historj- of worth coukty, georgia - usgennet

HISTORJ- OF WORTH COUKTY, GEORGIA 101

District High School meets. Our Agricultural department is especially outstanding, first hecause of the teacher we have at the head, Prof. George I. Martin, he l~av ing won the distinction of being the I las ter Vocational Agriculture teacher of the South.

This school has estension courses in A'lgriculture that reach the fariners in the county through night classes. McPhaul has 11een used as a training center in Vocational Agriculture for the gracluating stuclents of the State Agriculture College since 19139. Two students are sent here each year for three months to get their practice teaching hefore graduating. RIcPhaul In- stitute is the only school south of hlacon wit11 this rating in Vocational Agriculture.

I n the fall tern1 of 1933, a comtllercial course in Bookkeep- ing and stenographic ~ v o r l ~ nritl~ s~lenclid equipment and an expert teacher has been added. Tlze music department has variccl courses, pul>lic scl~ool music, piano, violin, wind in- str~zments and orchestra.

T h e student body is composed of most capable boys ancl girls and a fact worth inentioning is that only a very few students 1v11o have taken a collegiate education have failed to l ~ e s~lenclidly prepared for the work, showing the ability of the sturlent ancl the splendid ~ v o r k of the teachers. These facts taken fro111 a census ft~rnished by the heads of colleges.

3lcPhaul Institute is noted for employing home teachers, and those that live elsewhere, when employed here finally come to make Sj~lvestei- theit- home. It is also noted for the long service of its teachers, seine having served more than twenty years. Anlong those are Mrs. R. A. Holtnes, who resignecl in 1933, Miss Elizabeth Nor \~~ood , who resigned in 1927, Miss Na ry b/langhatn, Miss Alice Tiptoil, Mrs. Clifford Grubhs.

It has 11een fortunate in 11aving school board members who server1 the comtnunity for a long term of years. Sotne of those ~v11o served in this capacity for a tern1 of a t least ten years are TV. Ii. Johnston, rl. I-I. Pinson, J. H. JTTestberry, J. S . West- berry, and R. L. Deariso. The last nanied has served continuously as secretary and treasurer since 1907.

McPhaul numbers anlong those who have passed through her graduating classes, scores of sons and daughters in all wallts of life, who have brought honor to their High School Alma hfater. RfIany of these, too numerous t o mention by name,

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102 HISTORJ- O F \VORTH COUKTY, GEORGIA

have become educators. A~nol lg these are Wylie Hollings~vorth, P11.D. ; Riley Hollings~voi-th, P11.D. ; Sarn Tipton, P11.D. ; Ful- ton Sikes, P11.D.; Drooks Ford, LL.D., S ta te Senator; Kalph Flanders, a writer of note; Lester Hardwick, who held the chair of English in Tulane University, no\\. a writer; Rev. Guy Hicks, Louie 1). Ne\\-ton, D.D.; 14.l'alsey Haml,y, 3i.D.; J. L. T r a c ~ - , M.11. ; .Frank Hillhouse, Lieutenant in the N a v ; b4er- win Shiver p u t Sylvester on the map in athletics a t the Uni- versity of Georgia; Kay Tipton, A.D. and LL.IJ., Manager of office of Pet111 AiIutual Life Insurance Company, Springfield, Mo.; l<ob Heinshon, head office, New York Life I i l sura~lce ; Miss Evelyn Deariso, A.B. Degree of Library Science; James Tipton, teacher of Math. in Tech H i g h ; Miss Elizabeth Fop, M.A., Science teacher in the Government Sclzool in Pailatna Canal Zone; Miss Janie Gulley, head of Welfare Dept. in St. A4ugus t i~~e , 1;la. i14an)- of tlie teachers of hIcPhaul 1,elong to its alumni.

