Degree of Bachelor of Laws from that
institution in 1900, and immediately came to Sylvester, where
he had secured the position of stlperintendent of schools.
After one year in that capacity, he began to give all his
time t o his growing law practice. During the time that he was
struggling to establish himself in his profession. he devoted
himself entirely thereto, but when he had gained a foothold,
he again found time to aid in educatiolzal TYOI-k,
and for eight
years was County Superintendent of schools. H e served in
many public offices for town and cotlnty. One term he was
Mayor of Sylvester. H e served on the Board of Education of
Sylvester, and for a number of years was Sunday School Superintendent of the Methodist Church. H e not only proved his
ability as a skillful and resourceful lawyer, but was accorded
significant testimonial of popular confidence and esteem by
his election t o the State Senate in 1923-'24, from the 10th District. I t being Worth's time to have a representative in the
Senate for only one term, he was then elected t o represent
IVorth in the lower house of Georgia's Legislature for the
term of 1925-'26. H e did not offer for re-election becatlse of
failing health.
Col. Passlr~vlebegan the practice of law with Col. W. C.
Forehand early in 1914, and this partnership continued until
1922, altho owing to his failing health, he did little practice.
T h e firm name xvas for two or three years Passmore, Forehand & Ford, Colonel P. B. Ford having come into the firm.
Mr. Passnlore was married Oct. 9th, 1895, in Macon Co~rnty,
Ga., to Miss Hattie Walters. They have two children, Lytton,
born Dec. 24th, 1898 a t Ashburn, Ga., and Lois, born in August, 1901, a t Sylvester.
After several years of ill health, Col. Passmore died on Feb.
9th, 1932.
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R O B E R T B E R N E R WILLIAMSON, L A W Y E R ,
SYLVESTE,R
Robert 13. Williamson nras born April 7, 1893, a t Forsgth,
RiIonroe County, Ga. H e attended Banks Stephens Institute,
Forsyth, and hlcPhaul Institute, Sylvester; entered Georgia
Military College, Milledgeville, Ga., as a Junior in 1909, graduated 1911. Studied law in office of Robert Leigh Berner, his
great-uncle, and was admitted t o the Georgia Bar a t Wrightsville, Johnson County, Georgia, in November, 1915. Graduated
a t Georgia-Alabama Business College in 1913. Began practice
of law a t Macon with Rohert L. Berner in December, 1915.
Moved to Sylvester, Ga., July lst, 1916, from Macon, entering
the firm of Perry & Williarnson. Withdrew from this firm
Jan. I , 1922, and has practiced alone since. Presbyterian ; Democrat; Masot?.
Family details: Married June 10, 1928, in Moultrie, Ga., to
Fleta Lee Strother, daughter of William Verner Strother and
Nettie Strother. H a s one child, Fleta Lou, born August 17,
1931. R. N. \Villiainso~?is a son of Julian Bloom JVilliarnson,
born 1 G ; moved to Worth County in 1904; lawyer, being
n o ~ van active member of Sylvester Bar, and Lizzie Lot1
(Smith) Williamson, born in Culloden, Ga. in 1 6 ; died
June 13, 1917, and the grandson of Charles Jenkins Williamson of Bib11 County and Thomas Daniel Smith of Monroe
Cotlnty, Ga.
COL.W I L L I A M J E W E L C R O W E
William Jewel Crotve is one of Worth's most prominent
young attorneys and business men. In the handling of difficult
and controversial matters he has shown marvelous tact and
foresight. His unqt~estionedability, indomitable courage, 130th
physical and moral, is a guarantee of success it1 anything he
undertakes. His generosity and genial dispositioll make friends
for him wherever he is known.
H e was born in Jefferson, Jackson County, Ga.. July 8,
1897, and is the son of Dr. W m . Henry Cro~veand Fannie
Elizabeth (Potter) Crowe. Dr. Crome was born in Ranks
County, Ga., December 25, 1870, but lived in Cooliclge,
Thomas County, Ga., where he died February 2, 1923.
Col. Crotve's mother was born in Cobb County, Ga., Feb-
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H I S T O R Y O F WORTH COUNTY, GEORGIA
ruary 29, 1872. H e is the grandson of Asa and Roxie Ann
Cl-owe and John Henry ancl Martha Elizabeth (Black) Potter.
Col. Cro~vegraduated a t Mercer University, LL.B. Degree,
in 1919. H e began the practice of law Soveml~er1, 1919. in
S y l ~ e s t e r Gear-gia.
,
He was it1 central officers training sclzool,
Camp Gordon, Georgia October 15, 1918, to N o ~ e m b e r20,
1918. From June 1, 1923, to November 1, 1928, he represented
the National Farm Association, and was Judge of Police Court
in Sylvester from January 1, 1932, t o January 1, 1925. H e was
Justice of the Peace, Sylvester District, January 1, 1925, to
Janual-y 1, 1'327, and was elected and served Worth County
as Representative from 1927 to 1931. H e as Secretary of the
Legislative Committee on re-organization in 1931; is a Baptist, Democrat, Mason and earnest student.
Col. Win. Jewel Crowe and Leila Houston were married
June 3, 1920, in Sylvestei-. They have t\vo interesting children,
Garland Monna and Nornlan Jewel.
Mrs. Crowe is the daughter of John E. Houston, born August 9, 1862, died ~ipi-il10, 1922, and Rausic (Moree) I-Iouston,
born July 15, 1855, died September 12, 1902. They were both
descendants of earliest settlers of this county.
Mrs. Crowe is a graduate of Norman Park College, and
she is a member of the \Vc?man's Club, P.-T. A. and Baptist
Missionary Societj~.She is a splendid worker in all, and is
always interested in things that are worth while.
PRESTON BROOKS FORD
Preston Brooks Ford, son of William Jackson Ford and
wife Rowena (Hanes) Ford, is a native of JVortl~County. H e
received his educatioil a t McPhaul Institute of Sylvester and
the University of Georgia, graduating June 15, 1921, with t h e
Degree of L1,. B.
P, B. Ford served as clerli in the Sylvester postoffice a i ~ d
tlien was given tlie appoi~ltnlenta s postmaster which office
he held for several years until the United States entered tlie
World War. Being exempt as a11 executive officer of the United
States did not p r e ~ e n this eniistment in the army as soon as
Legencl for cut on page 217.
Top row, left to right: Prof. Geo. I. Martin, and Prof. Eugine Attaway.
Center row: H o n W. Jewel Crowe.
Second row: Dr. F. M. Butler and Col. Joe L. S. Houston.
Bottom row: T. R. Perry, Jr., and Dr. W. W. Sessions.
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PAGE O F PROFESSIONAL M E N
See leg-end on page 216.
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HISTORY O F W O R T H COUNTY, GEORGIA
he could 1)e relieved as postmaster. H i s service hegun on
April 2, 1918, in 21 Co. 157 D. B. Camp Gordon, Georgia. H e
was discharged March 19, 1319. Cp. Hq. Det. Camp Gordon,
as Reg. Sgt. Mjr.; 2nd Lieut., Inf 0. R. C. His service was
confined to that camp during the entire period of his enlistment. After his honorable discharge from military dutv he
began the diligent study of law at the University of Georgia.
Possessed of strong n~entalpowers, he made rapid and substantial progress in acquiring a broad and fundamental knowledge of law. He began the practice of his profession in Sylvester.
His fine charact6:ristics of t~nqualified loyalty, candid and
fearless manner, a close student, looking into details, and a
forceful speaker, has gained for him the prestige as one of the
most resourceful advocates and well fortified counselors of
the Sylvester Bar.
Numerous honors of a public nature have been bestowed
on him. H e nras Mayor of Sylvester from 1924 to 1929. He was
president of Worth County Red Cross for the year of 1932,
and has rendered many other services in Red Cross. He was
State Senator from the 10th District for Worth's term in the
years 1929-1931. Dttring this term he served in the regular
session of 1529 and in the extraordinary session of 1931, and
was present every day and answered every roll call during
those sessions. H e was one of the leaders in defeating a proposed Constitutional amendment to boncl the State for a large
sum for use in building paved roads, and was also active in
the causes of education and the Confederate veterans. He was
Chairman of Committee on Co~n~llerce
and 1,abor. Vice-Chairman of Special Judiciary, and also served on the com~nittees
on General Judiciary, Highways, Banking, Agriculture, ITniversity of Georgia and it's Branches, Appropriations, Insurance, Engrossing and Corporations.
H e is a Democrat, Sigma Nu, a Mason, inetnl~erof American
Legion. Knights Templar, Shrines, Elk, W. 0. \IT., and S. A.
R. on both paternal and maternal lines. H e is a descendant of
soldiers who gave gallant service in the Revolutionary War.
He is also descended from gallant sons of the Confederacy. His
mother's family were sufferers in Sherman's "March to the
Sea," living in the trail he cut with torch and sword through
Georgia. H e is a Missionary Baptist.
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HISTORY
OF WORTH COUNTY, GEORGIA
219
Whether as a11 employee of the Government in civil or military service, or a s attorney for his clientele, or law maker in
the Senate of his state, he discharges the full measure of his
duty.
COL. A N D MRS. W A R R E N L. STORY
WARREN L STORY
Warren L. Story, the son of Sanluel Story, eillistetl in the
Southern Confederacy, Ilooly County, 1)ut left for the 'ivar
fro111 Isabella in Capt. J. RI. Rouse's coinpaily. H e is registered
as one of those soldiers that was wounded ant1 recovered.
H e surrenclered a t l;arm\rille, Va., L41>ril9, 1865.
VCrhen he returned to his wife and little children in Wort11
Countjr he girded himself for the new ordeal, t h a t of reviving
the prostrate industries of his native county and state and t o
meet the needs of his family. The greater part of his energies
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HISTORY
were devoted t o agriculture and naval store operation, but he
was closely identified with the civic and industrial development and progress of this section. H e became a man of wealth
and great influence.
For some years he was a student of law for his own benefit and his advice was sought in many legal matters. At last, he
decided to take the examination and turn this kno~vledgeinto
a source of remuneration, and a t the age of 60 years he was
admitted t o the Bar.
H e was held in great esteem by his fellow citizens. H e was
a man that valued an education ahead of his times. H e would
pay half of the tuition of the school and board the teacher that
his children might have the opportunity of a school. H e was
a strong and reliable man. Congressman Griggs of the Seco n d Congressional District said of him, "If I can get Colonel
Warren 1,. Story's vote I can carry all the northern portion
of Worth County, such is the esteem in which he is held hy his
people."
Warren L. Story was honored by the people of W o r t h with
the office of State Senator in 1894-'95.
H e lived the last years of his life at his farm near Acorn
Pond church a few miles below Warwick.
H i s children that live in this county are Mrs. Sarah Emma
Simpson, Mrs. 17. M. Hall, Mrs. Lula 13. Cameron and Judge
S a m S. Story.
\Ve give below records from his Billie.
WARREN LUMPKIN STORY
These records are from the Bil~leof Warren Lumpkin Story,
son of Satnuel Story and his wife, Annie Brown Story. Samuel Story is given in White's Statistics of Georgia.
This Bible is n o ~ vill the possession of his daughter, Mrs.
A. McD. Cameron, Sylvester, Ga.
Births
Warren L. Story was l ~ o r tMarch
~
15, 1834.
Henrietta Jerkins. wife of Warren L. Story was born Februa r y 22, 1840.
Children
Samuel St. George Story was born Jan. 23, 1856.
Annie Henrietta Story was born Dec. 22, 1857.
Sarah Etnma Story was born Mar. 25, 1860.
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H I S T O R Y(C)O
F W O R T H COUNTY, GEORGIA
22 1
Susan Camilla Story was born Mar. 21, 1862.
1,ula Beauregard Story was born June 18, 1864.
John Llewellyn Story was born Sept. 22, 1866.
I d a Lee Story was born Sept. 4, 1869.
James Richard Story was born June 23, 1872.
Alice Eva Story was born July 24, 1874.
Warren L. Story, Jr., was born Oct. 16, 1878.
Marriages
Warren Lumpkin Story and Henrietta Jerkins were married
Mar. 22, 1855.
Note:-The following marriages are not in this Bible, but Mrs. Cameron gives them:
Samuel S. Story married Jane Bass.
Annie H. Story married Thomas Varnadoe.
Sarah Emma Story married Daniel M. Simpson.
Susan Camilla Story married Thomas D. Rycroft.
Lula B. Story married Archie McDermid Cameron Jan. 23,
1884.
John L. Story married Zermie Louis Bridges.
Ida Lee Story married William Touchton in Nov., 1884.
Alice Eva Story married Francis Marion Hall.
Warren L. Story married Sophia Reclditt, July, 1925.
Deaths
Warren L. Story died May 17, 1911.
James Richard Story died Mar. 22, 1875.
Henrietta Jerkins Story died Mar. 30, 1922.
Annie H. Story Varnadoe clied Apr. 9, 1908.
Note:-Warren
L. Story entered the Confederate service May 13,
1862. Surrendered Apr. 9, 1865, near Farmville, Va.
BENJAMIN WALLACE TIPTON
T h e subject of this sketch ~ v a sa twin brother of Wil!iam
Thoinas Tipton (deceased) and was born at S u n ~ n e rGeorgia,
,
April 18! 1885, the son of Charles Greenberry Tipton, and
Sarah (Ridley) Til)ton.
H e received his early education in the elementary and grammar scl~oolsat Sumner, Isal~ellaand Sylvester, Georgia, graduating from McPhaul Institute in Sylvester wit11 honors in
the class of 1905. Upon graduation, he immediately entered
the Atlanta Cominercial College a t Atlanta, Georgia, where
he cornpletecl a course in shorthand and typewriting, receiving
a diplonla in two and one-half months.
222
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OF
ORTH
COUNTY,
GEORGIA
ALLW
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After completing a business course he was appointed official
reporter for the City Court of Sylvester, Georgia, serving in
that capacity about six months and \vas then appointed -4ssistant Official Reporter for the Southern Judicial Circuit with
headquarters at Valdosta, Georgia. Afterwards he held the
office of Official Reporter for the Albany Judicial Circuit with
headquarters at Sylvester, Georgia.
H e continued as court reporter until August, 1912, a t which
tirne, being inspired by the words of t h e immortal Horace
Greely "Go JVest, Young Man, Go JVest," he left Georgia and
settled in Wichita Falls, Wichita County, Texas. arlrl soon
thereafter became associatecl with Hon. W. F. Weeks. one of
the leacling attorneys of Wichita Falls, remaining \vit11 that
firm, later k n o ~ ~
asnWeeks, Morrow & Francis, Attorneys, for
a periocl of allout eleven years, a t ~ r l ~ i time
c l ~ he severed his
relationship with this firm and opened a la\v business for himself at Electra. Wichita County, Texas, in the heart of what
is known as the Kortll Texas Oil Fields.
I n 1917, during his association with the firm of Weeks,
Morrow & Francis, after w a r nras declared 11y the United
States, he enterecl the military service and served \\.it11 clistinction in the army for a period of ahout twenty-two months.
H e was hoiioral~lydischarged with a letter from his Commanding General for "Commendation for unusual service," and
then returned to the 111-actice of law 1vit11 his foriner associates,
MTeeks, Rlorro~vS; Francis. H i s legal education was ol~tained
by private study with this firm and he was atlinittetl t o the
practice of law in 1919 a t F o r t Worth, Texas.
On the 7th day of Januat-y, 1920, he married R/liss IvIargaret
Rehekah Gocl~vin, second daughter of Mr. and Mrs. F. K.
God\vin, a t Sylvester, Georgia. They have two children: Renjamin Wallace Tipton, Jr.. and Sarah Blanche Tipton.
Since his residence in Electra, he has l~ecomean esteemed
and loyal mem11er of the First Baptist Cllurcl~of Electra. H e
is chairman of the Eoard of Deacons and also of the r'~ n a n c e
Coinmittee of that church and is often called upon t o fill the
pulpit in the absence of its pastor. H e is teacher of t h e 3len's
Bible Class, which is conlposed of a normal attendance of
about one hundred men. He has 11een a continuous ~ n e m h e r
of the Boarcl of Directors of t h e Chanlber of Commerce of his
city ; a member of the local Lions' Clul) ; a Thirty-second De-
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HISTOR\- O F WORTH COUKTY, GEORGlA
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gree i\Iason and a membei- of AIasket Shrine Teizlple of llTichita Falls, Texas. H e has all\-ays taken a prominent ancl active
part in all religiotls and civic affairs of his city and cornmtlnity.
COL. ROBERT S. F O Y
Col. Robert S. Foy is coizsidered one of the best lalvyers o i
the state. Katurally a ma11 with inore than orcliinary ahility,
his large experience, together with the fact that he is a hardworking studelzt, gives hiill a fund of kno~vledgepertai~litlqto
his profession t h a t is equaled by few. H e was Solicitor-Genera1 of the Tiftotz Circuit froill Jan. 1, 1917, t o Jan. 1. 1933,
but resignet1 to run for Juclge of the Circuit. H e was defeated
by Judge Raleigh Eve, the present incumbent. Col. Foy was
born in hlacon County, Georgia. Attended local scl~oolsand
Emory College. H e has practiced law since 1895 in Butler,
Geoi-gia, ancl Sylvester, Georgia. H e is in the general practice
of law iin Sylvester, and is one of the most popular mem1,ers
of the bar.
Col. Robert S. Foy nlarrietl Eva J. Holsey in 1897. She is
the daughter of Judge Julius H. and Martha (31oiltfort) Holsey, tnTopromineizt families.
T h e i r children are Robert Holsej- Foj- aizd 1Villianl 13. Foy
of SJ-lvester and Miss Elizal~ethFo>-, teacher in the Pananla
Canal Zone.
Mrs. Robert S. Foy is a woinain of charming personality, of
social graces and culture and is a representative of aristocratic ancestr~r,the Holsey and Montfort fanlilies of Georgia.
She is an earnest worker of the Methodist Churclz aiid Civic
organizations.
Col. Robert S. Foy represents splei~didfaillilies of Georgia.
H e is the soil of JVesley \V. Foy, born in Talljot County,
Georgia, died in 1933, and Kancy C. (Hayes) Foy, born in
Taylor County, Georgia, died September 1923, and the graindson of Satnpson T. and Julia Foy o i Talbot County, Georgia,
and R. P. and Elizabeth Hayes of Taylor County, Georgia.
ULYSSES C. COMBS
Ulysses C. Combs is the son of A. W. Combs and wife,
Maggie Combs. A. W. Combs was a Confederate Veteran;
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224
he served in Co. H. 13th N. C., Regiment. His commander
was Seales. A. \V. Combs was wounded in the battle a t Spottsylvania Court House, in Virginia.
Ulysses C. Combs was born in Rockingham County, N. C.,
not far from the scene of the famous Revolutionary battle of
Guilford Court House. He attended such one-room, oneteacher public schools as were provided at that time and such
"Subscription Schools" as were taught t o supplement the
short term.
Later he attended East Bend Institute, Guilford College, and North Carolina A. & M., now North Carolina
State College.
H e served as Deputy Register of Deed, Deputy Clerk of
Superior Court, and Deputy Collector of Internal Revenue.
H e was traveling salesman for many years, during which time
he was married to Miss Lizzie Sikes, daughter of Dr. and Mrs.
W. L. Sikes, of Sylvester in 1906 and adopted Sylvester as
his home.
H e was appointed Postn~asterof Sylvester Nov. 20, 1924, and
resigned, effective Sept. 30, 1933.