The faculty of McPhaul for 1933-31 is given l~elow : Eugene Attaway, L<.S.A., Ph.l3. .......................... S~t l~er in tendent George I. Martin, B.S.A. ................................................ Principal Milledge \Y hite, B.S.A. .................................. S c i e ~ ~ c e and Coach Miss Lizzie 1. Deariso. L3.S. in Ecl. ................ Histosy I T S . Si-. Miss Josiel~el C. Joh~lson. A.13. ..................................... ..L.atin Miss Winnie Overstreet, B.S. ............ h'Iathelllatics anc! French Miss Nellie Pye, E.S. in Ed. ................................ Engl is l H.S. Sr. Miss Doro t l~y Ratlclolph, B.S. .......................... Home Econoinics Miss Nancv Fi-azer, B.S.C. .......................................... Co~nn~erc ia l Miss Annie Mae Melton, Diploma Music .......................... Piailo Miss Evelyn S trangward ............................ Ptzl~lic School Music Mr. H. h!I. Percilla. B.S.M. ........ ITiolin ailcl Wincl I i~s t ru inents Mrs. Earl Pa rk , A.U. ...................................................... Ex1)ression Mrs. Clifford GI-ubl~s, Life PI-ofessional

.................................. Normal Geo- and History, Jr. H. ............ Mrs. E. J. \Yillian~s, Normal Eng l i s l ancl Iflath., Jt-, H.

Miss Mxrjorie Coinl~s, Collegiate Nornlal ............................... -Reading and Geography, Jr . H.

Mrs. Lucy Me11 Alfortl, Normal ........ overflonr of sixth in Jr . H. Niss Alice Tipton, Professional Normal .................. Fifth grade Mrs. RTai-y I-Iillhouse, Sorlllal ................................ Fourth grade Miss Mary n'Iangham, Life Pi-of. Normal, Normal Dil)loma,

7 . L.1. Degree .......................................................... 11111-tl grade



HISTOR1- OF WORTH COUKTY, GEORGIA 103

............ Miss .4delaicle Ileariso, Collegiate h'ormal Second grade Mrs. 34. I-'. Majors, X'ormal ...................................... F i r R class RiIiss $Jar!- Catherine 13urts, Professional

Norn~al .................................................................. First B class hli-s. T. L. Johnston, A.E. .................................... St111111y Teacher

JUDGE PARK'S OLD FIELD SCHOOL

I n 1916 Dl-. I-'. P. Claxton, Co~~lnlissioner of the 13ureau of Education, put on foot an iilvestigation of n~ethocls used in any part of the United States anel in foreign countries for teaching illiterate adult men and \xromen to read and write. Th i s committee, in making its report to Congress, reported that W o r t h County, Georgia, and Ro~ven County, Kentucky, had already heen doing ~ v o r k of this kind, anel that it haci passed l>eyond the experimental stage anel was a great success. The one in Rowen County, Ky., was a mooi~light school which had done much creditable work, ]jut Wor th County's school was the first of its kind in America, and it had been stlccessfully running for ten years. I t mras k n o ~ v n as Park's Old Field School, and was first organizecl, taught, ancl financed by Judge Frank Park, himself, who was a t that time Congressman from this district.

C o ~ y i n g from reports made to Congress, printed in l>ulletin form under title of "Park's Old Field Scl~ool," is given the following from Hon. Franklin K. Lane, Secretary of the Interior:

"The Old Field School of LVort11 County, its founder Frank Park , a meml~er of Congress from Georgia, was begun in 1906, when he was judge of the superior court of the Albany Judicial Circuit. I t has a picturesclue history. I t is in reality a hotneless school, where TVel>ster's l ~ l u e back speller is the princi1)al text book ancl where sex and age lose their perspec- tive as they fuse into the desire and t l~ i r s t for knowledge. Higher education there is an unlit~oivn cluantity, because xvl~ere an individual of 67 is l ~ u s y mastet-itlg the intricacies of A. B. C.-side by side n-it11 a chile1 of 10 years, higher ecluca- tion loses i ts importance in favor of elemental education. The school tern1 begins as soon as c ro l~s are laid 11~- and ends nrhen the students must return to harvest the~n."

"Out of his salary Judge Park paid expenses, l ~ o u g h t I~ooks, paid teachers, a l thougl~ the first year he taught the scl~ool himself.



101 HISTOR\- OF IVORTH COUKTY, GEORGIA

"The school in IVorth Coullty shows that it is possible to bring help to illiterate IIICII and women even in the most diffi- cult and ad\.erse circumstances. This school sholvs that the scl~ool can succeetl n,hetl~er the pul~ils be few or n-hether they run into l~undi-eds. I t sho~vs that the spirit of seeking kno\vl- edge is l~ara i i~ount regardless of age and ses."