H e finished a four year course in law by studying a t night
after finishing the days work as postmaster and was admitted
to the practice of the profession by the State Board of the Bar
Examiners, as a resttlt of the examination held in June, 1933,
and is engaged in active practice.
Mrs. U. C. Combs belongs to two prominent pioneer families
of Worth, the Sikes and Ford families. She is a graduate
of Bessie Tift College, and has always been active in Church
and Club work in Sylvester. They have three children, Marjorie, Thelma, and Linda. Miss Marjorie is a teacher in Junior
High in i\iIcI-'ha~lInstitute, Sylvester in this 1934.
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DOCTORS
ROSTER O F WORTH COUNTY PHYSICIANS
A N D SURGEONS
Terrell T. Monger ............Isabella
Theophilas W. Tison .... Att, Ga.
J. H. Pickett ................ T y T y , Ga.
W. J. Turner ........ Warwlck, Ga.
M. J. Crockett ........ Sylvester, Ga.
James Nicholas Ridley, Warwick,
Ga.
W . L. Sikes, Sumner and Sylvester, Ga.
T o m Perry ................ Sumner, Ga.
J. J. Spence ................ Doles, Ga.
J. B. Pickett ............ Surnner, Ga.
R. -R. Pickett, Sumner and T y Ty,
Ga.
F. B. Pickett ................ T y Ty, Ga.
G. G. Tison ........ Bridgeboro, Ga.
W , H. Tison ........ Parkerville, Ga.
G . B. McNeil ...... Parkerville, Ga
Ashton T. Ford ....Parkerville, Ga.
R. N. Hickes ........ Sylvester, Ga.
V. P. Stevens ............ Poulan, Ga.
W. H. Smith ............ Poulan, Ga.
H. M. Jefford ........ Sylvester, Ga.
T. C . Jefford ........ Sylvester, Ga.
J. L. McGill ............ Sylvester, Ga.
G. G. Lunsford ...... Sylvester, Ga.
C. C. Amason ................ Doles, Ga.
A. R. Heyward ...... Warwick, Ga.
H. C. Flournoy .... Warwick, Ga.
J. H. Sessions ........ Shingler, Ga.
Clarence Drew ........ Sumner, Ga.
W. W . Sessions ........ Sumner, Ga.
Eugene Walker .... Sylvester, Ga.
I. C. Deariso ........ Sylvester, Ga.
J. L. Tracy, Sr. .... Sylvester, Ga.
Mr. C, Tipton ........ Sylvester, Ga.
W. K. Stewart ........ Sylvester, Ga.
H. S. McCoy ........ Sylvester, Ga.
E. D. Ford .................... Doles, Ga.
S. W. Johns ................ Doles, Ga.
W. A. Hodges ........ Oakfield, Ga.
J. J. Crumbley ........ Sylvester, Ga.
C. B. Weathers ........ Oakfield, Ga.
J. L. Tracy, Jr. ........ Sylvester, Ga.
Gordon S. Sumner .... Poulan, Ga.
P. E. Bell .............. Sylvester, Ga.
H. L. Spring ............ Suumner, Ga.
Carl Pittrnan, Tifton, Ga. (Formerly Bridgeboro)
Louie Frank Grubbs, Sylvester,
Americus, Abiline, Tex.
C. L. Tolbert ........ Sylvester, Ga.
W. J. Hall ............ Oakfield, Ga.
Thos, J. Bridgers, Sylvester, Ga.
ROSTER OF WORTH COUNTY DENTISTS
Warren Williams .... Sumner, Ga.
IV. W. Harden, Sylvester, Ga., At-
lanta
M. A. Jefford ........ Sylvester, Ga.
T. C. Jefford ........ Sylvester, Ga.
W. H. Stewart ........ Sylvester,
0. H. Cantrell ........ Oakfield,
W. G. Ford ............ Sylvester,
J. S. O'Sheal ........ Sylvester,
F. M. Butler ........ Sylvester,
Ga.
Ga.
Gab
Ga.
Ga.
WORTH COUNTY VETERINARIANS
J. M. Sutton
........
Sylvester. Ga.
J. L. Johnston ........ Sylvester, Ga.
(225)
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HISTORY O F W O R T H COUSTY, GEORGIA
ROSTER OF PHARMACISTS
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Etld Lee
P. E. ell
Claud bl. King
Fred Deariso
Dr. .4. H. Fussell
Dr. Gill~ert W. Surnner
Dr. Woody Oliver
DR. THEOPHILUS WILLIAM TISON
Theophilus William Tjson was born in 'tVort11 County,
g
Georgia, in 1831. He became one of the o u t s t a n d i ~ ~physicians
and surgeons of his time. He was the son of William IVoodruff and Ann (Williams) Tisoil; they were ainong the first
settlers of the county; were people of wealth and influence,
with large land holdings and many slaves. Dr. Tison enlisted
in the Confederate Arnly But was soon transferred to the
Hospital Corps. _After the war he contiiltted the study of his
profession and practiced 1vit11 success as long as he lived.
Dr. Tison tliarried Miss Georgia Ann Ford, the daughter
of Robert Grahanl and Data (Smith) Ford of Lee County.
Dr. Tison died in April, 1912, at the age of seventy-eight
years. H i s wife was 1101-11 about 1840 ancl died in 1891.
Eleven children were born to thein, some of whom live in
Worth County and are among the best citizens. Judge W. W.
Tison of Doles, and the late Col. Mark Tison of Sylvester are
his sons. The late 3'11-s. J. J. Forehancl, mother of Col. Clvde
Forehand, was his daughter.
DR. W. L. SIKES
Dr. W. L. Sikes, youngest son of Eli and Charlotte Sikes,
was horn in Dooly County (after\vard made a part of Worth)
Jan. 31st, 1851. H e received his education in the public schools
of Worth County. I'Ie nrorlted with his father for a while on
the farm, then ~vorkedas a school teacher. With the money
thus earned, at the age of twenty-two. 11e entered the L,ouisville Medical College, and at the end of three years graduated.
H e furthered his education along medical lines by a course a t
the Atlanta Xledical College, from which he was graduated in
1879. H e a t once began practice in \Vortl~ County, where he
gave many years of useful service as a most beloved physician
throug21out the whole county. H e first located a t Isahella,
the county seat a t that time, where he practiced until 1885.
He then moved to S u n ~ n e rancl estal~lisheda drug store. Still
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HISTORY(C)O2005
F WORTH
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227
ambitious, he went to X e v S'ork in 1589 and took a post
graduate course. He retuaiiled at Sumiler until 1899 when he
moved to Sylvester and put in a drug business along with his
DR. Mr.L. SIKES-STATE
,
SEI\I.kTOR
practice. H e was affiliated wit11 the A~nei-icatzMedical Association, the IVorth County Rledical Society, and the Georgia
State Medical Society.
Aside from his professioilal acl~ievenients,Dl-. Sikes repre-
228
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EDITION
HISTORY
O FALLWORTH
COUNTY,
GEORGIA
sented Worth Couizty in both the upper lower Houses of t h e
Georgia Legislature. H e was a leader and advocate of every
movement calculated to promote the uplift and advancement
of his comn~unityand Worth County.
H e was always a stalwart Democrat and wielded no small
influence in politics. H e was a devout Christian, a member of
the Missionary Baptist church. H e held inally places of trust
in his conlmunity.
Dr. Sikes was married in 1880 ill Worth County to Mrs.
Georgia (Ford) Hall.
They had six children, William Arthur, deceased, Elizabeth
(Mrs. U. C. Combs, of Sylvester), Robert Eli, died in Infancy ;
Benjamin Franklin, of Isabella, R4isses C;ladys and Kate, of
Sylvester.
Dr. Wm. L. Sikes died a t the age of 72 years a t his home i n
Sylvester in June, 1923. Rllrs. Sikes was the daughter of Jim
and Catherine Ford, well known and highly esteemed residents of this county whose home was a t Isabella. She was a
native of this county.
Mrs. Sikes was married a t the age of 16 to John B. Hall,
who died sooil after their marriage.
She had one son by this marriage, John B. Hall, deceased.
Mrs. Sikes was loved and honored by all who knew her. S h e
was 66 years old at the time of her death, which occurred a
few months after the death of her husband, Dr. TV. I,. Sikes.
DR. JAMES NICHOLAS RIDLEY
Dr. James Nicholas Ridley, physician and druggist of W a r wick. Worth County, Georgia, was born in Thomas County,
November 10, 1849. His ancestors were Virginians, who were
descended from a distinguished family of Southhampton,
England. His father, David Ridley, was a prosperous planter
and one of CVortlz County's best citizens.
Dr. Ridley began the study of medicine in 1870 under the
tutorship of Dr. Theophalis Tison of Worth County. I n 1874
he matriculated at Louisville Medical College, where he took
two courses of lectures. In 1879 he entered T h e Atlanta Medical College, now The Atlanta School of Medicine, from which
he graduated with honors.
It had been his aim to locate for the practice
his pro-
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fession in Hawkinsville, Ga., a prosperous city in Pulaski
County, but a coincident turned the tide of affairs in his life
and he cast his lot with his native people and located in Warwick, Worth County, Georgia.
DR. J. N. RIDLEY
Financial reverses on account of the Civil W a r made it
necessary for him to begin his practice on horseback. Soon
after his graduation he mounted his horse, with his haggage
strappecl to his saddle and set out for Hawkinsville. After
traveling a day's journey he dismounted and asked at a farm
house, enroute, for a night's lodging. The landlord invited
him into his home in good old South Georgia fashion but explained that his wife nras very ill.
T h e young doctor explained that h e had just completed a
course in medicine and offered his services t o relieve t h e
suffering of his host's good wife. H e remained in the home for
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several days to give her ineclical attention. She recovered
rapiclly under his treatment.
His fame spread aljroad and such demand was made for
his services that, instead of going on to Ha\vkinsville, he locatted at Warwick in his native county, where he spent his life
attending the ills of a large clientele of patrons.
As a physician, Dr. Ridley ratecl as one of the highest and
best in the state. His practice extended t o the best citizens of
the county and surrounding counties. Socially, he and his interesting family occupied a leading position, enjoying the
esteem of the whole country side.
Dr. Ridley was affiliated with the Masonic fratei-nity and
filled every office in the gift of Fort Early Lodge. H e was a
member of the State Medical Associatioil and enjoyed the
confidence ancl esteem of its highest officials. H e was a large
contributor to the building of churches and scl~oolsin Warwick ancl surrounding coinn~uiiities.H e and his family were
leaders ill church life. H e was a deacon of the IVarwick Baptist Churcli for a long term and was serving in that capacity
a t the time of his death, February 5, 1905. H e was a Christian,
a loyal friend, a benefactor.
Dr. Riclley married ill 1880 RIiss Ail11 Bynt~rn Rouse,
daughter of Captain J. 31. Rouse of IVaru-ick, Ga. Miss Rouse,
l ~ o r nin 1851, was a young n-oman of rare beauty and personal
charm. To this unioil was born tnro children: Jaines Nicholas,
Jr., l ~ o r n1une 5, 1882 ; R'linnie Pearl, born March 4, 1884. Mrs.
Kidley died in 1887 and was bui-ied at Warnrick, Georgia.
Janles n'icholas Ridley, Jr., married I\iIiss Catherine Emily
Woolarcl, Rlarch 31, 1908. They have four children: Jailles
Nicholas 111, born February 10, 1909; Catherine Emily, born
April 15, 1912; Joseph Riley, 1101-11 March 10, 1917; Ann, born
i\jay 12, 1919. Mr. Ridle); resided at Sararota, Fla. where he
Ivaq engaged in the mercantile l~usiness.James Nicholas Ridley died in Florida. RIay20th. 1933.
Minilie Pearl Riclley married Col. IVilliam Eugene G r u l ~ l ~ s ,
of Sylvester, i\Iarch 31, 1908. T o this union were born two
children : Willie Pearl, born April 25, 1909, and William Eugene, JI-., born June 22, 1916. Mr. and Mrs. Grubbs reside a t
Cordele, Ga. ~vliereMr. Grub11s is engaged in Guarantee Title
work.
Dr. Ridley, the subject of this sketch, married secoiidly in
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1892 Miss Sallie Jane Rouse, sister of his first wife. This union
was blessecl with three children : Ruth Marie born April 15,
1894; Annie Laurie, born September, 1896, and died 1897;
Blanche, born June 15, 1898.
Ruth Marie Ridley, eldest daughter of Dr. J. N. Ridley by
his second marriage, married Judge Chesley IVade Monk, of
Sylvester, April 15, 1919. They have two children: UTilliam
Ridley, born July 21, 1921; !Mary Charlotte, born June 26,
1925. They reside a t Sylvester, where Judge Monk fills the place
as City Court Judge. H e is protninent in the fraternal, religious, social, ancl political affairs of his county and state.
13lanche Ridley, youngest daughter of Dr. J. N. Ridley, ~ v a s
a young woman of remarkably pleasing personality, bright, intellectual, and talented. No young \voman in WTorth County
had more real friends than Blanche, ancl no one was more
loyal t o her friends than she.
She resided in Sylvester with her sister, Mrs. C. IY. Monk,
until her death August 17, 1932. She was buriecl a t IYarnrick
by the side of her parents.
DR. M.J. CROCKETT
Dr. Crockett came t o this section of Georgia prior to the
tinie that IVoi-th County was forined frotn Dooly Countv. H e
was not a native of the South but was Svlvester's f 7 r ~ tphysician.
Dr. Crockett n-as born near Logansport, Indiana, -A~H-. 24,
1845. His parents were David and Lovisa (Smith) Crockett
of Ohio. I-Iis father, David Crockett, clierl in 1553, his motller in
1908 a t the age of ninety-two years. There was a family of
five chilclren of ~ v h o mDr. Ci-ockett was the fourth. He received his early education in the county schools of his native
state, and completed his medical cducatio~lat 3liami Aledical
College ill Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1870. H e located first in Oregon, but later came South. Soon after he tllai-ried Miss Sarah
Hill of II'orth County in 1875. She was the claughter of Mr.
and Mrs. J. R. Hill, an old and honored family of this County.
T o this tlnion were born the follon-ing cl~ildren;Martha
Martin, nrho married Dr. I. C. Deariso, Ben F. Crockett, Clara
Lovisa, who tnarried R. I?. Lockhart; Katie JVarren, 1v11o
married Itr. A. Moore, of Miami, Fla.; Claudia Colee, who
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married Dr. IV. D. Nobles, of Pensacola, Fla., ancl Dr. Edxvard JVray Crockett of Florida.
For more than forty years Dr. Crockett was an active practicing physician of this couilty. Few inen were held in higher
esteem. H e served as Couricilman of Sylvester, was a friend
of education serving on the Board of Trustees, was County
Physician and in eyery way was a public spirited citizen He
was a Royal Arc11 Mason and, with his family, as a member
of the Methodist Church. H e died in Sylvester.
DR. E. D. FORD
Dr. Elzie Ford of Doles, Georgia, has been a very successful physician for a number of years. He was educated in the
schools oi T7C701-th County and later attended Medical College.
He descended from John and Nancy Graham Ford, pioneer
settlers of old Pindartown, liTorth County. H i s parents were
John Jefferson and Sara Sikes Ford ancl his wife was Miss
IVillie Porter. Moved t o Rap City 1932.
DR. S. W. JOHNS
Dr. Johns of Nortli Alabama, engaged in the practice of
medicine in Doles, W o r t h County, Georgia. H e married a Miss
Gidclens, daughter of John Gidclens and his wife, who was a
Miss Dixon. Dr. Johns removed with his family to Alabama.
DR. G. B. McNEILL
Dr. RIcKeill l i ~ e dat Parkerville and practiced his profession
for a nuinber of years, H e was a loved physician, who practiced
in the days of the horse and buggy, riding long distant-cs over
rough roads in all kinds of ~ v e a t h e rand receiving poor pay.
y
Too much cannot be said in praise of the " C o u ~ ~ t rDoctor."
FOUR DOCTORS O F PICKETT FAMILY
LOCATE I N WORTH
There were four doctors of the Pickett family who nloved
to I'Iiorth County from UTebster Cotlnty.
Dr. Jesse Havis Pickett, the oldest of them, and the half
uncle of the other three, came in 1881 and settled a t T y Ty.
H e lived there until his death in 1903. Ty Ty was not cut off
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into Tift County until after his death, so he was a citizen of
Worth all these years.
Jeptha B. Pickett (called Jack) was the next to come to
Worth. H e located a t Suinner in 1885. Sumner was the metropolis of IL'orth County a t t h a t time.
Dr. Reuben K. Pickett was the third in the order of their
conling t o IVorth. H e came in 1892 ancl located a t Sunlner
and was associated i\rith his brother, Dr. Jack Pickett, in the
practice of nlecliciile until the latter moved to Springfield La.
The last and youngest of these brothers was Dr. Frank
Brown Pickett. H e came in 1897 and located a t T y Ty. H e is
the oilly one n o ~ vliving in this year, 1934.
The genealogy of the Picketts show them to be descended
from James Pickett, a Re\~olutionarysoldier mentioned in the
Archives of Historical Con~missionat Columbia, S. C. Several
of his grandsons moved from South Carolina to Stewart, Webster, and Sumter Counties, Georgia. This family of Picketts has given distinguished service in all American wars.
These doctors of 'IVorth are closely related t o Major General
George Edward Pickett of the Civil War, who made the famous charge a t Gettysburg. They are descended from Ecl~vard
Rfoberly and son, Samuel Moberly, of upper South Carolina,
and Andrew Feaster, all of ~vhornwere Revolutionary soldiers.
DR. JESSE HAVIS PICKETT
Dr. Jesse Havis Pickett, the son of Jeptha and Jane I-Iavis
(McKiney) Pickett, was born April 12t11, 1828, in North Carolina.
He came to Webstel- Coui~tyand practiced medicine at
Weston for a number of years. H e enrolled as a volunteer ill
the Mexican War, June 15, 1847, a t Lumpkin, Ga., and was
mustered in August 31, 1847, a t Columl~us,Ga. He served as
a private in Co. H, Seymour's Battalion of Georgia, and was
promoted to corporal Decemher 15, 1847. H e nTas mustered
out July 10, 1848, a t Mobile, hla., at the age of 19.
H e voltinteered t o enter the Confederate Army, and was
elected Captain of Co. K. 17th Ga. Regt. of Inf. August 15,
1861, was promoted t o rank a s Major June 9, 1862. and resigned as Major January 5, 1864.
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I i e was niarried ill Tliel~sterCounty, Georgia, January 9,
1851, t o Miss Lavinia M. I-Iarper. He, with his family, moved
to T y T y , W o r t h County, in 1881. H e represented TVorth
County in the State Legislature tnro terms, 1886-1887, and w a s
largely itlstrumeiltal in getting local optioll in JVorth. I-Ie was
pul~licspirited and interested in progressive movements and
ideas, ancl in lzis last years so~netimelet these ideas influerlce
him too far.
H e practiced medicine all over this section a t a time ~vlrhen
there were no good roads, few bridges, ancl poor pay. I-Ie nras
not a m e m l ~ e rof the R'lethoclist Church, but was one of t h e
largest contributors to the building of Ty Ty Methodist
Church. I n his last years he gave up his practice ancl accepted
the Christian Science religion. He was a great admirer of T o m
Watson. H e was a clevoted husband and father, ancl a loyal
friend.
H e had three daughters: Sara, nlarried to Jo1111 Payne,
Shellman; Lillian, married t o Col. John R'lorron~!of Tifton;
Cora, married first t o Hill and second t o Pitt, of T y Ty.
Jeptha Pickett, father of Dr. Jesse Havis Pickett, -\\:as 1101-11
April, 17, 1788. H i s n ~ o t l ~ eJane
r , Havis (B,lcRinney) Pickett,
was born February 28, 1791.
DR. JEPTHA B. PICKETT
Dr. Jeptka B. Pickett, known as Dr. Jack, was born in
Webster County in 1SGO. I I e graduated in tnedicine at Lltlanta
College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1885. H e catne t o
I i o r t h County ancl located a t S u m i ~ e r ,nrllere he 11uilt up a
large practice. I-Ie ~ v a selected County Scl~oolCommissioner
of Worth. H e married twice in J i o r t h County, first to Miss
Maude Corilelia Hill, and after her death nras married to her
\ister, bliss Mattie Hill. T h e y were meml~ersof a large : ~ n d
splendicl fanlily of the county. By the last marriage he had one
daughter, NIaucle Pickett. H e movecl in the 90's t o Springfield,
La., and there h e marriecl Miss Nevie IYatts, and they had txvo
children by this union, Nevie and Violet. H e clied in 1906.
After his death his wife (Mrs. Nevie I i a t t s Pickett) nloved
to T y T y , Georgia, where she lived until their daughters were
grown.
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DR. REUBEN R. PICKETT
Dr. Rettben R. Pickett ~ v a s11orn in ~ e b s t e rCounty, Ga..
March 29, 1868. H e graduated from the University of Georgia
bledical College in Augusta in 1892. H e came to Sumner immediately afterward, where he practiced medicine until 1908,
when he nloved to T y T y and formed a husiness and professional partnership nrith his brother, Dr. Frank B. Pickett.
H e was considered one of the best physicians in this section
and his practice extended o-ver a wide territory in the eastern
part of Worth and adjoining counties. H e accun~ulatedconsiderable propertjr ancl had large farming interests. I-Ie mTasVicePresident of the Bank of T y T y ancl ownecl property in T y Ty,
Sumner ancl Tiftoi~.H e nras a Democrat, a Mason, a member
of the Missionary Baptist Church. He was a builder and intensely interested in the promotion of all things tending
toward the impro\ren~ent and upbuilding of his town and
cotlllty.
H e was twice married, both tiines a t Sumner, Ga.. first t o
Miss Katie 'i\iIcLeod, and they had one child, Katie Ruth
Pickett. After the death of his first wife he married Miss
s , Sumner, in 1899, and to them one daughter
Susie G r u l ~ l ~of
was born, Louise (Mrs. C. A. Harrell).
H e died October 23, 1924, at T y T y and was buried a t
Tifton, Ga.
DR. FRANKLIN B R O W N PICKETT
Dr. Franklin Brown Pickett came to Worth County May
l s t , 1897, and located a t T p T y , Ga., after his graduation in
,4pril of the same year. H e received his degree as a Doctor of
Medicine froin the i\iIedical Department of the University of
Georgia.
'While Dr. Pickett is now a resident of Tift County, since
e given his splel~did
the cutting off of T y T y illto Tift, l ~ has
services all these years in large part to the people of the eastern part of Worth County, as well a s surroundit~gcounties.
H e has accu~nulateda large estate of land and city property,
ancl is one of the leading citizens of Tift County. H e is a promoter of educatioilal and religious affairs.
H e niarriecl Miss Martha Annie JVilliams, of Ty Ty; and
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they had three children: Theodore Franklin, Mary Kathlyne
and Frankie Evelyn, all of whom died young.
Mrs. Pickett belongs to the Williams and Gibbs families,
all early settlers of the eastern part of W o r t h County, who
have given distinguished service, not only t o this section, but
t o the nation. She is a sister of the late Maj. Gen. Ezekiel J.
Williams, who distinguished himself as a soldier of three
wars.
DR. CHARLES CURTIS AMASON
Dr. Amason, of Doles, was born April. 26, 1859, in Bibb
County, near Macon. Ga.
H e received his medical education at Lot~isville.Ky., graduating in 1893. Later he took a post graduate course in New
York, after which he returned t o Georgia and practiced in
Macon, Broxton, Ashburn, and finally settled in Doles where
h e lived until his death.
He was married a t Doles to Miss Mattie Emmie Gleaton,
Jan. 23, 1907. His wife and family still live a t Doles, IVorth
Cou11ty.
His children are Clifford, Ellafair, Emmit, and Thomas.
Dr. Amason had a large practice. H e not only stood high
in the estimation of the people a s a physician, but was an
enterprising business man and a leading citizen of this county.
DR. WALTER CHARLES TIPTOM
Walter Charles Tipton,.third son of Charles Greenberry Tipton, was born a t Isabella, Ga., February 19, 1882. H e attended
the public schools at Isabella, Sutnner, and Sylvester. He entered the Atlanta Medical College, which later became the
Il'iedical Department of Enlory University, where he graduated in 1908
He returned to his home in Sylvester and almost immediately succeedecl in establishing himself in the practice of his
profession. H e has found time t o identify himself with many
other interests in his community and county and has accumulated extensive farming interests.
He has risen t o a position of prominence by reason of his
natural ability and high ideals, winning the confidence,of an
extended clientele in the practice of his profession, and has
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made himself a moving factor in church, social and political
affairs. He served a s deacon of the First Baptist Church in
Sylvester for two years, resigning this position for lack of
time necessary to the duties involved.
He is a member of the State Medical Society and of T h e
American Medical Association and is Vice-president of the
Second District Medical Association. He was Chief Surgeon
for the H. & F. S. Railway Company for a number of years
and has been 1,ocal Stlrgeon for The Atlantic Coast Line
Railroad Company for the past 20 years and County Physician
for Worth County for 18 years. H e also served as Commissioner of Health for Worth County for two years and until
this service was abolished by the County Authorities. He was
President of the Kiwanis Club of Sylvester for the years
1929-30 and has served as Chairman of the Board of Edt~cation in Sylvester for six years.
H e married Miss Ellen Calvada Goclwin, daughter of F K.
and Blanche (Alford) Godwin on December 20, 1911. a t Sylvester.
Mrs. Tipton is a member, on her maternal side, of the Alford and Jones families of North Carolina, which contributed
such heroes t o our nation as Capt. James William Zion -4lford
of Cowpens and Guifolford Courthouse Battles, Major L,oderwick Alforcl, member of General Assembly; Lieutenant Mark
Myatt, Lieutenant Joseph Lane, and Capt. Etheldred Jones.
She is a leader in civic and church activities in her town,
is noted for her thrift and industry. Her home is a center of
social life.
'They have three children: Walter Charles, Jr., Margaret
Joyce, and Carolyn Elizabeth.
DR. GORDON S. SUMNER
Dr. Gordon S. S ~ ~ m n mras
e r born May 6th, 1885, on the old
Surnner homestead, seven miles north of Poulan, being the
eighth child of Joseph L. and Sarah J. Sumner. He attended
the rural school near his father's home for four three-month's
terms, and the school a t Isabella for two five-month's terms,
and attended a Business School a t Colurnbus for five months
in 1899.
Most of his boyhood days were spent looking after his
father's sheep and cattle and doing general farm work. When
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possible he \\~oulclread papers, l~ooks,nlagazines, and all that
nras available in the n7ay of literature.
111. 1903 he entered the Atlanta Scl~oolof NIedicine, from
which he graduated ill 1906, ancl ilntnediately afterwart1 began
Worth Coullty Representatives, 1933-1934
G O R D O N S. S U M N E R A N D COL. J A M E S H. T I P T O N
For further reference see index.
the general yraciice of nlediciile at Shillgler, Georgia. He was
married in 1910 to iI4attie Lou Cl~apinan,and they have four
children.
I n 1916 he inovecl to Poulan, Georgia, and has lived there
since, contint~inghis practice of medicine, except the time
spent ill the Georgia Legislature as represei~tative froill
\Vorth, the World War, ailtl in post-graduate work.
H e representecl I;l.'orth County it1 the General Asseinl)ly for
two tern~s-1913-1914 and 1915- 1916. I-Iis services as a physician ailcl surgeoil were offered to the United States army iinmediately after the United States entered the World War. H e
\vas coinlnissioned as First Lieutenailt in the Medical Corps
and was assigned to the 29th Division. H e went t o France in
June, 1918; was in three active ellgagemeilts and was gassed
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and slightly wouncled by shrapnel in the Meuse-Argonne drive
on September 28, 1918. After being sent to a hospital he was
a convalescent cluring the remainder of the war and was discharged from the army April 1, 1919.
H e did post-graduate work a t Tulane University, New Orleans, La., dtlring part of 1921 and all of 1922. Sirice that
time he has been actively engaged in the practice of medicine
and surgery a t Potllan, Georgia. H e represented Worth County in the Georgia Legislature during the term of 1933-31.
H e is a member of the Poulan Baptist Church, a Mason,
member of the Knights of Pythias, Woodmen of the World, a
trustee of Norman Junior College a t Norman Park, Georgia,
and a believer in the principles of Jeffersonian Democracy.
DR. J. L.TRACY, SR.,and SON,DR. J. L.TRACY, JR.
Dr. J. L. Tracy, son of Mr. and Mrs. C. C. Tracy, of Webster County, Georgia, was born March 5, 1874, in Webster
County. H e received his nledical training from the Atlanta
Medical College, now known as Emory University, and the
medical department of the University of Georgia, where he
received his cliploma on April lst, 1899. H e located in Webster County, practicing his profession there until 1902. when
he took a post-graduate course from Atlanta Medical College.
O n December 18, 1902, he married Miss Nancy Ella Spann,
and they located at Sylvester where he has continued t o live
and practice medicine. She is an ideal doctor's wife, taking a
great interest in his work and helping in many ways to
lighten his l)urclei~sand make bright the dark spots encountered by him as a doctor. Dr. Tracy's sympathetic n ~ t u r e hi:,
,
gentle manner, his skill in his profession, and his wide practice make him a great favorite. H e never fails to respond to
the call of anyone in need of his service, day or night, it
matters not how busy and trying the day has been.
H i s son, J. L. Tracy, Jr., graduated a t tlze Medical Department of the University of Georgia a t Augusta on June 2,
1930, having served his internship at the University Hospital,
Augusta, Georgia. I i h i l e a t medical college he was elected
t o the National Honorary Medical Fraternity, Alpha Omega
Alpha. His premedical work \vas taken at Mercer University
in Macon, Ga. Since finishing his internship he has been engaged in general practice at Sylvester, Georgia.
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D r . and Alfrs. Tracy have two other children, Miss Bernice
Tracy, a teacher of ~natheinaticsa t Br~lnswick,Ga. She graduated from Shorter College, Rome, Ga., in 1926, and was the
first honor graduate of her class. William Tracy, the J-oungest
son, attenclecl the Georgia School of Technology and t h e State
University; also Southern Dental College.
Dr. and MI-s. Tracy and family are members of the Baptist
Church, s t a ~ u l c hDemocrats, and are actively interested in all
the religious. eclucational, and civic afYairs of the county and
state.
DR. H. M. JEFFORD
Dl-. Harnlon Mack Jefforcl, was born at Waresboro, Ware
County, Georgia, March 25, 1878, and died in Sylvester. Ga.,
August 15, 1908. His parents were Harnlon Finch Jefford,
and Mary (McQuaig) Jefforcl. H e was the sixth of nine children, aild traced his ancestry back t o William Miller, a patriot
in the Revolutionary \&Jar, who died November 27, 1837, and is
buried in Kettle Creek Cemetery, W a r e County, Ga.
H e attended the high schools of Waresboro ailcl Waycross,
Ga., and graduated froill the medical depal-tment of the University of Georgia, Augusta, Ga., in 1900. H e took post-graduate work a t various medical schools in the South, and was a
inetnber of the Georgia Society and both District and Couilty
Medical Associations.
H e came t o Sylvester soon after his graduation, xvhere he
spent the remaining years of his useful and successful life.
H e possessed a mit~clof unusual culture and strength. was
very careful in his judgments; his conclusions were never
hastily forined, but were always carefully thought out and
were generally correct.
. ,
As a physician he was above the ordinary. H e hacl s111)erior
ability and high professional attainments, natural gifts. and
acquired skill which ranl.cecl him atnotlg the most pro~ninent
in his profession.
Tl~ouglla con11)aratively young nlan when he passed on, he
had earned a splendid reputation, and enjoyed an extensive
,
Legend for cut on page 241.
No. 1, Dr. J. L. Tracy, Sr.; No. 2, Dr. Warren J. Hall; No. 3, Dr. H.
S. McCoy; No. 4, Dr. Walter C. Tipton; No. 5, Dr. James J. Crumbley;
No. 6, Dr. Joseph L. Johnston; No. 7, Dr. J. S. O'Sheal, (See index).
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and lucrative practice. I n the homes of his patients to whose
relief he administered he was more than a physician; he was
friend and brother. His ministrations ceased not when his
skill had failed. His heart pulsated with human sympathy and
expressed itself in his acts of htlman kindness.
As a c.itizen he mas interested in the public welfare, and
always took the moral side of every public issue.
Dr. Mack Jefford was admired and loved by all irre.spective
of age or condition; he was inately a gentleman; courtesy
was as natural to him a s breathing, and honor dearer than
life itself. Strong in his convictions, he was yet considerate of those from whose opinions he sometimes differed.
His whole demeanor was marked by a becoming sense of
the fitness of things. H e was. a Christian of the highest type.
This statement does not rest upon the evidence of his dying
testimony, hut also upon his every day Christian life. H e was
a member of the Methodist Church of Sylvester. H e died well
because he had lived well.
DR. HOMER SEAL McCOY
Dr. Homer Seal McCoy, for seventeen years a resident of
Worth County, is one of the fine type of kindly and capable
medical men thinking always of the welfare of his patients.
His profession calls for almost constant traveling or office
practice. His magnanimity and desire to be of service to suffering humanity makes him respond t o the call of the poor and
causes him t o have a large charitable practice. H i s talent and
professional skill makes him one of the most popular physicians with the Best class of people.
Dr. McCoy was born June 24, 1883, a t Georgetown, Brown
County, Indiana. His parents were John H. McCoy and wife,
Emma D. (Hendricks) McCoy. Jobn H. McCoy's ancestors
were the Moses and McCoy families, who are of Scotch-Irish
descent. The grandfather of Dr. McCoy served with the Federal Army in the W a r Between the States under General Hooker. H e was killed in the battle of Lookout Mountain, Nov. 23,
1863. H e was a graduate of the University of Indiana.
Dr. McCoy's mother's ancestors were Kendricks and Houghams. On the Kendrick's side, she is a second cousin of
Thomas A. Hendricks, Governor of Indiana for eight years,
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and Vice-President under President Grover Cleveland. On the
Houghams' side she is related to George Mlashington, he being
a fifth cousin to Mrs. Etnmie Kendricks McCoy.
Dr. Homer S. McCoy was the first child born to his parents.
When he was six years old his parents moved to Marion
County, Florida, t o benefit his mother's health. I n 1900 they
moved to Belton, Georgia. H e graduated from High School a t
Gainesville, Georgia. H e worked for the railroad for two
years, then took a course in bookkeepit~gand stenographic
work. After finishing the course he was bookkeeper for the
Atlanta Dairy on Luckie Street three years and six months.
H e then stood the Civil Service examination and received the
appointment as clerk in the Atlanta Postoffice and held this
place for five years.
Dr. McCoy has always had an urge to serve his fellowman
in a humane capacity, to share their troubles, and to alleviate
their sufferings. H e decided t o study medicine ancl entered
the Atlanta College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1910,
graduating in June 1914. I n that class there were 127 members.
Dr. McCoy stoocl third in class. Between the Sophomore and
Junior years in the h4eclical College, he married Mabel Gertrude Pierce, of Atlanta, Georgia. H e located a t 385 Flat
Shoals Avenue, Atlanta, where he practiced medicine for two
years. O n June 14, 1916, they moved to Minton in Worth
County, where they lived for twelve years. They moved to
Sylvester, t o a home he had o\vnecl for sometime, February 29,
1932, where he still lives.
Mrs. Mabel G. (Pierce) McCoy, the first wife of Dr. McCoy,
was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank JV. Pierce. She was
born in Eustice, Florida. H e r mother was Miss Edith Gates.
T h e Pierce family were froin IValtham, Mass. The Gates
family were from Cle\relaiicl, Ohio. 111-s. 11al1el G. (Pierce)
McCoy, on her mother's side, is a clirect descendant of the
famous Miles Standish of Plymouth Colony. She fully illusstratecl her long line of distinguishecl ancestors. She held the
faith of her Puritan forebears ancl she was a refined, devout
Christian character. She was a wise and devoted mother to her
sons, John Franklin and Horace Carlisle McCoy. She died in
m sons.
1929, leaving her husband with their t ~ ~sillall
In 1930 Dr. RIcCoy nlarried Eva Mae Bius, of Doerun. She
is descended from a splendid family of Randolph County
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HISTORY O F WORTH COUKTY, GEORGIA
Georgia, the I.3ius and Haddon family. One child has been
horn to this home, little Gloria Claire M'cCoj~,born February
29, 1932.
Dr. XIIcCoy's nott toes are: "Love everybody as far as is 110ssible. ;" "Trust in God ;" "Serve your fellowman."
DR. WARREN JACKSON HALL
Dr. Warren Jackson Hall of Oakfield is one of the leading
and most beloved physicians of Worth County. H e has had
a large practice and has attained a11 unusually high reputntion as one of the most successful physicians in the county by
results achieved and by his high standing as a man and as a
loyal a i ~ dprogressive citizen. The engrossing cares of his
profession for forty-seven years of practice has made serious
inroads on his health. While he is well llolsr, several serious
operations have caused him t o retire from practice.
H e took his medical course, after his first wife died, a t the
Atlanta Meclical College, graduating in 1885. H e located first
at Doles ancl practiced his profession there for ten years. H e
then moved back t o his old home a t Oakfield where he was
reared from a small boy and has lived there ever since.
H e is the son of UTilliam Walton Hall and wife, Alice
(Story) Hall. She was the daughter ol Sam Stoy, one of the
outstancling pioneer citizens of this section. Dr. Hall Yas born
in 1853.
Dr. Hall married Niss JVillie Kemp in 1881. She died voung
leaving their son, Hiram JYalter Hall. born in 1882. H e never
married and died in 1924.
After Dr. Hall graduated in medicine, he nlarried Margaret
Eugenia Rutland in 1886. To t h e ~ nwere born two sons, Alfred
and Aldrich, and one daughter, Johnnie. Mrs. Margaret ELIgeilia Hall was l>orn Aug. 28, 1859. She died Sept. 26, 1897.
Dr. Hall married a third time to XIrs. Jtarylee Bacon
Lippett. She was I ~ o r nAug. 14, 1851 and died hIarc11 6 , 1923.
DR. TOM PERRY
Dr. Perry was one of the pioneer doctors of Worth County.
He was distinguished not only for his usefulness in his professional work, but his activities in church and community
life gave him an outstanding position a s a Christian and pa-
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245
triot. H e was also a preacher of great force and merit, and
often filled the pulpit in his church and other c l ~ u r c l ~ eins his
territory. The grand old white haired man was always present
it1 his pew or in the pulpit in the Methodist Church at Sumner,
Ga., and ever admonishing young and old to live Christ-like
lives. Each New Year's eve fotu~dhi111 in his churcl~surrounded l ~ ythe young people \~;hom he inspired to new beginnings and greater endeavors. Truly, Dr. Perry's life work
and his message carried healing in its power and influence.
His son, J. T. Perry, lived with his family all his life near
Sumner, ~vllerehe died several years ago.