The best report of the school in this bulletin was I)\- i\4iss Edna Cain. ~ v h o visitecl the school and made the report t o the Georgia Educatiotlal ;\ssociation. This report was printed in the JIacon Telegraph ailcl given to Congress by Hon. Dudley 11. Hughes, of Georgia.

Below is given escerpts from her report made ill 1916: "Judge Franlt Park seeills to be the only man in Georgia

T V ~ O has hit upon the simple plan of estal~lishing a school and paying for it himself, 1:-hile ~vai t ing for the state to organize its educatioilal forces, so that no nlail need be unlettered and no child turnecl away from the door of opportunity l~ecause i t lacks trained and alert faculties.

''Tllis Old Field Scllool 11-as prinlarily meant for adults who had never had the opportunity of going t o school, but i t becanle an opportunitj- scl~ool for those young Inen ~ v h o had to work ciuring the regular term of public schools and the children above 12 years of age who would like to add another i l l~ i l th t o the short countj- term. It often reached the lzundred mark, and sometimes as man!- as three teachers were employed. The pupils of regulal- school age nrei-e taught in sep- arate rooms or classes froill the older ones. This school con- tintzed until the TTTorld IYai- catile on. Then Judge Park hired one of the county teachers t o give all her time to hunting 1111 illiterates or those nillo had little opportunitj- and n-ere adults, and secured the services of the teachers in the resl~ecti\-e corn- illuilities to teach n ig l~ t schools. Some -\voi-k of this kind has l~een doile in the county ever since. George I. 3Iartit1, principal of the high school in Sj-ll-ester, who also has charge of the vocational work, has a night school allout two iligllts each n-eek co~nposecl of fai-mers ~ v l ~ o stud)- agriculture and do some xvork alollg school lines."

Report of Jl iss Edna Gain to the Georgia Edttcational Asso- ciation.

How the School Began

Frank Park was Judge of the City Court of Wor th County



H I S T O R Y O F \VORTH COL'KTY, GEORGIA 105

1~11en the idea of establishing this school first occurred to him. Before him came all sorts of people, many of them in trouble of some kind. H e knew practically everybody in J$70rth Coun- t)- 1))- name ; he knew their family histories ancl the handicaps nlanj- of then1 ivorked under on out-of-the-n-a)- farms. H e looketl back of the evidence of legal cases to the causes and l~eginnings, and clealt lvith the people, not in the law's cold fornlulas altogether, but in terills of human understanding. In many of the adults who came before him he saw not stupid or vicious men, but rather a generation which had g ro~vn up just after the W a r Uetnreen tlie States ancl in those poverty- sti-icken and troubled times in the South which had not had opportunities for education.

H e got into the ha l~ i t of asking then1 if they could read and write, and in the cases of those who lzad apparently had little opportunity, penalties imposed were made as light as possible. youth con\-icted in his court of soltle minor offense was asked the usual question, and when he saicl he c ~ u l d not read, Judge Park saicl: "I will suspend sentence against you if you ~v i l l come to my house and let me teach you." The boy presented himself that evening, ancl there began his complete reclamation. Out of this sost of thing the school just developed logically.

Judge Park saw the great need of it , and ~vllen the idea had 1-i~ened in his co~~sc ious i~ess he anno~it~cerl one clay that he n-ould coi~cluct a fsee school for one month a t the Wor th County c o u r t h o ~ ~ s e for evel-yboclj- nrho nranted to coille to it, just as if gathering in the counti-y-side for tutelage nras nothing unusual in the routine of a busy professional man. 01-er 50 l~upils presented themselves on opening day. L4mong them \\.as a Confederate Veteran ~ v h o learned t o read and write at the age of 61. AIothers ancl fathers, and even grandparents, canle to the school, and a t this first term, 21 persons learned to read and write.