DR. JAMES J. CRUMBLEY
Dl-. Jatnes 1. Crumbley, son of Dr. Sidney A. Crumhley,
11. D., and wife, ~ n c r e t l a(Atwell) Crurnbley, mas born in
Georgetown, Georgia, March 7, 1887.
H e received his grammar and high scl~ooleducation in the
public schools of Eufaula, Alabama. H e then went to Georgia
School of Technology and received the degree of B. S. Electrical Engiileering in June, 1908. H e accepted the place as
Principal of the Iiilliamsot~High School in 1908-1909, and
was given the chair of Alathematics at A. St M. College at
Tifton, Georgia, in 1909-1910. Here he met and married the
Home Econolnics teacher, Lucy ~ ~ i l k i ~ ~in
s o1910.
n,
Dr. Crumhley had, for a long time, felt the urge t o be a
pl~ysician,prohably the chief influence \vhiclz directed this,
\\-as that his father was a physician of marked ability and usefulness. Dr. J. J. Crumbley entered Vanderbilt Uiliversity in
1910 and received the Degree of Doctor of Medicine from that
University in June, 1914. H e returned to his home in Georgetown to begin his practice and remained there until Feb.,
1917, w l ~ e nhe canle to Sylvester t o live. H e had just established a lucrative practice when the United Slates entered the
World War. Being of draft age he enlisted in Dec., 1917. After
serving in France he returned to America and was mustered
out the latter part of 1918.
H e took advantage of the opportunity to further his preparation as a physician by taking a two-year course in the
schools and hospitals of New York, doing post-graduate work
in Pediatrics and Obstetrics in 1920-1921. He returned t o
Sylvester and has always been popt~lar,not only for his skill
and assiduity as a physician, but because he has kept in touch
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HISTORY
O F W O R T H COUNTY, G E O R G I A
with the advances made in tlleclical science. H e is a close and
appreciative student of the best standard and periodical literature of his profession and as a citizen is progressive, loyal,
and public-spirited. H e is a inember of the Baptist church,
the Sigma Nu fraternity and is devoted t o the cause of the
Democratic party.
Mrs. Lucy (Wilkinson) Crumbley is the daughter of Thomas
P . Wilkinson and wife, Georgia (Murray) Wilkinson of Lincolilton in IJincoln County, Georgia. She is affiliated with
every civic club of the city and is unwavering in her allegiance
t o the church and its work. For ten years she was the efficient
president of the Woman's i\/Iissionary Society. During t h a t
time she brought it up to standard and revised many of its
activities. T h e study courses taken in those years nrere highly
cultural and deeply spiritual. She helped organize other
Missionary Societies, and is a t present leader of the Royal
Ambassadors, an auxiliary of the IV, PI. U. She is chairman
of Personal Service in the Mallary Association, and was also
Counselor of Girls Auxiliary of W . M. U. one year. She served
as President of Sylvester l i o n ~ a n sClub one year.
She taught 6th and 7th grades in Adel High School, but she
loved teaching Home Economics because of its practical relation to every day life. For six years she taught Honle Economics in A. St M. School at Tifton, Ga., and one year in High
School at Fitzgeralcl, Ga.
DR.W.W. SESSIONS, M. D.
Dr. W. W. Sessions is a scion of two sterling old Ranclolpl~
County families. H i s father, Henry Sessions, a prosperous
agriculturist, lived just south of Cuthbert in his a n t e - b e l l ~ ~ m
mansion. H i s noth her, Cynthia Emily (Brown) Sessions, belonged to one of the richest and most aristocratic families of
Rai~clolphCounty. They were great slave owners and cotton
planters, and they lived a few miles south of Cuthbert. After
his mother's death his father lllarried the cousin of his mother,
Minnie Hendry, the daughter of Dr. Hendry. Dr. W. W.
Sessions was horn in 1875 in Randolph County.
Dr. W. W. Sessions received his early education in Cuthbert schools. T o prepare for his chosen profession he went to
the Atlanta School of Medicine fl-om which 11e received his
Degree of Doctor of Medicine in 1910. H e located in S u ~ n n e r
in 1911 ~vhel-ehe has achieved noteworthy success in general
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HISTORY(C)O2005
F WORTH
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247
practice. His effective ministrations extend throughout that
excellent sectioil of the county. H e is liberal and progressive
in all civic and church affairs, and takes a prominent part in
matters of education. H e served on the building committee of
the splendid new school building of Sunlner and other buildings of the school plant.
Dr. TV. W. Sessioils ~ v a smarried in 1905, to Verlin Veasey,
of Randolph County. She is one of those thrifty house~vives
that look well t o the ways of her ow11 home and a t the same
time takes an active part in all civic and church affairs.
Dr. Sessions and family are Methodist and Democrats.
T h e children of Dr. and Mrs. Sessions are:
Dr. H. K. Sessions of Trenton, N. J.; Emily Mae, W. hl.
Wesley, hlarguerite, and Martha Dean.
DR. CARL LESLIE TOLBERT
Dr. Carl Leslie Tolbert, a popular young Chiropractor,
moved with his parents, Der~voodB. Tolbert and wife, Irene
(Slagle) Tolbert to Wort11 County in 1910. His father's' people
were pioneer settlers in North Georgia. His mother is descendo furnished so many dised from tke Quilliail family ~ v l ~have
tinguished
to the state-Methodist preachers, physicians and educators for generations in Georgia. Dr. Toll~ertis
a direct descendant of James Quillian on his maternal sic!e.
Deceased
Maternal side
Jaines Quillian, Sr. .................. Paternal side Tolbert Generation
Clenloncls Quillian .................................. Osborn H. Tolbert, Sr.
Rithel B. Quillian ................... .
.
.............. 0~1101-11H. Tolhert, Jr.
AIIII Qttilliail ......................................................................................
Living
Irene Slagle ............................................
Der~voodB. To!hert
Carl Leslie 1olbert .............................................. D r . Carl L.eslie
. . .
........................... Virginia
V~rcl-inia
.............................................. .
.
b
Derwood I3. Tolbert and wife had four boys and one girl.
Dr. Carl L. Tolbert is the oldest.
Derwood B. Tolbert, father of Dr. Tolbert, was born in
Pickens County, Ga., March 4, 1869, and died in Omega, Feb.
13, 1934.
D r . Carl L. Tolbert graduated froin Berry School at Rome
in 1917. H e worked in the accouilting department for Swift &
Co. until 1921, after xvhich he taught school ill W o r t h Coullty
.
7
248
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for three years. H e graduated fro111 Palnler School of Clliropractice in Davenport, Iowa, in February, 1929, and located in
S y l ~ e s t e rin June of the sanle year.
He nlarriecl I-lattie Chapman, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W .
IV. Chapman, of Rome, Ga., in Sept. 1917. She is a graduate of
the 1917 class of Berry School.
They have one child, Virginia Toll~ert,who was born in
Moultrie, Georgia.
DR. THOMAS J. BRIDGES
Dr. Thonlas J. Bridges
was born in Jasper County,
in this State, the 3rd day of
July, 1855.
In 1875, after finishing at
Hilliard Institute in Forsyth,
he entered Mercer University. From there he clualified
at the Atlanta Medical College, from ~vhichhe gracluatecl with distinction in 1886.
D u r i ~ l ghis young manhood
he lived in Forsyth, and for
several years practiced his
profession there. In the year
1902 he moved to \Vorth
County, and selected Sylvester as his home, again entering upon the practice of his
profession. H e soon acquired
-.
a large practice, and his sucDR. THOS. J. BRIDGES
c e s s demonstrated his
thorough knowledge of his \voi-k, and his natural love for the
calling. I n a short while after conling to Sylvester, his fellow
citizens honored him ~ v i t ha position on the Board of Councilmen, and subsecluently elected him Jtayor of the City, which
latter place he held for two years, when that mysterious wizard
which he called paralysis rendered him helpless. H e was a
prominent Mason, affiliated with the Woodnzen of the World,
and a member of the First Baptist Church. His name was
stricken from the roll of the living Nov. 30, 1912.
Dr. Bridges and Miss Olivia Morse, of Forsyth, were mar*-
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riecl December 20th, 1877. This union was blessed with t!lree
children, Mr. Eerner Bridges of Albany, Mrs. J. 0. (Alma)
RlcLVhorter of Tifton, Mrs. J. Mack (Daisy) Sutton of Sylvester.
PAYTON ELLIOT BELL, M.D. AND PHARMACIST
Dr. Payton Elliott Bell is a native of Webster County Georgia, but for 28 years has been a leading druggist and physician of Sylvester and M'orth County. F o r a number of years
he had a general practice of meclicine, but changed his
fielcl of work to that of pharmacist. H e established one of the
first drug stores in Sylvester and built up a large business,
operating a t one time two d r u g stores in the city. H e has
always given. his l~usinesshis close ancl earnest attention. No
man has hacl a finer influence in quality and purpose for the
betterment of the town and county than Dr. Bell.
Iie is the eldest chilcl of his parents K. A. and R,fartha Elizabeth (Elliott) Bell of \Vebster Cot~nty. He received his
early education in the public schools of Webster County and
Cuthbert, Georgia. H e attendecl the Southwestern Agriculture
College, worked on the farm for several years, and then
entered the Medical Department of the State University at
Augusta, graduating in the class of 1899. After one year's
practice a t Grayson in Gwinnett County, Georgia, he came to
Sylvester March lst, 1900, where lie has lived since. I-Iis .father
died in 1902 and he assumed the responsibility of the care of
his mother and sister, Mattie, bringing then1 t o Sylvester to
live ~vit11hiin. His mother died in 1904. Miss i\'Iattie Bell
married George H a r t of Sylvester.
Dr. Bell was married Nov. 23, 1904, a t Louisville, Kentucky,
to Miss Ella Payton, a daughter of iMr. and i\lrs. J. S. Payton,
an old and honorecl family of Vl'arsa~v,Kentucky. T o them one
child was born, Payton Elliott, Ji-., who was born Oct. 14, 1905,
and died April 7, 1915. Ail unusually bright and attractive
child. Mrs. Bell has always been an earnest worker for the
welfare of Sylvester in civic and clzurcl-2 ~vork.
They are botli public spirited and generous, giving to every
~vorth\vhileaffair of the comtnuiiity. They are Democrats and
are R'Iethodist by faith.
DR. J. S. O'SHEAL
In 1911 Dr. Jatnes Seaborn O'Sheal moved to Sylvester from
Atlanta. H e was born in Pickens County, South Carolina,
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September 10, 1874. When a lad he came with his parents t o
Mize, Franklin Cotulty. His parents were Robert Yancy Hayne
O'Sheal and Isabella (Graham) O'Sheal, both natives of South
Carolina. His grandfather, Dr. Robert O'Sheal, who was a
dentist, moved to South Carolina from Massacht~settsprior t o
the IVar Between the States. His father, Dr. R. Y. H. O'Sheal,
was a graduate in medicine from the University of Pennsylvania in 1867, later graduating in dentistry a t Baltimore. He
sewed in the quartermaster department during the war.
Dr. J. S. O'Sheal attended the public schools of Franklin
County, and was graduated from Carnesville High School,
after which he taught for several years. H e married Miss
Maude Quillian Wall, June 1, 1898, and from this union three
children were born, Ralph Waldo, Marguerite and Roy Fletcher, the latter dying in infancy.
Feeling the urge t o follow in the professional steps of both
father and grandfather, Dr. O'Sheal enrolled as a student in
the Southern Dental College, after having secured a position
as timekeeper for the Georgia Railway and Electric Company,
which position he held until he completed his course in dentistry, working at night to support his family, and attending
classes part of the day.
Since coming to Sylvester almost twenty-two years ago, he
has been engaged in the practice of dentistry, and is a most
skilled and successful dentist, having enjoyed a large practice
alnlost from the start.
Dr. O'Sheal is a past President of Sylvester Ki~vanisClub.
Mrs. Maude (Wall) O'Sheal is Vice-Regent of the Barnard
Trail Chapter of D. A. R . She is a member of this organization
through descent from James Quillian, xvho gave service in the
Revolutionary W a r in N o r t l ~Carolina. This family of Quillians has been signally l~onoreclfor generations in Georgia.
There have been Methodist ministers of note, College presidents, Physicians, and n~embers of the faculty of Atlanta
School of i\.ledicine. Mrs. O'Sheal has served as President of
the IVoman's Club of Sylvester and is an active member t o
date. She is deeply interested in all religious affairs. Has been
for several years President of the &Iissionary Society of the
Methodist Church. She has a great love for literature and is
a woman of superior talents.
Their daughter, Mrs. Marguerite (O'Sheal) Neely, is a graduate of McPhaul Institute, Sylvestei-.'s High School, and Wes-
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ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
FORGEORGIA
ELECTRONIC EDITION
HISTORY(C) O
F WORTH
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251
leyan College of Macon, Ga. She taught in Sylvester, Ft. Valley,
Ga. and recently in Bamburg, S. C. She is a member of the
Barnard Trail Chapter, D. A. R.
She was married in the spring of 1934 to John Edward Neely
of Olar, S. C.
RECORDS FOUND IN BIBLE OF
JAMES M. QUILLIAN
The following is an exact copy of records and other written
matter found in the Bible of James M. Quillian. This Bible
is now in possession of Mrs. J. S. O'Sheal, of Sylvester. Mrs.
O'Sheal is a descendant of James M. Quillian. The writing
and Bible show it to be very old.
On the front blank page this is written:
James ill. Quillian's Bible. Bought of Rev. Richard Waters,
year 1757-Price $375.61.
Jaines M. Quilliaiz was born March loth, 1757 in Nortlz
Carolina; married Sarah Waggoner Nov. 4th, 1779. H e died
1838 in Georgia. His wife died 1805.
H e was father of three sons, Clemonds, Daniel and James.
James was Rev. James Quillian of Georgia Methodist Conference. H e was born in North Carolina, May 10th' 1794, died
Jan., 1869. H e married Sarah Ann Prickett, May 18, 1815. He
was father of six sons and one girl, Osborn, George, Wiley,
James, Fletcher and Asbury. The girl was nanzed Sarah Ann.
Sarah Ann Waggoner is a direct descendant from Mary
Ball, George Waslzington's parent.
Births
Jaines M. Quilliail, born Jan. 26th, 1823.
Margaret A. Quillian, born Oct. 14th, 1825.
John Wiley Quillian, born Aug. 15th, 1847.
Sarah Jane Quillian, born Aug. 22nd, 1849.
Elizabeth Tcsefine Quillian, b o r i ~Sept. 25t11, 1851.
James Fletcher Quillian, born Mar. 23rd, 1851.
Mary Elir, Quillian, born May 6th, 1855.
\Villiam Hull Quillian, born July 24th, 1857.
Margaret rZlaoratlo Quillian, born July 1lth, 1859.
Milton Perry Quillian, born July 7th, 1862.
Fanny Lenova Quillian, born July 3rd, 1865.
Joseph Milt011 Quillian, born Dec. 20, 1866.
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HISTORY
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ELECTRONIC EDITION
Marriages
James h1. Quillian and Margaret -4. Jlurray nlarrietl loth,
Nov. 1816.
John TViley Quillian and ATary Jlartin married 15th. Xov.
1868.
John Wall and Elizabeth I. Quillian marrietl 1Stl1, ;\larch
1873.
Ilowell J. Cos and Alda IIargaret Quillian married Xov.
l6th, 1882.
Milton Perry Quillian and Georgia Ail11 Cox married Oct.
9th, 1883.
n Lizzie D . Mal~rymarried Dec. 24411,
Joseph &I.Q ~ ~ i l l i aand
1889.
John Wall and Sal-ah J. Quillian \Irere married Oct. 30tl1,
1880.
Deaths
Janles Fletcher Quillian departed this life 25th March, 1854.
William Hull Quillian departed this life 1st Aug., 1857.
Fanny Lenova Quillian departed this life 2nd August, 1865.
Elizabeth I. Wall, daughter of James M. Quillian and wife,
Mrs. Quillian, departed this life 7th Sept. 1879.
Mollie E. Quillian, daugllter of J. R4. and Mrs. Quillian,
departecl this life 10th Jan., 1883.
Alda Cox, daughter of J. 11. and Mrs. Quillian, departed
this life Fe11. 17th, 1886.
Rev. Milton P. Quillian, departed this life Nov. lst, 1887.
Margaret A. Quillian, departed this life June 17th, 1897.
James Milton Quillian, departed this life Dec. 19th, 1903,
Friday evening a t 8 o'clock.
Joseph RI. Quillian, departed this life 30th January, 1902.
DR. FRANKLIN MONROE BUTLER
Dl-. Frankliil Monroe Butler belongs to a family of Doctors.
His parents, Allison Alalachai Btitler and wife; Frances Caroline (Dividson) Butler reared five sons. Four of them became
doctors, one a kTedical Doctor, two Dentists and one Eye, Ear,
Nose and Throat Specialist. Dr. F. M. Butler is a native of
Wil1;inson County, born on his father's farm near Danville.
His father died in 1907. I-Iis mother died in 1922.
Dr. Butler fitted himself for the exacting work and responsible profession of Dentistry in the ,Atlanta Dental College,
graduating in the class oi 1911. H e came to Sylvester where
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HISTORY O F bVORTH COUNTY, GEORGIA
253
his entire 1)rofessional life has 11een spent and where he has
gained noteworthy success. H e has spent tiine, efiort and
means in preventing diseases of the mouth, thus preventing
many other cliseases. For many years he has given lectures t o
the grades of the city schools on mouth sanitation alld, with
other dentists, has held Deiltal Clinics ancl given prizes in
work of theines on clean ~nouth.The good this work has done
is far reaching, as the value of a child's life cannot he estimated. I t has greatly elevated the standard in mouth sanitation.
H e is a member of Psi Omega Fraternity. He is a Missionary
Baptist, a Woodman of the World and a Shriller.
His life on the farm instilled into him the love of piant life.
His hobby ancl meails of relaxation ancl recreation froin the
strenuous life of a dental office is to beautify his home and
grounds around it and gardening, at which he is an artist. It
is the concensus of opinion that he has the most artistic and
beautiful bungalo~vhome in the city. H e introduced the planting of ~ v i n t e rgrass in Sylvester ~ v l ~ i cnow
h makes the lawns
and parks a joy in winter.
Dr. F. M. Butler and Miss Thelma Palin were married Sept.
25, 1917, a t the llonle of her parents, Capt. A. Mr. Palin and
wife, Lena (Hadclen) T'alin, of Albany.
Capt. A. W. Palin, the father of Mrs. Butler, has been a
passenger train coilductor on the A. C. L. Railroad from Albany to Brunswick for 42 years. H e was born in Macon and
reared in Valdosta. Lena (Hadden) Palin, mother of Mrs.
Butler, was reared in Tampa, Florida. She was clescended from
Camilla Collins Zeigler. Her Zeigler ancestor, Lucas Zeigler
was the founder of the family by that name in America, immigrating t o America ~ v i t hthe colony of Salsburgers, and became one of the leaders in the Ebenezer settlement on the
Savannah River in 1731.
'
Mrs. Butler attended Brenau College and is a graduate of
Richardson School of Oratory and Emerson System of Oratory. She is an artist of great talent in this vocation. She has
taken a leading role in all work of this kind put on in Sylvester. She has 1)een a Recording Secretary of the P.-T. A.
for several years. She was Secretary of the Missionary Circle
for 8 years and Publicity Superintendent of the Missionary
Society of the Methodist Church. She is active in all matters
) *
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RESERVED
FOR ELECTRONIC
HISTORY
O FALLWRIGHTS
ORTH
COUNTY,
GEORGIAEDITION
pertaining to the church of her choice, the Methodist. She Is a
member of the Phi Mu Gainma Sorority of Brenau.
Dr. and Mrs. Butler have one son. Franklin Monroe Butler,
Jr., born July 7th, 1922.
DR. WILL H. STEWART
Dr. JFTillH . Stewart, son of Peter Stewart and wife, Martha
(Morrison) Stewart, was horn in Scl~leyCounty, Georgia. He
moved with his father to W o r t h County. H e received his
Dental education in Atlanta Dental College, graduating in
1900. He practiced several years in Sylvester.
On November 22, 1904, he married a Sylvester girl, Miss
Dora Hillhouse, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C. W. Hillhouse.
Several years after their marriage they moved to Lumberton, Mississippi, in 1912, where he practiced his profession
and farmed for about 21 years. They then returned to their
farm near the town of Sylvester in 1933.
With the exception of the three oldest, their children were
born in NIississippi. Those of their children who have reached
the adult age have made outstanding achievements in their
respective lines. Leland is a chemist and works for the Carbide
Carbon Chemical Corporation a t Niagara Falls, N. Y.
Eloise teaches Piano and Violin at Hawkinsville. Ga. Imogene is connected with the State College for Women at
Columbus, hiiss. She graduated there in the spring of 1933,
and was given this place in the fall of the same year.
Their other childreti are : Maxine, died in childhootl; t~vins,
Os~valdand Orville ; Leroy, Malcolm, and Juanita.
DR. JAMES MACK SUTTON
State Veterinarian
Ilr. Janies Mack Sutton was born Nov. 14, 1893, in Tifton,
Tift County, Ga.
He received his education in McPhaul Institute, Sylvester,
in the Georgia Military College, and Kansas City Veterinary
College. H e began veterinary practice in Sylvester in 1914. H e
belongs t o Delta Alphisi; is a Knights Teinplar, Shriner,
Kiwanian, and a member Ex-Officio of the State Roard of
Health. I l e was appointed State Veterinarian July 12, 1927,
which office he has held to date.
Dr. Sutton married Miss Daisy Madeline Bridges, daughter
of Dr. and Mrs. T. J. Bridges, Nov. 15, 1915.
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J. M. SUTTON, S T A T E V E T E R I N A R I A N
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HISTORY O F IVORTH COUST17, G E O R G l A
Their union has l ~ e e nl~lesse(1bj. six chiltli-en. James Alack.
Jr., Ca1-1, L)ol-othy, T o m , Al, ancl Fort.
S o 112;u1 in \,!'orth County. \ve venture to sa!- in the state,
has risen higher in his 1)rofessiou and achievctl greater success in finance in so short a time as l l r . Sutton.
T o attain a high place among so many who are striving
to reach t h e top is no easy task ancl is accoml>lished 0111)through t h e l)ossession of the nlost virile qualities, especinlly
that of energy, perseverance 1,acketl 1,y ability. courage and
moral worth. The possession of these qualities 11)- Ilr. Sutton
in the highest degree is sufficiently indicatecl l)y his resent
position a s State Veterinarian. H e is a leader in man!- enterprises of the county ancl stands high in t h e esteetn of the
people.
Mrs. Sutton is a highly refined Christian. She is active in
much of the welfare lvork of Sylvester and IVorth C o u i : t ~ .
and her success as a honle-maker l ~ a s1,een a s great as his in
DR. JOSEPH LEON JOHNSTON
Dr. J. L. Johnstoi~,though young in years, has made a
record of proficiency and slcill in his work a s veterinarian by
earnest application of technical knoivledge and good judgment. H e has built up a su1)stantial and lucrative practice that
extends over a .\\ride radius of territory.
H e is t h e son of Alma Earl Johnston and wife, Clara (McLendon) Johnston, natives of Terrell County, Ga., where they
live a t their comforta1)le fai-tn home.
Dr. J. L. Johnston received his high school education at
the Sasser Pul)lic Scl~ools,and then went t o the Piednlont
College a t Demorest, Ga., ant1 then receil-ecl his training in
his chosen profession a t the University of Georgia, graduating in 1927. H e located in Dawson, Ga. for a short ~ v h i l eand
moved to Sylvester in the same year, 1927.
He lvas married t o Miss Myrtle Tipton. Sj-11-ester,Ga.. Aug.
ZOth, 1930. Mrs. Johnston is the only child of Mr. Jo1111 L.
Tipton and wife, Eula (Cochranj T i l ~ t o n .She is a graduate
of the Sylvester High School, and Shorter College a t Rome,
Ga., fro111 rnhicl~ she received a n A.13. degree. This young
couple are most loyal in their s u p l ~ o r tof those things that
tend to advance the social ancl material welfare of the corntnunity. T h e y have one little daughter, Patricia, born Aug.
3rd, 1933.
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CHAPTER XIX
COUNTY OFFICERS AND FAMILY
DETAILS
JAMES W. WARREN
Clerk of Superior Court
James JY. TVarren is the soil of James ,A. IVarren and wife,
nilartha (Gibbs) Warren. His parents belonged to the most
prominent and influential families of eastern Worth. He is
descenclecl o p his maternal side from the James Gihbs and
Daniel Henderson families, the first settlers in this part of
Georgia. H e was born in TVorth County Sept. 19, 1871, and
has resicled here ever since.
I-Ie was educated it1 the best schools of lt'orth and finished
a t the Gordon Institute a t Barnesville, Georgia. I-Ie taught
school for two years after leaving Gordon Institute.
H e was elected Clerk of the Superior Court of Worth County and on Jan. 1, 1897, he began the duties of this office which
he has held to date except the years 1915 to 1916 and 1924 to
1928. H e was re-elected to this office in 1932 for four years.
This continued tenure of an office dependent on the suffrage
of the enlightened judgment of the people of Worth speak in
most eloquent terms of the character and popularity of Mr.
Warren. H e is a clevoted lneillber of the Primitive Baptist
Church.
011Jan. 17t11, 1904, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Augusta \Villiams, also of W o r t h County. T h e following children,
James UTinton, Jackson L411ei~,George E d ~ v a r dand William
Henderson have come to bless their home.
Mr. Warren and his wife lnoved to Sylvester from Isabella
when the Court House ~ v a sn~ovedhere. Since that time they
have been residents of this city. On account of their social,
moral and spiritual attainn~ents,all of which they both have
t o a very remarkable degree, they have been a tremendous
asset to the social and sl~irituallife of Sylvester. Both having
(258)
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ears attuned to the harmony of sweet sounds, and being musicians of considerable attainments, they ha\-e been quite an
asset t o the choirs of the local churches and have been a large
contril~utingfactor in inaintait~ingon a high plane the social
life of Sylvester.
Mrs. Wai-reil is a member of the D. A. R. organization
through descent froill John Ford, one of the first ~ v h i t esettlers
of Dooly, later Worth County.
J. MACK BASS
J. Mack Bass, the best Tax-Collector in the State of Georgia,
as is evidellcecl by the long term of office he has held in Worth
County, from Jan. 1912 to date (1934). F o r many years he has
had no opposition.
H e inspires the confidence and personal regard of all 1~110
know him, not only in his official capacity, the uu;ies of which
he fills with complete efficiency, but for his high Christian
character, his generosity toward everything involving the
welfare of the city or section that is brought to his notice. He
is a deacon in the Sylvester Baptist Church, an enthusiastic
Kiwanian and has 1)elongecl to it since its organization.
J. Mack Bass is the sou of J. Mack Bass, Sr.. and wife, Elizabeth (Roach) Bass, of Sunltei- County ~ v l ~ e rhe
e was born,
reared and educated. H e caille to Worth County in 1893.
T h e father of J. Mack Bass was 110~11in Suinter County in
1840. H e elllisted in the Coilfederate Army, April l s t , 1562.
H e died in Virginia in 1862, 11~11ilein the army, and is buried
in Richmond, Va.
T h e inother of J. Mack Bass, Elizabeth (Roach) Bass, was
boi-1-1 in P ~ l a s l i iCo~ulty,Ga., in 1840, she died in Suinter
County, Ga., June 1st) 1931.
J. Mack Bass illai-ried Lizzie TVestl~rookof Suinter Co~ul~ty,
in June, 1887.
Their children are :
Douglas, deceased; Ailnie, Deulah, Losene, e
r Frank.
JUDGE SAM S. STORY
Ordinary Worth County
S. S. Story, son of LVarren L. and Henrietta (Jerkins) Story,
was born in Sumter County, Florida, Jan. 23, 1856.
H i s father went fro111 JqToi-th C o ~ ~ nto
t y Florida in 1854 and
moved back to Swift Creek, Worth Coui~ty,in 1860.
260
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HISTORJ- O F I170KTH C O U S T Y , GEORGIA
His l ~ a r a ~ were
ts
of IVels11 tlescent and came from Korth
Carolina.
H e marrie(1 Jane gabs, (laughter of Miles and Edna Bass,
Jan. 20, 1881, in S u ~ t l t e rCount>-.
Mr. Stor>- ser\,etl one tel-111 a s treasurer of \\'orth County
and has sen-ed as Ordinary since Jan. 1, 1917.
H e is the father of nine cl-rilclren, eight of whom are living:
Mrs. l T e s t aStor!- 13ritlges. tleceasecl ; Miles L. Stor\-, I\.-arwick ;
Mrs. Ulva Stor>- Hall, l 1 7 a r ~ i ~ lJil r: s . E. '1V. Cone, Darieil;
JIiss Pearl Stor\-. Orlando, Florida; I\'. 31. Story, Albany;
J. E. Story, All)an!-; L. Story, .All,any ; S. I\'. Story, Atlanta.
l l r . Story is a dkacoll in t h e Acorn Poncl Baptist Church.
Judge Story l~elongst o the class of o:d-time Southern gentlemen. H i s many services t o the old Collfedcrate soldiers ancl
their ~ v i d o w scannot l>e esti~l~atecl.
H e has helped Inany t o
get their pension papers through, and his ministration to t h e m
in n ~ a n yother nrays has been t h e greatest comfort ancl help.
I.
CHARLES HARRINGTON STRANGWARD
Cl~arlesH . Strang~vardcame t o Syl\.ester ill January, 1903,
from Clevelancl, Ohio, where h e was born and reared. His
parents \yere William Strangward ant1 wife, Mary Elizabeth
(Reese) Strang~vard.
H e came here as manager of t h e Intlialla F r u i t F a r m which
is situated a few miles north of S~.lvestel-.H e later l ~ o u g h t
another farm south of the 1-ailroatl, the SJ-lvester Fruit
Farm. H i s interest in everj- community enterprise ancl the
close associatioll \\.it11 the 1)eople soon on for him a \vide circle of friends. H e is vice-l>resident of the Sylvester l3ailkii1g
Co.. and has heen chairman oi the County Board of Etlucation for many years. H e ivas a charter meml>er of the K i ~ ~ ~ a n i s
Cluh ailrl is also one o f its pabt presitlel~ts.
731- his liersonal supervision ant1 \vise management, he has
develol>etl the Intliana Fruit F a r m ant1 Syli-ester Fruit Farm
-
-
Legentl for cut on page 261.
Top row: J. \il. \Yarren, Clerk. Superior Court, and J . Mack Bass,
Tax Collector.
Center: Sam S. Story, Ordinarjr.
Bottom row: J. X. Sumner. Sheriff and Ilc.\rthur Sloan, County
-4gent.-For
further reference see ii~tlex.
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OFFICERS 01; WORTII COUNTY See legend on page 260
,
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FORGEORGIA
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into the finest and best cultivated farms of South Georgia.
H e introclucetl the g r o ~ v i n gof cailtalotlpes for commercial
ptK1loses and through his efiorts SJ-lvester is no\\- the c a i ~ t a loupe centetr of the worlcl. H e s11il)s large cluantities t o
northern markets each season and has 1)een \-el-)- l~elpfult o
sinaller farlllers in marketing their cantalot~pes. FTe nlso
ships large cl~tantitiesof vegetal~lesto Floritla markets.
H e was marl-iecl August 16, 1904, t o Miss Nantlie Carter of
Sylvester. Both Mr. and hTi-s. S t r a n g ~ ~ ~ aha\re
r c l rare social
gifts and have made their beautiful farm 11ome a center of
culture and refil~ement.h!Irs. Strangnrard is a graduate of Wesleyan College and was actively connected with t h e P.-T. A.
for inany years. She has been president of the TVoman's Club
for- about t\velve years ancl has served on a comnlittee for
child-n~elfare.She takes a n active part in any mo\?etnent t o
benefit the uncler-privileged chilcl.
i\lr. ancl Mrs. Strailgnrarcl are members of the Methodist
Church anel are very zealous workers. H e is a steward and
trustee of the Pinson h/Iemorial Church.
T h e y have three children, Charles TVilliam. Evelyn ancl
Dorothy. Charles Williatn w a s married February 21, 1934, t o
Miss Ethel Partridge of Jackson\-ille, Florida. E\-e!yn nras
married t o Joe L. S. IIouston April 26. 1934.
JOHN N. SUMNER, SHERIFF
John K. Suintier, Sl~erifSof l i T o r t hCounty, was born a t Sumner. Ga., June 29, 1869, and has spent practically all his life
in this couizt~-.H e was elected S11erifT in 1900 and has held
this office continuous1~-since, escept for a period of eight
years, during \\-hich time he was engaged in farming.
His parents n-ere J. C. ancl Polly (Hobby) Sumner. John N.
Sumner was twice married, first to Etnlna RlcCrary-one child
by this marriage, IS\-a-no\v Mrs. H u g h Gilson of Taylor
Coutlty. Seconcl wife, Pearl Perkins. TITTO
children, Jack P.
Sumnei- of Atlanta anrl I<ub?-, ~ v h o~nai-t-iedDavis S. Hudson,
and, 137110 with her family, li\-e in Sylvester. H e is a charter
inember of Sylvester Kinranis Club, a illasoil and member of
the Board of Stewarcls, Syl\rester nix. E. Church.
Wort11 County is to 11e congratulated up011 t h e personnel
of her county officers. Tlzey are all men of high character a n d
integrity, 11ut if i t were possible to pass them in review, Sheriff
Sumnei- 11roulc1 prol~ablystand out as dean of the force.
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COUKTRY HOME O F C. H, STRANGWARD
261
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l'he duties of sherifi a t best are trying ones. C o n t i ~ ~ u o u s l y
ill contact with tlle more or less criminally inclined would
tend to make t h e hest of u s c>-tiics,misanthrol~es,yet through
all these >.ears of service he has gro\lrn in character ant1 value
t o his couilt~-until today 1le is recognized by all wllo ktlomr
hi111 as one o f t h e hest sheriffs in t h e state of Georgia. Sheriff
Sumner is a l ~ v a y sfoulld stantling as firm as the Rock of Gibralt a r on the moral side of an,- cluestion. I n his contacts wit11 tlie
crimillal element, if they will allow it, l ~ will
e
l ~ as
e kind and
gentle as a l ~ r o t h e r11ut
, 1~11ennecessary he call 11e as stern and
ill\-incil~lea s justice itself.
I n this revolutionar>. age. when detnocracies are l ~ e i n gchallel~gecland overthro\vn; ~ v h e nthe forces of evil seem t o 1)e in
t h e ascenclency : when Governmeilt itself is repudiatitlg the a g e
old theor>- of t h e inviolal~ilityof contracts, it is refreshing in,
with the herodeed t o know a mall like s l ~ e r i f Si u m i ~ e rimbuecl
ism of the Puritan and t h e gentleness of the Cavalier.
Mrs. J o h n N. Sumner is a fine business ~ v o m a n .They have
farming interests, and she looks after it ~vlient h e duties of
his office call him anray. S h e is a helpmeet in more ways t h a n
one. she is a woman ivho looks ~vellt o the ways of her household.
Mr. and Mrs. Davis S. Hudson ant1 their c11ild1-en John ancl
I<ugene live ill the hoiile ~ v i t hher parents. She is manager of
the telephone office. H e is t h e del)lity sheriff of W o r t h County,
a splendid y o u n g ~ n a n ,absolutelv fearless, b u t very discrete
anrl of fine judgment.
DAVID BENJAMIN GLEATON
Tax Receiver for 1933
David Uenj. Gleaton Ivas l ~ o r nill IVorth County in 1892
ant1 spent his I~oyhoodclays on the farm. attellcling 1-ural scliool
~ v h e np o s i l ~ l e .;it the a g e of nineteen he spent one year in
H i g h Scl~oola t Xorman P a r k Institute, going froill there to
Columl~us.Georgia, ~ v h e r ehe took a course in 11ool:keeping
in t h e llassey Business College.
T h e next fifteen years of his life w a s spent in t h e llercantile
11usiness for others and for himself. After leaving the mercantile business he then engaged in t h e insurance and real estate
l~usiness~111tilelected T a s Receiver for IVorth Countv in
1933.
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HISTORY O F IITOIITH C O U X T Y , G E O R G I A
265
D. 13. Gleaton \vas a s o n o f Uenj. S. Gleaton \vho spent ~ l l o s t
of hi5 life a s a farmer in \\.orth Cotint!-, 13enj. S. Gleaton uras
the youngest son of a famil!. of ele\.en. \\-hose father was
Thotnas C. IV. (;leaton. T h o ~ n a sC. I\*.Gleaton came t o I I T o r t l ~
Coutlt- from Sunlter Count>-in 1840 ant1 was marrietl t o 1Iiss
I\lalentlia \lVilliamsof S t ~ m t e r Countj-.
.
IJenj. S. Gleaton. father of llavitl 13. Gleatoil, never entered
the political tieltl. I ~ u tservetl as President of the Farmers'
Union in Il'orth County for four years from 1906 t o 1910.
Lula E. Gleaton. mother of David B. Gleaton, was a daughter of llavicl Cha111l)ion. ~ v h o s e father. Slicajah Champion,
came t o LVort11 Coantj- froin Sumter County ancl settlell in
1856 near \\.hat is n o ~ vRecl Oak Church a t Doles. Ga.
llavid Champion, grandfather of David l3. Gleaton, left
Isal~cllain CompanJ. G., 14th Reg., in Julj- 1861 ancl served a s
Lieutenant in the Civil \\jar until it closed in 1865.
.\l)out 1873 IJavi(1 Champion uras elected and served a s
T a x Collector of J\:oi-th County. Later, o r allout 1888. lle was
elected t o re1)resent IVorth Couilty in t h e house of Representatives. H e has also served as County Co~lllllissio~ler
ancl as a
member of the County School I3oaril.
HON. FRANCIS MARION K I M B L E
Francis AIarion Iiiml)le, so11 of Joseph Fannin a n d Laura
Lyle K i m l ~ l e ,was born in Steu-a]-t County, Sept. 17, 1874.
His father moved t o Clay County seven years later, 11-here
he lived until 1892. when he movecl to IZrorth County. where
he resided until his cleat11 in 1900.
His son. Frank. after finisl~ingschool taught school four
\-ears.
l n 1896 he \\.as ~ll:li-rietlt o ,Innie Laile>-, tlaughter of Joseph
and Mar- 13. Jenl<ins I<ailc!-, ant1 in 1897 ~ n o v e dt o Poulan,
where he \\-as engagccl in the ~nercatltile 1,usiness for some
time.
l'hen he \vas connected u-it11 the railroad for some years,
tlntil he took up textile ~ v o r kin which he is now engaged.
For twenty-five years he has 1)een lnailager of t h e P o t ~ l a n
Cotton Factory.
F r a n k hI. Kimble has served a s Chairman of the Board of
Cotntnissiol~ersco~ltinuouslyfrom Jan. 11, 1919. t o (late. lSi34.