I t was el-ident from the l>eginning that the school was popular with the people and nras doing a real definite gootl. Judge Park taught the scl~ool l~imself a t the co~~r thouse for several summers, and later, aftel- he was elected to Congress, when his increasiilg duties made i t impossil~le for hi111 to give the time to it, 11e emplo!-ed some of the best of the county teach-



106 HISTORJ- O F MJORTH COUSTY, GEORGIA

ers, paying their salaries and I)u~-ing the supl~lies for the school out of his o ~ v n purse.

In reslIonse to a ~ 0 1 ) ~ l a r demand, the school n-as moved fro111 the courthouse out to the countrj- districts. Each year after the crops are laid 1))- it is conducted for one month a t one of the school houses, preferal~l>- in a remote comt~~utl i ty, ivhere the school has not flourished as it should. I t has l~een found that the school stilnulates cotnmunity pride and the regular school l~egins t o improve and is better attended after a session of the "Old Field School," due to increased interest of the older tnem1)ers of the comtllunity it1 education.

The Blue Back Speller Used I spent one clq- a t the "Olcl Field School" during the last

session, and I recottlinend a similar visit 11y anyone who may have an idea that a school of this kind is a dull. 1)eliincl-the- cloor, sort of place of ~ v l ~ i c l ~ the cotllnlunity is not exactly proud. I t was one of the hal>l>iest schools I eyer saw. 'The day was hot and the ride long and dusty, and the school hoase was a little gray l~uilding wit11 pine woods ancl fields arouild it over which the heat n-aves shiin~l~erecl.

Judge Franlc Park was hearing the morning spellin,g lesson when I arrived; it was not a ~vri t ten lesson, if yo11 please, according to tnodern pedagogy; it was the kind of s ~ e l l i n g lesson that goes with the "old oaken l~ucket that hung in the xvell" days, when we all stood arouncl the room in a long line and the teacher gave out the words.

You have guessed by this time that Judge Pask was using LVebster's 11lue-back speller for that class. It nras a large class standing up all around the room, all sizes and ages of 11oys and girls ancl grown folks. At this tern1 of the school 167 pupils \xJere enrolled and the sen-ices of three of the county teachers urere engaged. Wit11 the teachers setting the example, the ulliforln adopted for the school nras blue o\-eralls and gingham dresses. The school room woulcl not hold the studellts and out in front a l ~ r u s h a r l~o r had 11een built to acconimodate the overflow.

Practical Education Here All the lesso~ls i t 1 mental aritl~tnetic dealt wit11 the prac-

tical every-day ~>rol)lems of farm work, the mat-keting of pro- duce, estimating the amount of t iml~er in a tree 01- the cost



HISTORY OF WORTH COUSTY, GEORGIA 107

of cutting a drainage clitch. Go\-ernment l~ulletins selected 11y Judge Park with a view to the needs of his pupils were anlong the text books and the peol~le l~ecaine acquaitltecl with the practical value of these bulletins and learned h o ~ v to secure others they may need. One day in each week a t the "Old Field School" is devoted entirely to fartn-demonstration work, and one o r more of the field agents in the employ of the Gov- ernment come to give lectures on tick eradication, seed se- lection, ancl similar sul~jects in their propaganda of scientific farming.

SUMNER SCHOOL-ITS EARLY HISTORY

Among the most distinguished early educators of Wor th County was Prof. John Brantley. He came to Wor th County fronl Ha~vkinsville, and first taught a t T y Ty, about 1880, later beco~ning Superintendeilt of the S u ~ n n e r School. So outstanding was his work at this place that the school attracted students fro111 different sections of South Georgia, and i t became uecessary to erect a more adequate building. 111 1882 a large two stol-y building was completed, which contained a large au(litorium, class rooms, music department, and an aparttnent for the superintendent's family. The upper story was divided into rootns and used to accommodate the l~oarding students attending the school, and who lived in the school l~uilcling under the supervision of the sul>erintendent ancl his family.

The largest c o n t ~ - i l ~ ~ t o r s t o the building of the Sumner School were A. J. and C. A. Alford, who were resicleilts of Sumner and extensive sawmill and turpentine operators.

Many of Mr. IJrantley's students living in the county a t this time (1933) hear testimolly to the efficiency and thorough- ness of the educational ~ v o r k clone by this nlasterful teacher, among them being R4rs. I;. B. Pickett, of T y T y ; Mrs. \V. R. Johnston, of Sj-lvester; Rliss Alice Tipton, of S\rlvester, and her l~rothers, J . H. and J. L. Tipton. T h e course of study plannetl ancl follo\ved under his instruction was equal to an academic course. T h e thorough instruction given by him ancl the high principles instilled in his pupils continue to be of lasting benefit to t l~em.

Other stiperintendents of the Sumner Scl-~ool in the early



108 HISTORY OF WORTH COUNTY, GEORGIA

days were Professors LVitherspoon, H. A. Smilie. A. B. Greene, L. D. Passmore, J. \ti. Edtnonson, Charles E. Grubbs, Clifford Grubbs, Walter Sumner.

The large wooden structure was burned about 1895, and was replaced with another commodious structure. At the present time (1934) it has a modern brick school building, well equipped in every way, and is one of the best accredited High Schools in South Georgia. Eonds were floated for $27,- 000 to build this splenclid school. I t is on a six-acre lot and two building lots across the street from the school on which a home for teachers was Built. $26,250 was used for the school and $750 for the home, I t has since built a fine shell. It has a Home Economic and Agriculture department. It has eleven teachers with Superintendent John Etherage, a son of Worth County at the head in this year, 1934.



CHAP'I'EK XI1

SOME EDUCATORS WALTER R. SUMNER

Colonel Walter R. Sumner, County School Superintendent, was l~o rn in LVorth County April 13th, 1881. H e was the son of hlarion and Mary Jane Sumner. He graduated in the high school class of 1903 a t Norman Park, that l~eing the first high school term at that institution and was the only boy in the class. After teaching one year he entered Mercer University in 1.904 and graduated there in 1908. The next year he taught. at ~Vaynesboro and the next two years at Sumner.

He was elected County School Superintendent of Worth County, going into office in 1911, which position he held from that time until his death June 21st, 1931, with the exception of two years.

MALCHUS COBB OWEN

Malchus Cobb Owen was born Feh. 22, 1891, in Canton, Cherokee County, Georgia, youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. S. C. Owen.

His early life was spent on the Cherokee County farm. In 1905 he moved to Sycamore, Turner County, Ga., where he finished the common schools of that County, later attending the A. Sr M. School at Tifton, Ga., where his high school education was completed in 1914. Upon graduation, he was elected Farm Superintendent of that school for two years. After completing one year a t the University of Georgia, he entered the United States Army Dec. 23, 1917, as a prilrate. I n July, 1918, he was corn~nissioned Second Lieutenant and served over-seas twelve months. H e was honorably discharged a t Camp Gordon, Ga., August 15, 1919.

H e was married to Jessie Irene Hardy, of Sycamore, Ga., Atlgust 3, 1321. They have t ~ v o children, one girl, Miriam O~ven, born Sept. 17, 1923, and one boy, Gerald Hardy Owen, born Junc 26, 1932.



110 HISTORY O F W O R T H COUKTY, GEORGIA

He Tvas teacher ant1 athletic coach a t A. & h4. School, Tifton, Ga., fronl September, 1919, until June, 1925. In 1926 he received his U.S.A. degree from the University of Georgia, and served as Superintendent of Sunlnler School, Worth County, Ga., fro111 Septeinher, 1926, until July 11, 1931, a t whicll time he \\-as appointecl IVorth County Sul>erintendent to fill the unexpired term of IIon. LV. R. Sumner, deceaserl. On N'Iarch 8, 1932, he was no~ninated for another term as 1Vortl1 County School Superintendent.

He has been a member of the Raptist ch~~rches a t Tifton, St~tnner, and Sylvester, for ten years.

J. 0. MANGHAM

When we begin to think of the early educators of our county, our minds revert to one ~ v h o m a good many of our best citizens remember not only as their instructor, but as their benefactor.

IVe refer to J. 0. Mangham. Althougl~ Mr. Mangham u7as not born in this county, I cloubt if we have ever had a teacher among us who was lmore generally loved and honored than was he.