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ALLU'ORTH
RIGHTS RESERVED
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I I I S T O(C)
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F R A S K M. ICIhlBLE
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O R T H COUSTY, GEORGIA
267
Three chilclren l~lessedthis union, Lucile Kimble of Athens,
Laura Bailey Kiml~le,now Mrs. Frank Coggins, of Atlanta,
Francis Marion, Jr., who inarried Sara Gray, of Carrolton, Ga.,
where he IIO\V resides.
Acliss Lucilc Kiinble is a inusical artist of high order. She
has a large and appreciative radio audience. She features piano
music.
She is connected ~ v i t hthe University of Georgia's musical
department, under Prof. Hug11 Hodgsoil in this year, 19.34.
P. M. LANCASTER
P.11. Lancaster, past h7ayor of Sylvester, was born in
Dodge Count?, ;\larch 16, 1593, son of Robert 0. and Molly
Elizabeth Lancaster. He atteilrled the public scl~oolsof Dodge
County and Pulaski County, Seventh District A. & M. School
and Georgia Xormal College and Business Institute, Douglas,
Ga.
H e came to Sylvester in 1912, and marriecl Miss Jeanette
Hires of SJ-l\rester. They have two children, P. At., Jr., and
Jane Elizabeth. On coming to Sylvester he entered the field
of real estate and general insurance, and in 1917 establishel the
Sylvester Insurance Agency -\.crhichhe has since operated with
~llarkeclsuccess.
He served as Mayor of Sylvester two terms, having originally l ~ e e nelected to this ofice in December, 1929. He is
a meml~erof the First Baptist Church, the Masonic L,odge,
Vice-Pres. Ki~vanisClub and is other~viseprominently identified wit11 the l~usiness and social life of Sylvester and
Worth County. being one of the most eilterprising and progressive citizens.
He was elected to rel~resentIC'ort11 County in the Georgia
Legislature to fill out the unexpirecl term of Thos. B. Jenkins,
deceased.
R. BRITT POLLARD
R. Britt Pollarcl, son of John T. Pollard, was born at Coleman, Ranclolph County, Georgia, Jan. 13th, 1874. W a s married
to Miss Mattie E. Rainey a t Perry, Ga., Feb. 27th, 1901. They
are the parents of four children: One son, Robert R. Pollard,
now with the Western Electric Co., Bloomfield, N. J., and
three daughters, Ailnie Louise, Martha and Nell Pollard.
R. B. Pollard has held the positions of City Clerk of Syl(C) 2005 - GeorgiaGenWeb
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HISTOR\- O F WORTH COUNTY, GEORGIA
vester since Jan. lst, 1912, ant1 Clerk of count^- Coi~lmissiot~ers
since Jan. lst, 1915.
H e has served on the Uoard of Ste\vards of the Pinson
niIetnoria1 Methodist Church of Sylvester since 1911.
His long tenure of the office of Clerk of the City and of the
Co~nil~issio~lers
oi Roads and Revenues of the count\l speaks
elocluently of his efficiency.
Mrs. Pollarcl is a n-onderful home-n~akerof culture, Christian consecratioil ancl refinetnent. She is 111ost sympathetic
and generous to the unfortunate, especially so to the tlnderprivileged chiltl. Many ha\-e 1)een clothed by her thoughtfulness.
POLLARD FAMILY
Mr. and Mrs. J. T. Pollard came to Poulan June 5, 1595,
from Liberti\? County, Ga. T h e y had four children, Robert
Eritton Pollard ~llarriedMattie Railley of Perry, Ga.
Nellie Pollard 111arriecl James McGirt of Poulan.
J o l ~ nT. Pollard.
Gertrude Pollartl ~narriedGreen Hay\vood Alford of Wake
Coullty, x. C.
McARTHUR SLOAN
Mc:li-thur Sloan, in his official capacity as Coutlty Agricultural Ageilt of Lf,'ortll, performs thoroughly ancl c o n s c i e n t i o t ~ s l ~
the tluties of his position. FTe has pr0\~e11himself c a l ~ a l ~ lofe
a l ~ l ytaking care of the stretluous demands made upon him
by the Federal G o ~ e r n m c n t as
, well as the County. H e has
~ v o nthe high esteein and confidence of the people o f W o r t h
in his >-ears of service for them.
n'Ic=irthur Sloail \\-as Imrn a t Kesaca. Gordon County, Ga.
He is the son of ll'illiam Douglas Sloan and wife, Savannah
(R4urphy) Sloan, native Georgians. H e I-eceived his early
education in the hest schools of Gortlon County, and atteilclecl
the Eighth Ilistrict A. Sr hI. College at Po~vclerSpritlgs, Ga.,
and a t tlie State University a t Athens, from \vrhich he received his B.S.A. degree
in 1930.
His first nrork after graduation nras in Crisp Countv under
J. K. Luck. H e went from there to Miller County \vilere he
held the position of County Agricultural Agent until 1933 when
he accepted like position in Urorth County.
On Aug. 25, 1932. he was marriecl t o Miss Catherille E!iza-
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beth Groiv, of Colcluitt, Miller Coutlty. She is the tlaughter
of Roy IVilliam Grow ant1 wife, Lou (Ettsh) Grow. Mrs. Sloan
l)eloi~gsto the 1)est fanlilies of that section. She graduated from
the Colcluitt H i g h School a n d the Alal~amaWoman's College,
a t Riontgomery. They have one little daughter, Lucy Joyce.
CLYDE HORACE FORSHEE
Clyde Horace Forshee xvas elected a s a m e m l ~ e r of the
Board of Conltnissiotlers of Roacls and Iie\renues of W o r t h
County. His tern1 l ~ e g a nin 1933 and will end in 1937.
H e is a successful agriculturist ancl cloes general farming.
His judgnlent and foresight are displayed in the rna~lagement
and cle\~elol)tnentof his farmitlg 1)usiness. H e is the type of
inan \\rho will succeed in a n y 11usiness l~ecauseof his energy,
itltegrit~vand firnltless of purpose. H e has great force of character and is unusually successful it1 all undertakings.
H e has l ~ e e ngeneral sul~ervisorof the C. i f T .A. and all the
relief work since its organization in this county.
H e is a deacon in the Missionary Baptist Church of Terrell,
and his fainiljr is connected n ~ i t hall the acti\-ities of that
church.
H e married i)m IIarden of Turner Cowlty, Georgia. February 3. 1915.
T h e y haye seven children, Selma, E. J., Latrelle. Clyde
Horace, Jr., l'Jo1,l)ie. Harold Harden and Ella Kate. T h e last
t ~ v oare twins, born August 11, 1933.
Mrs. Forshee is deeplv interested in her 11usl)and's work and
is a splentlitl help to hiin it1 every ~ v a y .She is the claugl~tei-of
Josel)h 73. Harden, 1)orn ~ 2 p r i l16, 1872 and his I\-iFe Katie
(Ponder) Harden, 1)orn July 22, 1876.
H e r grandfather RiIonroe Hartlen, moved from Sumter
Count!-, Georgia, to Turner Count!- wllei-e he died. His wife,
her grandmother. Uettl; (Rouse) Harden, died in Turner
County in l)eceml)er, 1922.
Cljrde Horace Forshee \\-as l ~ o r nMay 22, 1897. E e is the
sot1 of Elisha Forshee, 11orn April 3. 1562. H i s wife Ella
(Jeter) Forshee \vas 1)orn Octol~er5, 1863. They were ~narriecl
July 24, 1885.
Elisha Forshee, Jr., was the son of Elisha Forshee, Sr., of
Houston County, 1)ortl 1829, nrho was killed in 1861 while
serving it1 the Confederate Army. His wife, Abbiegill Lavinie
(IIoclge) lTorsl-zee, born 1828, died in December, 1921.
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FAMILY HISTOKY AND
GENEALOGY
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CHAPTER XX
FAMILY HISTORY AND GENEALOGY
Worth County people are the oivners of many Bibles over
one hundred years old, and sot-tle two hundred years old, with
family history inscribed in then1 that is very interesting. sl~owing manv of the citizens to 1)e descended from royalty. and
from the greatest of Atnericans.
"Blood will tell !" T h e humblest of our people in finance are
often among the most refined with an innate culture of character which took generations of being .well born to inculcate
into them.
Ex-Governor Chase S. Osborn says of Worth County people, "I found them with an honesty and realness and grace
that I had not seen elsewhere in all the earth. There is ;lone
of the mongrel moll among them that you find in places
cheaply popular."
Probably the records of these cherished old Ril)lt:s of Inany
generations explains this fact. Belo~vand else\vhere is given
some of these Bihle records :
THE FORD FAMILY
The original progenitor of the Ford family in Georgia was
John Ford, who came to this section in the early part of the
eighteenth century, and became one of the pioneer settlers of
Pindertown, then in Dooly County, notv Worth. H e obtained
a grant of land and developed i t into a productive plantation.
H e contributed materially to the civic and inclustrial advancement of this section, of \vl~ichhe was one of the earliest settlers, and in which he coniitluecl to reside until his death. He
was buried a t old Pindertown cemetery I~esidehis wife, Nancy
Graham Ford. Their graves are enclosed xvith a wall of brick.
which are of ui~usualsize, and in a perfect state of preservation, although he and his wife were buried there in eighteen
hundred ancl thirty-nine, their cleaths occurring just a month
apart.
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The brick enclosing their graves were probably brought u p
the Flint river from England, as they resemble the brick
brought from t h a t country and found in old cemeteries and
buildings.
John Ford came to this section from Eibert County, Georgia, and was the son of John and Mary Ford. Their children
were: Jesse, John, Elizabeth, and Dorcas.
Members of the fanlily in this county have traced the line
to the Revolutionary War, and have become members of the
Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution on the record of John Ford, of Elbert County, originally of North
Caroliila. John and Nancy Graham Ford were the founders
of one of the largest families in this county.
GARY GREEN FORD I
Gary Green I, oldest son of John and Nancy Graham Ford,
raised his family on the Ford's Mill plantation, first settled
by his father over a hundred years ago, had a number of slaves
and accumulated considerable property in land. cattle, etc.,
much of which went the way of everything else in the South.
The original land granted t o John Ford still belongs t o his
descendants.
Gary Green I was born August 4, 1805, died September 11,
1859; married Sept. 5, 1832, t o Silvia Eason Tison, daughter
of Joab Tison, born July 10, 1818, died Feb. 20, 1863. They
were the parents of twelve children, as follows:
Robert Graham Ford, Jr., born Aug. 21, 1834, married Elizabeth Ross Nov. 17, 1857, and died Aug. 6, 1875. Served in the
armv of the Confederacy; served as Justice of the Inferior
~ o u ; t of Worth County Jan. 21, 1865 t o 1868. T h e children
of this union were G. G. Ford, who married Laney Hohby;
Silvia, who married Iverson Ridley; Robert G., 3rd, who
married Kate Varner.
Elizabeth Ford, oldest daughter of G. G. and Silvia Tison
Ford, was born Aug. 17, 1837, married W m . Whiddon Feb.
10, 1853. Their children were : Elias, married t o Mattie Bass;
Green, married t o Lucy Culpepper; R. G., married to Lizzie
Dunford; Silvia, married t o Thomas Hobby; Beatrice, married to William F. Tanner, first, and to c. J. Houston, second;
Mary, married t o Joe Cox; Augustus, married to Mamie
Keen.
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GARY GREEN F O R D I.
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HISTORY
O F WORTH COUSTY, GEORGIA
Sancy. 2nd claughter of G. G. and Silvia Tison Ford, married to Moses Tison on Dec. 18, 1861. Their chhildren were:
Emmett, 111arried to Susie Bell; Lopez, married to Annie
Dunn ; Green, inarried to Miss Willis ; Claude, unmarried ;
Minnie, married to Henry Hollings.vvorth ; Billie, nlarried t o
Miss \Vhidclon ; Ben, died unmarried.
Ijaty Smith, 3rd daughter of G. G. and Silvia Tison Ford,
was born June 9, 1842, married J. R'I. C. Holamon, who was
a la~vyer,on Nov. 17, 1857. Their children were: Celem. married first to John Cary, and second t o T. E. Crawford, who
was one of the pioneer school teachers of the county; Anna,
married to David Johnson iirst, and second to John Douglas;
Alice, married W. %I. Tison I11 anil died a few months after;
Rebekah, died uilmarriecl ; James Otis, married to Miss Wintlic
Woolarcl. They have one child, Mary; Billie, died unmarried.
Sarah, 4th daughter of G. G. and Silvia Tison Forcl, born
Xug. lst, 1844, married Francis Marion Tison, first, and Edward Barher second. There were three children by the first
marriage: Dr. \V. JV. Tison, of Perry, Fla., and Anna I,uta,
of Jonesboro, Ga. Dr. Tison married Miss Hendley, of Florida.
and Anna Luta married J. D. Lee, of Jonesboro. Little Frankie
died in infancy.
Rebekah, fifth daughter of G. G. and Silvia Tison Ford,
born March 1, 1847, died unmarried.
Mary, sixth daughter of G. G. and Silvia Tison Forcl, born
April 21, 1849, died April 25, 1920; married March 15, 1866
to Jackson Jonathan Williams, born Jan. 17. 1821, died Jan.
13, 1896. Their children were: Ora, married to George W.
Price; Jackie, inarried to W . H. Gregory; Parks Edward,
married to Miss Pearl P a r r i s l ~ ;Elzie J., married to Miss
Lizzie Mangham; W. Custer, who died unmarried Elizabeth, married t o J. JV. Warren; Ina, married to Neal S. Blizzard, and Preston F., unmarried.
Tohn J. son of G. G. anrl Silvia Tison Forcl, born Mar. 18,
18'51, died unmarried.
Elzie Jones, son of G. G. ant1 Silvia Tison Forcl, born July
9, 1853, died unmarried.
IVilliam Jackson, son of G. G. and Silvia Tison Ford, was.
born March 12, 1855, died Oct. 22, 1895, married March 2,
1886, to Rou-ena Hanes, of Jonesboro, Clayton County. T h e i r
children were : Freston Brooks, lawyer, unmarried ; Laura.
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Eileen, married to Newton D. Fiveash ; William Jackson, died
unmarried; Edward Jones, married to Miss Ruth Farmer, of
Albany, Ga.; Lallie Mae, married to Hiram Caldwell Camp,
of Coweta Cot~nty.
Preston Smith Brooks, son of G. G. and Silvia Tison Ford,
was bonz Aug. 31, 1857, married to Miss Marie Paille, of
Griffin, Ga. Their children were: Sara11 May, married to Dr.
hIcCall, of Teinple, Texas, and Williain Jackson, died unmarried.
Joal, Tison Ford, born Aug. 5, 1859, died uninarried.
ROBERT G R A H A M FORD, SR.
Robert G. 1701-cl accumulated much property, and owned
a number of slaves. For Inany years he was the keeper of the
tavern at old Pindertown, where the stage changecl horses
on the old stage line from Milledgeville to Tallahassee. H e
later owned the large plantation known as the Hope Place.
H e servecl in the House of Representatives from Worth County
in 1865 and 1866; was Justice of the Inferior Court of Worth
County Jan. 10, 1361 to Fell. 1862; a delegate to the Secession
Convention from Worth County. House of Representatives,
Lee County, 1841; Justice Inferior Court, Lee County, May
20, 1839, to Jan. 14, 1841.
NOTE-Pinclertow~~ for a short while was put into Lee County.
H e was married to Daty Smith Tison Jan. 28, 1830; to
Elizabeth Calhouil, Dec. 27, 1846, and to Susan Hobby, Mar.
4, 1858.
H e was born Oct. 27, 1806, ancl his first wife, Daty Smith
Tison, was born Mar. 27, 1814.
Their children were : Green J. Ford, born Jan. 31, 1831, and
died Feb. 3, 1851, unmarried; Roxy Ann Ford, born Jan. 5 ,
1833, died in infancy; Gary G. Ford, born July 31, 1838, died
voung; William G. Ford, born Jan. 26, 1840, died July 22,
1840; Georgia Ann Ford, born Mar. 11, 1842, married Dr.
Theophilus William Tison, Mar. 27, 1856, and their children
were : Mark Tison, 11r11o married Susan Deariso ; Daty Smith
Tison married Jesse J. Forehand; William WoodrtlfE Tison
I11 married Alice Holamon, first, and Sarah Van Houston, second; I,evisa, married George Howard; Robert G., marriecl to
Maggie Tison ; Thomas, married to Eulalia Dykes ; Theophilus, married to Maud Boyd; Lora, married t o Frank Coleman;
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Francis Marion. married to Pearl Perry and Joseph, married
to Clara Belle MTatson.
John R. Ford. son of Robert G. Ford and Elizabeth Calhoun Ford, was boriz Oct. 14, 1817, and married Callie Chestnut.
Sarah J. Ford, daughter of Robert G. Ford and Susan Hobby Ford, was born June 30, 1862, died unmarried.
Robert L. Ford, son of Robert G. Ford and Susan Hobby
Ford, was born June 26, 1864, and married Laura Corbitt.
Nancy Esther Lee Ford mas born July 21, 1868, died in infancy.
After the death of Robert Graham Forcl, Sr. Mrs. Susan
Hobby Ford married Benjamin F. Sikes, and their children
were Wm. F., Joseph E., and James B.
JOHN ALEXANDER FORD
John A. Ford, third son of John and Nancy Grahain Ford,
was married to Blatilda Jordon, Nov. 30, 1837. Their children
were: John Jefferson Ford, born Sept. 1.7, 1838, and married
to Sarah Sikes. Four children were born to this union, as
follows: Mary Ford, married to James Latvson; Charlotte,
married to John Houston; Matilda, married to Joe Bosch, and
Elzie D., married to Willie Porter.
John A. Ford was married the second time to Jane Thompson. Their children were: Ashton, married first to Eva Heard,
and second to Miss Tatum; St~sie,married to D. Carl Stricklin, and Galveston T., married to Belle Sessions, who a t his
death married A. H. Overton.
James Harrison Ford, second son of John A. Ford and Matilda Jordan Ford, was born Oct. 4, 1840, married to Sophronia
Sullivan, and their children were as follows: Alice, who married James E. Redmon, Lola, married to C. W. Graves, first,
and to W. P. Knight, second; Beulah, married to Jelks Warren; Latnotte, who studied law and located in Albany. I n
1912 Lamotte was elected senator from the 10th district. H e
married a widow, a Mrs. Gallaher; Eugene married Lula
Hunter, and Clarence, married to Rentie Belle in 1919.
HON. GARY GREEN FORD I1
State Senator
Gary Green Ford, third son of John Alexander and Matilda
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Jordan Ford, n-as born Jan. 14, 1843, and married Charlotte
Elizabeth Sikes. Their children were: Mollie, married to
Robert I,. Deariso; Ida, xvho married Preston B. Ponrell;
Georgia, ~ v h omarried George F. Sumner, and Sarah S., who
married William S. Peeples ; Johnnie, who died unmarried; W.
G. who married Berta Lee Jenkins ;Cllarlotte E., who died May
10, 1890.
After the death of his first wife Gary Green Ford was married t o Miss Annie Heard of Blakely, who died Mar. 20, 1906.