Atnong our o\vn county people 1~110 still love and revere his memory, you will find Dr. W. C. Tipton, Mr. John Tipton, Col. R. S. Foy, Col. TY. C. Forehand, Dr. Gordon Sumner, of Poulan, Miss Alice Tipton, IJrs. J. N. Sumner, and illany others.

Mr. i\iIangham \vas not only one of the 1)est teachers of his day, but l ~ e was of the highest order of Christian gentleman, ant1 all of those who were ever uilcler his super\~ision, feel that they are better inen and n-omen 11). having conle under the illfluence of his Christian character.

Mr. filanghatn, the only so11 of H. H. ancl Elizal~eth Man- ghan~, was born July 31, 1838, in what is now Taylor County, but at that time Talbot County. On the 10th of November, 1859, he was n~arl-ied to Miss Winifred Eclnrards, daughter of LV. P. and Ann Etln-ards, also of Talbot County. H e entered the teaching profession in the early years of his manhood, and in 1876 or '78 he nras elected Couilty Scl~ool Com- ~nissioner, as it was then called, of Taylor County, ~\rhich position he helcl until 1896. During the titme that he \\?as County



HISTORY O F WORTH COUXTY, GEORGIA 111

School Conlmissioner of Talrloi- County he also taught, and now, ailloilg sollle of the leading teachers of tha t county, will I)e fouild his old pupils.

111 1897 he canle to W o r t h Cou i~ tv and for several vears

ing ; anlong the

that time fort he

: teacl .ncted

d

less of Southwest Georgia. Dur-

se\.eral I n s t i t ~ ~ t c s of n ~veek 's tluration in this and ar!join- A ing counties.

I n 1906 Mr. JY. E. ;\Ter- , A

ritt , \\-I10 was a t that t ime Sta te School Sal>erinte~?clent, 1

then living, t o ask if he I\-oulc accept the l)osition of count^ School Commissioner of C-~ in clen County a s the Commis- sioiles of tha t Couilty had resigt~ecl. and the Coutlty Schcol Uoarcl felt that they , (lit1 not have a Inan in the county, \vho, the)- consicleretl, was cotul>etent to fill the place. Mr. b4angham saicl he ~vou ld accept the place if PROF. J. 0. II.I\NGHALI the Boartl shoultl see 1;t to al>l)oint him. \\-hich it clicl. ant1 I\-e l~elieve tha t he i b the onl\- man in the state n-110 \\.ah ever al)l)oi~itetl to s t ~ c ! ~ a lmsition without elver ha\ ing l~een in the much less ever having li\-etl in it.

O n Ma!. 1st. 1911, while eni-outc from St. Ma]-ys. Camtlen Countj-, to J7altlosta to attend a con\.ention of the Couilty School Commissioners of Georgia, he died a t the home of his !-oungest son. J. 0. hIangham, Jr., \\-I10 then lived in Jackson- ville, Fla.

A4r. AIangl~am left five chilclren: three sons, Dr . J. E. Man- gham, of Reynolcls, Ga., who died in 19-37; C. A. NIanghain of Jackson\~ille; J. 0. Rlailgham of Taml>a, and t\\.o daughters, Miss Claucle Mangham, and Mrs. E. J. IVilliams, 110th of \vIlorn live in Sylvester. Mrs. \Villiams has bee11 a teacher of English



112 HISTORY OF W O R T H COUKTY, GEORGIA

and Arithmetic in McPhaul Institute for the past ten or eleven years.

MRS. LIZZIE MANGHAM WILLIAMS

The nlantle of the great old educator, Prof. J. 0. Mangham, fell upon the shoulders of his third daughter, Mrs. Lizzie (hlangham) Williams. She is a teacher that all children like, she exacts much, but her pupils respond with pleasurable activities. She has a personality that radiates happiness and opti- mism. Her friendship is prized by all who come within the com- pass of her genial influence.

She was born in Taylor County, Georgia. She \vas reared in Butler and Reynolds. She received her elementary and high school education under the tutelage of her father at Rey- nolcls. He r higher education was received a t Athens and other summer schools. She began her teaching career at an early age in the to\vn of Poulan.

In 1906 her father was made County School Superinten- dent of Camden C o ~ ~ n t y , Georgia. She moved with her father to St. Mary's and was electecl to teach in St. Mary's High School in that year.