His third wife was Miss Lizzie Cooper, now married to Julian
E. Glaze, of Sylvester.
Hon. Gary Green Ford was a Confederate Soldier throtlgh
four years of the Civil W a r . H e returned from that conflict
with the determination t o rebuild and place his native land
on a firm economic basis again. He accumulated a large estate,
o w ~ i n glarge tracts of land on ~vllichhe raised cattle and
sheep. H e had about thirteen hundred head of sheep and several thousand head of cattle, as ~ v e l la s other interests of importance. H e was President of the Sylvester Banking Co. and
one of the largest stockholders. H e ran successfully a sixty
horse farm, yet ~ v i t hall this business he gave distinguished
public service t o the county. H e was, when a young man, taxcollector for a number of years. He was a man of high social
and political standing and served Worth County with marked
distinction in the Georgia Legislature for three terms, and
later as State Senator for one term. H e always held inviolable
the Basic principles of the Democratic party and h3d been
interested in political affairs from youth. H e was a politician
but had the genial spirit in the true sense.
H e lived a t three homes of his making, the first one, where
he lived for many years, and where his children n-ere born
(all by his first wife, Elizabeth Sikes Ford) uTasnear Provideiice Church. H e then moved to Sylvester and built the large
two story home n o ~ vo~vneclby Preston Po~vell.Tiring of such
a large house, he built the home now owned 11~-his grandson,
Carl Deariso. H e uras a strong character ancl the county is
better by his having lived in it.
Mary Jane, first daughter of John A. and Matilda Jordan
Ford, was born July 4, 1845, and died unmarried.
Robert Taylor Ford, fourth son, was born Aug. 17, 1847;
married Sarah Sullivan, and their children were as follows:
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GEORGIAEDITION
HON. GARY GREEN FORD, 11.
STATE SENATOR
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\fTalter. who \\-as married to Sil~hieIVillis ; Gussie, married to
Ton1 Cadwell; Jack, married t o Mattie Kyals; Alma, married
t o E n ~ m e t tPerry; Martha, married t o T o m Mr. Cravy, a11d
Robert, who married a widow from Tampa, ------.
William Floyd Forcl, fifth son, was born Oct. 20, 1850,
married first to Annie Green-no children of this issue; second, to Mrs. Blanche Murray, and one son, IVilliam, was
born to them.
Nancy Van, second daughter, born April 9, 1854, married
to Jackson Davis, and there was one child, Lula, ~ v h onlarried
a Mr. Carragan.
Iverson Lumpkin, sixth son, was born Fell. 6, 1856. mar~ ~ Pearl, married t o a Mr.
ried to Ida Dell. Their c l ~ i l c l r ewere:
Flynt; Harry, unmarried; Winona, married to Hardy Bell;
Hazel, married to Henry Egger; Floy, married to L. R.
Starnes, and Iverson, unmarried.
MR. AND MRS. WILLIAM JACKSON FORD, SR.
William Jackson Forcl, Sr., was a scion of the third generation of the Ford family, who were among the first settlers of
IVorth County.
The representative members of the various generations have
l ~ e e nnotable for sterling character, large and useftil achievements.
William J. Ford, Sr., was a substantial farmer and business
man. His life was guided and governed by the highest print
busii~essmade large deciples. Though his i m p o r t a ~ ~private
mands upon his time, he accorded to his county his quota of
public service. H e held the office of Sheriff of Worth County
from 1876 to 1878. H e represented the county in the House
of Representatives, 1882-1885, Ex. 1883, 1884 and 1885.
H e married Rowena Hanes, March 2, 1886. He died at the
age of forty, Octoher 2211d, 1895. Mrs. Rowena Hanes Ford
is the daughter of Joshua Jackson Hanes, born January 5,
1827, in Fayette, now Clayton County, Georgia. H e was Justice of the Inferior Court of Clayton County. H e served a s
2nd Lieutenant in Co. E. 10th Ga. Inf., and later as Captain
Q. M. C. Confederate Army of America. H e died Feb. 2, 1909,
Her mother was, before marriage, Amanda Matilda Johnson,
born July 31, 1828, in Greene County ; died July 1, 1917.
Mrs. Rowena I-Ianes Ford was born ill Clayton County in
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the track made across Georgia by- the sword and fire brand of
General Sherman. Her experiences realized then are told on
another page in this history. Her father and grandfather
moved their families to I r ~ v i nCounty t o get them out of the
dangers of Sherman's raiders just after the battle of Jonesboro. They settled near n-here Jefferson Davis was captured.
L4fter the war was over her father moved back t o Jonesboro
and she was reared there. H e r grandfather contiilued to live in
Irwin County until his deatl~.
Her husband's death left her with five small children. She
took hold of his estate and by wise management reared her
children, gave them educational advantages, and now, after
they are all grown, she has a nice estate.
Mrs. Ford is primarily a home-loving woinan, loves her
flowers and gardens. Hut her greatest work has been in training her children, all of whom reflect her spirit in the service
they give the community in which they live, in every capacity
of useful public spirited citizens.
Her patriotism is very real and intense. She had three sons
to serve in the World W a r . Two of them, "E. J." and
"Brooks," were in Civil Service and could have evaded going,
but not hers to be the hand t o stay them when they relinquished their jobs to go to the battle front. H e r son, "JVillie," made
the supreme sacrifice, though he lived ten years after the
World War. They were years of suffering in a hospital in the
far west.
Her patriotism is fiot confilled to times of war. Her contributions in the ~vritingof this history of Wort11 County
have been large. She treasures the worth-while affairs of her
State and County, and much, of this history is takctl from
her scrap books. She is a member of Barnard Trai! Chapter
of the D. A. R. through descent from Robert and Hetty
Jewel1 Pullen. James and Jemilna Callalvay Hanes, Thonlas
and Sarah Cooper McLendon, and her children also through
John and Mary Ford. She is a Baptist, her father ha\-ing been
a deacon in that church throughout the active years of his
life, and her mother a descendant of staunch Scotch Presbyterians.
J. OTIS HOLOMAN
J. Otis Holoman is the scion of two of the oldest settlers of
the County, the Ford and Holoman families. His grandfather
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ELECTRONIC EDITION
Rev. IVm. 11;. Holon~anwas a Missionary Baptist preacher.
H e organized old Union Church. J. Otis Holoman has served
the people of Worth for a long number of years in the capacity
of dealer of fertilizers. H e has large farming interests and
has contributed much to the upbuilding of his native county.
Mrs. Winnie Woolard (J. 0 . ) Holoman exemplifies all the
fine traits of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Woolard. She
is one of the finest workers in all civic organizations; is a D.
A. R. through descent from General Edward Vail, of North
Carolina; is a member of the Methodist Church which comes
first in her life work.
They have one child, Mary, (Mrs. Graham Bateman.)
JAMES N E W T O N FORD
James Newton Ford, fourth son of John and Nancy Graham
Ford, was married to Katherine Barbour Fulton on December
18, 1845. Their children were: William J., who married Margaret Adains on April 20, 1864. Their children were:
Benjamin J., Thomas A., Ella, Katie, and William J., Jr.
Mrs. Margaret Forcl is still living a t Brunswick, Georgia, a t
the age of eighty years.
Augusta married William A. Harris, one of the most prominent men of Georgia. No children were born to them.
Georgia Virginia was married t o John Hall, wllo died
shortly after their marriage. One son, John Hall, was born
to this union. Georgia was married the second time to Dr.
William Lee Sikes on November 14, 1880, at Isabella. James
N. Ford was Ordinary of W o r t h Cot~ntyfrom 1854 to 1856
and from 1860 to 1862.
Elzy Jones Ford I, fifth son of J o l ~ nand Nancy Graham
Ford, married a Miss Jenkins.
William Jackson Ford I, sixth son of John and Nancy Graham Ford, was a lawyer and died unmarried.
Mary, first daughter of John and Nancy Graham Ford, died
uninarried.
Sarah, second daughter, married IVilliain Sullivan.
Nancy, third daughter, married Luke Jenkins.
MRS. SALLIE BARBER
Belonr we give a clipping from the Worth County Local,
August 7t11, 1924.
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HISTOR\- OF IVORTH C O U S T Y , GEORGIA
Atrs. Sallie IJarl~ern-as a very fine character of the "Old
South" t!.l)e. She died a fen. years after the visit mentioned
belo\v.
She made affidavit that the grave of John Forcl, at the
Pit~derto\vnCenletery was the grave of the first of the Ford
familv to immigrate to this section.
OLD CITIZEN OF WORTH COUNTY VISITS
SYLVESTER
N r s . Sallie Barber of Jonesl~orois visiting relatives in Sylvester. She is accoinpaniecl by her granddaughter, hfrs. J. W.
Stipe of Decatur.
N r s . Barber is a native of this section, having been bortl
several years before W o r t h County w a s laid out. She celebrated her eightieth birthday on August lst, and still enjoys
life and takes a keen interest in current events.
She was the fifth child of Gary G. Ford, Sr., and is the last
one remaining of a family of twelve children. She left W o r t h
County in 1872, while it w a s still one vast forest of pine, and
thousands of cattle roamed a t will over the wiregrass.
Mrs. Barber, through occasional visits, has watched the
~vonderfulprogress of the county and its citizens; and there
is still a very teilcler place in her heart for both.
Relatives ancl friends in the county are ~\?ishingfor her
Illany happy returns of the birthday, and numerous visits a s
the years go by.
AFFIDAVIT
S T A T E OF G E O R G I A , W o r t h County.
Before the undersigned officer authorized by law t o administer oaths, in person came Mrs. Sallie Ford Barber, who
being first duly sworn according to law, deposes ancl says o n
oath a s follows : T h a t she is aged 80 years, and t h a t her grandfather, John Ford, was buried in the brick e~lclosuresouth
of a n d adjoining the graves of affiant's father and mother i n
the old Pindertown cemetery in the northern part of W o r t h
County, Georgia. T h a t t h e graves of affiant's father and
noth her, Gary G. Ford ancl Silvia Eason Ford. are plainly
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marked and can thus 11e located. T h a t affiant's address is
Jonesboro, Ga.
Mrs. Sallie Ford Barber.
Sworn t o and s ~ ~ l ~ s c r i bbefore
ed
me, this 16th day of August. 1924.
J. 0. Holamon,
Notary Public, Worth Co~ui~ty,
Ga.
(Official seal)
WILLIAM WOODRUFF TISON I1
William Woodruff Tison, lst, father of Williatn UTooclruff
Tison, 11,1v11o settled at Pindarto~vn,married Mary
and
had the following children :
Joab Tison, inarriecl Elizabeth Smith; Moses Tison, married Rel~ekahRagan; ilndre\\r Tison, Hiram Tison, William
Woodruff Tison, 2nd, married Levisa Ann Williams.
Tradition says that Elizabeth Smith Tison, wife of Joab
Tison, had a drealn about her husband, who was fighting in
the Revolutionary War-that he had been killed, and was s o
troubled she couldn't sleep; so got up and began to spin.
Soon some one knocked on the door, and it was her husband
who was not killed, but his horse had been shot deacl from
under him, and he had come for another one.
William Woodruff Tison I 1 nras born in North Carolina. H e
was one of the first t o n1oa.e t o this section when it was ceded
t o the \vhites 11y the Inclians. H e settled at Old Pindartown,
on Flint River, on the old Stage Coach Road. H e kept.the inn
and horses for the Stage Coaches. A t one time Pindartown
was called "Tison" for him.
H e l~ecalnethe owiler of a large plantation and inany slaves.
H e was a man of ~ ~ r e a l and
t h influence, and encouraged all progressive nlovements.
H e n~arriedLevisa /inn Mrilliains. Their children were as
follows :
Littletoil and Jernigan died ui~married.
Mary married Tlr. Riley. Mar. 24th. 1854. No chilclren.
Levisa, married Zack Ross. Children: Sallie, married Bill
Taylor.
Gussie, married Will Cob11; Effie, married Mr. Harris ;
Jessie, married Mr. Harris; Johnnie, married Johnnie Hall,
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ley Gleaton. Children: Alice, married John Hope; Theophilus, died unmarried; William D., uninarriecl.
Clarence, married Annie Johnson.
Francis R/Iarioiz Tison, married Sarah Ford. Children: l i i l liam lVoodruff and Anna 1,uta.
Dr. Theophilus Williams Tison, married Georgia Ann Ford.
Thirteen children were born of this marriage as follows : Mark
M., Susan Deariso, Daty Smith, married Jesse J. Forehand;
William Woodruff, married first, Alice Holamon, second,
Sarah Van Houston ; Levisa, marriecl George Howard : Rohert
Graham, marriecl Maggie Tison; Thomas, married E~tlalia
Dykes; Theophilus, married Maucle Boyd; Lora, married
Frank Coleman; Francis Marion, married Pearl Perry;
Joseph, married Clara Belle Watson; Littleton and Jackson
died in childhood and Leila died at eighteen.
After the death of Levisa Williams Tison, William Woodruff Tison married Matilda Gleaton, and their children were:
William, married Ida Shine; Joab and Coluinhus died unmarried.
THORNHILL FAMILY
James Thornhill, by testimony of his granddaughter, Mrs.
Amanda Thornhill Castleberry, who remembered him well,
was born in Marylancl. His father was of English descent; his
mother was Welch.
James Thornhill nras 11orn in 1771, not long l~eforethe Revolutionary War. He remembered being in the field where his
father was ploughing with gun on his plow stock, for he was
a Minute Man, when they heard firing of guns. His fxther put
him on the horse ancl told him to g o to the house ancl tell his
mother he had gone t o fight the Tories.
H e saw his father climb the fence and leave. His father never
returned; he was killed in some battle. His mother did not
live long. I l e was placed under his uncle to learn the trade of
cabinet maker. H e came to Virginia when grown, on down t o
North Carolina, and t o Macoil County, Georgia. H e moved
with his son, Newel1 Thornhill, to Worth County about 1856.
He lived to the ripe old age of 87 years. It is not known who
his wife was before marriage.
H e must have taught his sons the cabinet maker's trade.
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287
His gi-and<laughter, i\/Irs. Mary Jane (Thornhill) Gwines,
lias a l~eautifulold l~eaclsteadthat her father, Ne~vellThornhill,
i~ladefor her wedding prese~ltout of a tree growing in his
back yard.
These records are taken from the Bible of Newell Thornhill,
now in possessioil of J . T l ~ o m a sThornhill of Worth County.
Births
Jatlles Thornllill, father of Newell Tl~ornhill,born in Maryland, NIarcl~7th, 1771.
Children of James Thornhill
Ne~vellThori~hill\\la3 11nrtl Nov. Zlst, 1809.
Harrison Thornhill was born Apr. 6th, 1807.
Enos Thornhill was l ~ o r nMarch 25, 1812.
Newel1 Thornhill's Family
Neivell Thornhill nras married to Mary Underwood. daughter of Wn:. Under\\;ootl of Macoil County, Oct. 29, 1839.
&#Tar?-Unclel-wood Thornhill, wife of Newell Thornhill was
l~ortlin Macon County, Georgia, March 22, 1821.
Children of Newel1 and Mary Thornhill
Janles William Thornhill was 11orn Dec. l s t , 1840.
Louisa Ainanda Thori~hill,11orn Feb. 9, 1843.
Sara11 Josephiile l'liornhill, born Oct. 3, 1845.
Co1uml)us Lafayette Thornhill, born iiug. 2, 1845.
John T l ~ o m a sTl~ornhill.born Jan. 15, 1851.
Newell Ellis 'Thornhill, 1101-n July 29, 1853.
Mary Jane Thornhill, 1)oi-11Oct. 8, 1856.
Eilos RiIoilroe Thornhill, born June 12, 1859.
Marthy Rebecca Thornhill, 11ori1 Nov. 22, 1861.
Frai~cesElizal~ethThornhill, born Oct. 25, 1864.
Selena Clenle~ltiileThornhill, born May 3, 1868.
Marriages
James W m . T11or11hill and Matilda Willis were inarried Oct.
19, 1865.
Sara Josepl~ineThoi-nhill and Joseph L. Sumner, inarried
Nov. 5 . 1865.
~ i l lSara C. Glover illarried Dec.
Columbus L. T l ~ o r ~ ~ land
loth, 1868.
John Thos. Thornhill and Susanna Saunrlers married Dec.
23, 1874.
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EDITION
HISTOR\OALL
F W
O R TRESERVED
H COUXTY,
GEORGIA
Sa~lluell3. Castlel~erryant1 Louiza Xnla~ltlaThornhill married May 30t11, 1577.
R'lary Jane Thornhill and IZ'illiam Thomas G~vinesmarriecl June 2, 1878.
The follo\ving inscriptions are fouild on the old Thornhill
burying ground in '\~T~orth
County.
James Thornhill. 1,orn R4ar. 7, 1771, died Oct. 16, 1857.
Nelvell 'I'hornhill, born Nov. 21, 1809, died ;\larch 20, 1889.
Mrs. hIar!. Thornhill, born Mar. 22. 1821, diecl Aug. 5,
1915.
The Thol-nhills and their faillilies make up a large part of
the 1)est citizens of JVorth County.
James Thornhill had a brother to come uvitl~ him from
Maryland to North Carolina and on t o R/lacon COIIII~J-,
Ga.
This l~rothernrent west from Macon County. Ga.
SUMNER FAMILY OF WORTH COUNTY
The Sumner family and its wide connectioi~,is one of the
largest and most influential fanlilies of this county, and of
the state.
T h e first one of the family t o conle t o this part of the state
was Joseph Sumner, Jr., ancl wife, Mahala (Smith) Sunlner.
They immigrated here about 1830 from E n ~ a n u e l County,
144th several children, stock ancl other property.
White's History of Georgia gives him as one of the earliest
settlers of Irurin County. H e was later cut off into this county
when it ~ v a sorganized, nlaking him among M70rth's first
settlers.
Joseph Surnner, Jr., \\+asthe son of loseph Sumner, Sr., of
Enlanuel County, Georgia. As one of Georgia's Ke1~01utionar~soldiers, he drew land tlvice in that county for service in the
Revolutionary MTar. This is found in the office of the Secretary
of State. The last clra\v was in 1827 shortly before his cleath in
Dec. 1827. His ~villis to be found in E i ~ ~ a n u County
el
court
house.
Joseph Sumner, Jr., was one of the executors of his will.
Joseph Sunlner and wife, b1ahala (Smith) Sumner, had a large
family of seventeen children, fourteen of whom gl-en- to maturity. H e and his wife and many of his descendants are buried
in the fanlily graveyard near his home a fen. miles north of
Sumner.
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FORGEORGIA
ELECTRONIC EDITION
HISTORY(C) O
F W
R T H RESERVED
COUNTY,
289
His sons are found among the first officers of Worth County.
Daniel S. Sunlner, T a x Collector from 1856-1860; Treasurer
from 1873-1875.
George VCT. Sumner, Tax Collector 1866 ; T a x Receiver 1877.
Joseph 14. Sumner, youngest son, was Representative in the
State Legislature in 1880-'81.
W. J. Sumner, grandson, Ordinary, 1893.
George S. Sun~ner,grandson, Treasurer, 1887.
~ o s e ~L.
h Sumner, grandson, Representative from the
County in 1894-'95.
John N. Sumner, grandson, has l>een Sheriff of Worth with
the exception of four years since 1900 to date, 1934.
Dr. ~ o r c l o nS. sumher, great-grandson, was Representative
from the County, 1913 to 1917, and elected to represent the
County 1933 to 1931, and served 22 months in the World W a r
as Medical Officer, 1st Lieutenant.
Co'lonel Walter K. Sumner, great-grandson, was County
Superintendent of Schools of Worth with the exception of one
term from 1911 until his death in 1931.
The desceildants of Joseph Sumner who served in the
Southern Army during the Civil War, Muster Roll of Militia 1125 Dist. G. M., Worth County are:
Daniel S. Sulnner, Joseph M. Sumner, John or (Jack) C.
Sumner, William R. Sumiler, Berriail Sumner, Mathe~vSumner.
Muster Roll of 867 Dist. G. M., Worth County, Ga.; Orclerly Sergt. George W. Sumner and Gordon Sumner.
Miss Estelle Sumner, great-granddaughter of Joseph Surnner, was the only woman from Worth County to go to the
World W a r as a nurse doing oversea duty in the ~ l n r r i c a n
Red Cross. She is living a t present a t Jacksonville, Fla. She
married T. I,. Card\vell a few years ago.
n , is Postmaster of
Colonel Will S. Sumner, a g r a ~ ~ d s owho
Potllan, has recently written the family tree or genealo_gy of
the Sumner Family. H e has been included in the list of !eading active gellealogists of the United States.
By permission we give belo\v from his book the first Family
of Sumner's ill the county:
Joseph Sumner, Jr., horn September 15, 1793, died June 14,
1880, married Mahala Smith 1813. h4ahala Smith, born October 11, 1799, died AIarcll 30, 1882.
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FORGEORGIA
ELECTRONIC EDITION
H I S T O R (C)
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O F ALL
W ORIGHTS
R T H RESERVED
COUKTY,
Children
Gordoll Arc11il)ald Sumner, born -4pril 137, 1814, died July
6, 1870, married 1838 to Rachel hlarchant, Jailuary 20, 1812,
died _"lugust 13, 1889.
Sallie Sumner, born 1816, died 1861, married Benj. Willis,
1833, he was boril 1810, died May 4, 1882.
r , January 27, 1821, died Se1)teml)er 27,
Matilda S ~ ~ i n n eborn
1897, married Jehu Fletcher, 1838. Jehu Fletcher, born January 4, 1820, died January 19, 1899.
Eliza Sumner, born May 3, 1825, diet1 January 20, 1879,
married Isaac Rooks, 1845.
Mary Sumner, married William Garrett, 1838. She was born
September 29, 1830, died December 2, 1901.
Daniel S. Sumner, born Octol~er28, 1828, died Septetnl~er
24, 1899, married iuarch 3, 1853, first Martha Monk, born
February 20, 1833, died Septeml~er29, 1874, married seconcl
April 16, 1876. Martha Hol~by.
George W. Sumner, married Knady Porter, Jan. -36, 1854.
He nras 11orn April 21, 1834, died Octoher 1, 1883. She was
born February 18, 1836, died June 24, 1889.
Martha Sunlner, born August 20, 1832, died August 13,
1914, married Fel~ruary 19, 1852, to Tllomas Young llorll
May 14, 1829, died February 18, 1887.
Joseph At., married E. Jane Young, December 16, 1858.
His birth, August 16, 1836, clied December 25, 1913. She was
boril February 15, 1841, clied Illarch 1, 1930.
Thomas, died in the Confederate War, unmarried.
Elizabeth first married James S. Young, December, 1857,
born February 27, 1840, died July 30, 1914, married second
James W. Trammel, 1866.
John C. (called Jack Sutnner) married first Rebecca L4.
Young, January 15, 1851, born June 9, 1831, died February 28,
1853, married seconil Mary Monk, 1854, born Dec. 29, 1832,
died Feb. 18,1855, marrieithird Polly Hobby. 1857. Imrn Oct.
30, 1826, died Oct. 10, 1875, fourth Peniline Joiner, 1876, born
Legend for cut on page 291.
Geo. S. Sumner served in the war between the states in Co., F. loth,
Ga., militia, and served the county a s Treasurer in the years 1887-1889.
H e was a splended farmer and loved the beautiful things of life, planting roses and flowering shrubs along the highway near his home. H e
rendered valuable assistance in the compilation of this history, for
in his heart he was a real historian, treasuring and remembering accurately the worth while things of his couilty and people.
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HISTORY O F WORTH COUNTY, HISTORY
291
GEO. S. SUi\lNER
See legend page 290
292
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HISTORY O F WORTH COUSTY, GEORGIA
hIay 21, 1842, died June 15, 1919. He was born January 15,
1827, died Septem1)er 18. 1915.
hrlissouri Sumner, imarried Joe Sutton.
Safronie Sumnei-, bor11 hIarc11 28, 1844, diecl Xugust 17,
1901, married October 20, 1564, Ell~ertFletcher, l ~ o r nJuly
1, 1842, died Septeinber 9, 1896.
Three children died young.
Joseph and Rlahala Sumner's desceilclants in the Civil War,
were six soils and tl~irteengranclsons 1~110ans\verecl to the
roll of Georgia Volunteers.
The Su11111er Quartette of male 1-oices of UTorth County are
all tlescenclants of Josepli Sumner.
JOSEPH SUMNER (1793-1880)
Joseph Sumner, the progenitor of all the Sumner's in this
section, was very reticent about having a photograph made of
himself, so some one snapped him when his attention was given
t o a very important job, clressing a 6 c piny woods rooter." Mr.
Suinner mas a tall man and the rooter ~ v a sa thoroughbred,
judging from his length. The beam to which the hog is hanging is a log of the smoke-house which was made to extend
for tliis purpose. T h e notch underneath is for a brace in the
event several hogs were hung there at tlie same tiwe. A split
rail fence makes tlie background.
Joseph Sumner was a veteran of the Creek Indian war and
was one of the first of Inferior Court Judges of IVorth. He
served in the establisl~ingof the cot~nty.White's Statistics of
Georgia gives him as one of the outstanding citizens of this
section. IIany of his posterity haue done hinl honor. His father,
Joseph Sumner, of Elllanuel County, was a Revolutionary
soldier.
JOSEPH SUMNER CEMETERY
O n Old Home Place
1. Susan E.Hamons, born 1804, died Kov. 12, i8T9
2. Alas>- St~lnner,wife of J o l ~ n C. Sumner, I~orn Oct. 30,
1826, died Oct. 10, 1875.
3. Rebecca Sumner, wife of John C. Sumner, Born June 9,
1831, died Fel,. 28, 1853.
3. Mahala Sumner, bor11 Oct. 11, 1799, died Mar. 30, 1882.
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A REAL PIONEER, JOSEPH S U M N E R
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RIGHTS RESERVED FOR ELECTRONIC EDITION
H I S T O R(C)
Y 2005
O F ALL
JVORTH
C O U S T Y , GEORGIA
5. Joseph Sun~ncr,horn Sept. 15, 1793, died June 14, 1880.
6. Jaines S. Young, ljorn 1837, died Apr. 24, 1862.
7. Eliza Rooks, born May 3, 1825, died No\-. 20, 1879.
8. Asa Rooks, born April 6, 1852.
9. Eliza J . Knickerl)ocker, born 1835, died July 7, 1882.
GEORGE SUMNER CEMETERY
On Old Home Place
1, Elizabeth Porter, hoi-11 June 10. 1810, died Fell. 38, 1884.
3. Rhoda Ann, \\rife of G. \V. Sumner. l ~ o r nFell. 18, 1830,
died J uile 21, 1880.
: 3. George I\'. Sunlner, 1101-11 Apr. 21, 1834, died Oct. 1, 1883.
4. J. B. Sumner, born Aug. 25, 1857, cliecl Feb. 8, 1888.
5. Florene, ~vifeof 3. E. I;letcher, l>orn Aug. 20, 1872, tliecl
RIay 9, 1587.
GORDON A. SUMNER
1814-1870
Gordon Sulnner the oldest child of Joseph Sunlner was born
in Enlanuel County, Georgia. He nlarried Rachel NIarchant.
Their hoine was near Isabella in what nras the first couilty
site of l i o r t l ~San
,
Barnard ; it was also Georgia's first summer
resort. H e and his good ~vifeliept the inn. He nras the fo~~ncler
of the school at that place (the first in that part of the county).
H e furnished the house, boarded the teacher free of charge
and paid tuition for his onrn children. H e served as First Lieutellant in Aluster or Ocean Pond, Fla.. ill the Confederate
Army.
When the nenT county of Worth was organized, he gave
50 acres of land for the county site of Isabella, reserving one
acre in the center for the Court House.
He served in the Confederate Army as 3rd Corporal, Co. F,
10th Regiment, Georgia Militia.
THOMAS LEE SUMNER
T. L. Sumner, sixth child of George W. and Rhoda Porter
Sumner, was born Sept. 26, 1866, and was married to Lott Pittman, January 29, 1890. Their children are:
Myra M., married to E. L. Massey; Mary Lillie, married to
Miles B. Monk; Glen11 Shepherd, married to Bessie Funder(C) 2005 - GeorgiaGenWeb
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HISTOR\- O F WORTH COUKTY, GEORGIA
295
HOK. GORDON SUMSER
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H I S T O R Y O F W O R T H COUSTY, GEORGIA
11u1-k; George T.. married to Stella A. Greer; John I-.. married
to L4claL. N e ~ v t o n ;Charles D., married t o I<atherine I,. NIorg a n ; P. Lncile, i~larried to J. H. Singer; Elise, nlarried t o
?$;alter L. Stallings, ant1 Ruth, unmarried, teacher of inusic.
Mr. anrl Mrs. Sunlner have 1)een prominent and interesting
characters in the religious, civic and political afiiairs of Sumiler and If,.orth County for illally years. They are devoted and
loyal meinbers of the hIet11odist Church. H e has the reputation of being the nlost efticient Justice of the Peace of the
County, having served in this capacity for a long num1,er of
years.
Their children are all musicians, and four of them are outstancling as nlusical artist, Mesdames, Myra Massey, Lucile
Singer, Miss Ruth Surnnei- and Mr. Gleilil S. Sumner.
J. DANIEL BRIDGES
J. Daniel Bridges was 11ori1 January 24, 1866, ant1 (lied
November 23, 1924. H e nlarriecl Mattie K. S u m ~ ~ e ninth
r,
cl~iltlof Daniel S. and &lartha Monk Sumner, who was 1)orn
January 21, 1866. Their children are : John l3. Bridges, married t o Florrie M. P a i t ; Lillie Mae, nlarried to R. l3. Glover;
Ollie, married t o iIT. H a r r y Jenkins; William L., n~arriedt o
Janie Pittillan ; Daniel Hugh, ~llarrieclt o Tl~elnlaLong; L. J.
(called "Euster") not married ; Riartha Irene, married t o LV.
D. l3runso11, Joice Erline, married to W. D. M o u n t ; Sara J.,
unmarriecl, ancl RIerlyn E., unmarried.
3Ir. Eridges came to \I'orth County ~ v l ~ ebut
n a lad, with
his mother, ancl located a t Sumner, Ga. By at1 indotnitable
will and <letermii~ationt o succeed, even t l ~ o u g hhampered by
lack of educational atlva~ltagesof the most ordiilary kind, a n d
nrith the care ant1 protection of his aged mother, 11e gradually
forged ahead in tlze I~usiness~vorld.H i s keen foresight enabled
11im t o visualize the l~ossil~ilities
of the future, and he seized
every opportunity that presented itself t o establish hinlself
in the l~usinessworld and build for himself ancl his posterity
a large fortune. H e never spent an idle moment, and vet h e
did not forget the responsil~ilitiesclue t o his fainilv and gave
the111 every advantage possible. A t the time of his cleath his
l~usinessinterests were colossnl, and it w a s through his efforts
alnlost solely t h a t the town of Sun~llerw a s a t one time one of
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297
the illost thriving coin~llunitiesin the county. H e oxvnecl many
thousands of acres of excellent far111 lands, was a large turpentine and saw illill operator, banker and merclzant. At one
time during the peak of his unprecedented prosperity he was
reputed to be a ~llillionaireand the largest tax payer of the
county.
Mr. 13ridges rill l)e long remetnl~ereclon accoui~tof his big
heartedness and generous dis~~osition,
especially 114- tlie Illany
h u ~ ~ d r e dofs negro tenants and laborers, to ~ v l ~ ohe
m was always a friend and protector.
W. BURON HOLTON
Tax Receiver
W. Buron Holton, only child of Thyal Holtoil and wife.
Barbara L. (Reynolcls) Holton, is one of the younger officers
of the County. Probably no man ever filled this place of honor
so young as Buron Holtotz, a i d no one more efficiently than he,
as was attested by his long term of office, 1916 to 1933. I n his
official capacity 11e added t o his reputation for integrity and
uprightness of character.
He belongs t o a fanlily of public officers of W o r t h County,
who firmly establisl~ed t h e m s e l ~ ~ ein
s the good graces and
conficlence of the people. His father, T11yal Holton, was tax
receiver from 1908 to 1912. His uncle, Stephen W. Holton,
was sheriff of \Vortli County froin 1853 to 1885. H e was reelected for a two-year's tern1 I~eginningin 188.5, but resigilecl
in 1885, and moved to Texas.
-Another uncle, Virgil S. Holton, n-as tax receiver in 1871.
At that time they were elected for a tern1 of one year.
T h e following records found in Van Holton's Bible tell the
history of the Holtons. I t is in the possessio~lof his grandson,
Euroil Holton, of Sylvester, Georgia :
VAN HQLTON
Births
V a n Holtoil was born February 4th, 1818, ill I i a s h i n g t o i ~
County, Ga. Nancy Taylor, wife of Van Holton, was born June
8th, 1820, in Screven County, Ga.
298
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Children of Nancy and Van Holton
Silas R. Holton, was born February 21st, 1843, in Crawford
Co., Ga.
Elizabeth Holton nras l ~ o r nJune 29th, 1844, in Autauga
County, Ala.
R'lartha J. Holton was bortl No\-. 20th, 1845, in Autauga
County, Ala.
Vergil S. Holtoil was born Sept. 7th, 1848. in Cra~vford
County, Ga.
Rosie A. Holton was hot-n June Sth, 1851, in Dooly Cout~ty,
Ga.
Stephen \V. Holtoil was 1)orn illarch 21st, 1854, in IVorth
Couilty, Ga.
John F. Holton was horn July 14, 1856, in T\'orth County,
Ga.
Thyal Holton was l ~ o r n December 1st. 1859 ,in IVorth
County, Ga.
Mary I. H o l t o i ~was born July 24th. 1863, in ITTorth County.
Ga.
Marriages
V a n Holton and Nancy Taylor were tnarried Octol~er3rd,
1841.
Thomas J. Giddeils and Martha J. Holtoil were married
?Ailarch 8th, 1866.
Jatnes R. Key~~olcls
and Koxie i\. Holton were ~narrieclJan.
24th, 1857.
Virgil S. Holton and i l n n a E. Dixoil n7ere married Nov.
2nd, 1876.
Thyal Holton and Barl~araL. Reynolcls were lnarried March
26th, 1890.
RlIary J. Holtoil and J. G. Avers were marl-iecl? -.
Deaths
Elizal~ethStephens inother of V a n H o l t o i ~cliecl hilay 27t11,
1863 i l l Worth County, Ga.
Emila Taylor, mothel- of Kancy Holton, died Sept. 8th, 1868
in Cra~rfordCounty, Georgia.
Willis Taylor, father of Nancy Holton, died July 29tl1, 1869,
in Cra~vforclCounty, Georgia.
Silas R. Holton died May 4tl1,1843, in Crawford County, Ga.
Elizabeth Holton died September 29th, 1841, in Autauga
County, Ala.
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HISTORY
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299
Van Holton died April 29th, 1868, in W o r t h County, Ga.
Nancy Holton died Allgust 14th, 1882, in W o r t h County, Ga.
Virgil S. Holton died in Cra~vfordCounty, Ga.
Roxie A. Reynolds died in W o r t h County, Ga.
Thyal Holton died August 26tl1, 1912, in W o r t h County, Ga.
Martha J. Giddens died in 14Torth County, Ga.
Mary J. Avera died in Houston County, Ga.
John F. Holton died in Lexington, Texas.
HISTORY OF THE PAUL FAMILY
Williaill Paul was born in Twiggs County in 1811. H i s wife,
Melvina Minchew, w a s born in Bib11 County in 1814. T h e y
were married in 1830; moved t o Albany in 1850; they moved
t o the iiew count~rof Wort11 in 1859, purchasing from John A.
Ford the present Paul Homestead.
Williain Paul entered actively into the making of the new
county. He served a s Consta1,le and as Justice of Peace of
his district. H e diet1 in 1874. His wife died in 1898. T e n children were 1,oi-n to them as follows :-John. L a m a , Rebecca,
James, Susan, Phillip, Hay~vood,Jack, Mary, and Ruth.
Phillip died in youth. Haywood died when 16 ~ v h i l ea stud e n t in school at Isabella. Laura died in young ~ v o n ~ a n h o o d .
John enlisted at Newton in Baker County a t the l~eginning
of the Civil W a r and fought under Lee during the entire conflict, being killed in action in one of the last skirmishes of the
war.
James enlisted in 1862 and served the remainder of the conflict. Returning home he inarried Elizabeth Sinclair ancl settled near Tifton. H e died about 1916.
Susan inarried William Bettison, \vho died in service during
t h e Civil W a r , ancl she also died shortly afterward, leaving
one son, \Villiam, who died in 1929. This salve boy is characterized in "Saturday Night Sketches" by J. L. Herring under
the name of "Bill."
Rebecca married W. J. Herring, of Albany. After living
there several years they nloved t o Isabella and spent the remainder of their lives a t the old Herring Homestead. T w o
sons were born to them, \Vm. J. and John LA. Herring.
JVm. J. died in 1905, and John L. died in 1923. Mary married
W. D. Rrady, 1i711o was engaged in mercantile l~usinessa t
300
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HISTORY OF WORTH COUKTS', GEORGIA
Isabella, later movitlg to T y TI-, and serving several - e a r s
as T a x Receiver.
Ruth married Geo. S. Sumner. They spent their lives at Isabella. S11e died in 1914, and he died in 1928.
Jack being too young to enter the Civil llTar remained a t
home t o make a living for the women ancl the old men. At one
period of the war he was the only l ~ o y ,\\.it11 a fen. old and
decrepit men that was left in Isahella.
I n 1876 he was married to Temple J., the daughter of Gordon Sumner. Two bops were Born to them, William Cordon
was born Sept. 1877, ancl George Hay~voodin 1885.
A. J. (Jack) Paul served as Deputy Sheriff of the county
during the term of \Villis Holton, having to perfornl the first
execution in the county during their term. After resignation
of I-Iolton and his removal to Texas, he served the balance
of that term as Sheriff. He also served as Deputy cluring the
term of G. S. Nelson, and later serving as Coroner of the
County. His wife died in 1922, and he died in 1930.
William Gordon. after finishing school a t Isabella, graduated from Georgia-Alabama Business College, Macon. in 1898.
I n 1900 he went t o Willacoochee where he served for several
years as bookkeeper for Carter & Ford. After the death of
R. L. Ford, in 1906, the junior partner of the firm, he returned
t o Worth County, ancl has since resided and operated the old
Paul Homestead, serving as a Justice of Peace of his district
and as Trustee of Sylvester Coi~soliclateclSchool.
George H. resicles in Jacksonville, Fla. engaged as traveling
salesman.
T h e two last mentioned are the only immediate surviving
members of the family bearing the name.
Mrs. Mary Brady, of Tifton is the only metnl~erof the immediate family of William and Melvina Paul now living, with
Mrs. Elizabeth Paul, wife of James Paul.
T h e "Granny" referred to in J. L. Herring's "Saturday
Night Sketches," is none other than his o ~ v ngratldmother,
Melvina Paul.
DAVIS FAMILY
T h e pioneer members of the Davis family migrated lrom
Wilcox County to what is now the north\vestern section oE
Worth County when it was still it1 the first stages of settle-

History of Worth County Georgia pgs 201-300

Transcription

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