Soon after this Elzie J. ~.Villiams, of Worth, an old pupil of J. 0. Mangham's, was given a school in Camclen County. I t was while teaching in this county in 1908, that he married Miss Lizzie Mangham.

This couple lived all their marriecl lives in St. Mary's. T o this union was born four children, Mary Winnifrecl (Mrs. Carl Glass), Jack, Ed. and Mangham.

Mrs. IVillian~s was teaching in St. Mary's when her hus- bancl diecl on June 20, 1920.

I n 1921 she, with her children and sister, Miss Claude Man- gham, v7ho has been a mother to her, as her mother cliecl when she lvas quite young, moved to Sylvester, where she has been engaged in teaching Eilglish and Arithmetic through Junior High School in hlcl'haul Institute ever since.

'

MISS ANNIE MAE MELTON

Miss Annie Mae Melton, teacher of piano in McPhaul Institute, has high standards of achievement which her pupils must reach, and a well systematized course of study in music



HISTORY O F WORTH COUNTY, GEORGIA 113

that she requires in her classes. She has many extra courses other than piano that she gives, that are very educational. Her Rhythm Band of grammar school children is a marvel of training in rhythm. They have broadcasted programs over radio and received inany messages of praise for same. She has a h4ozart Music Club for the study of the history of music taken from the grammar school pupils in music.

Miss Melton was born in Dan-son, Georgia. Her parents are Roger Lawson Rlelton and wife Augusta Ann (Hearn) Rllel- ton. Received her college education at the Southern Female College, La Grange Georgia. She has clone suillnler work in the study of music, in Brenau, Gainesville, Georgia, New York Conservatory, also work with Miss Kinskella of the Univer- sity of Nebraska. She has been teacher of music in hIcPhaul a t two different times first in 1915-1918. Returning in 1927 to date 1934.

EUGENE ATTAWAY, SUPERINTENDENT

Eugene Attaway was born March 22, 1895, at Wrightsville, Ga., and grew up on a farm. He attended a one-teacher school; later a two-teacher school, and graduated a t Wrightsville High School in 1913. In 1916, he graduated from Emory University and taught two years in Manchester and Molena. In May, 1918, he enlisted in the United States Navy and was discharged Feb- ruary 13, 1919. In March of the same year, he entered the University of Georgia, graduating it1 June, 1920, with B.S. Agricultural degree. In 1920-22, he taught Agriculture a t Sale City; taught Mathematics a t Albany High School, 1922- '23 ; Superintendent of Camilla Public Schools, 1923-'26 ; Sup- erintendent of Schools at Pavo, 1926-'28, and Superintendent of Sylvester School from 1925 to date, 1931.

He was married to Miss Morti~ner Schley, of Columbus, Ga., Dec. 28th, 1924.

Professor Attaway is a superintendent of unbiased fairness in dealing with the prohlems of school life. He is a man of progressive ideas in education and has the courage and energy to convert them into facts and makes practical application of the methods of this new era in the welfare of the child. He looks after the physical child and believes that this is largely responsible for its mental welfare. He has skilled oculist to hold eye clinics, has all children examined for hook-



WORTH COUNTY BOARD O F EDUCATION See Legend opposite page



H I S T O R Y O F LVORTH COUKTY, GEORGIA 115

worm and, where needed, treatment is providecl. He also has dental and tubercular clinics in his school. H e goes out after the unfortunate child and through material aid, often from his own purse, puts these children in school. He believes in wiping out illiteracy in the youth of our land.

He is quick to discern the right and firin in his judgments. H e is impartial ancl honest in his dealings ~vi th student or faculty.

He is a moving spirit as a Legionaire, Kiwanian, or in any civic or church work.

Mrs. Eugene Attaway is the daughter of William Kirkley Schley and wife, Annie E. (Jones) Schley, of Colun~bus, Ga. Her father owned a home and farm where Fort Benning is now. He sold it to the Government when the site was chosen for the fort and moved into Colun~bus. Mrs. L4tta~vay is descended from Col. Vivian Brooking, of Virginia, who assisted in estal~lishing American Independence while acting in the Revolutionary War. From Coloilial days t l~rough America's history, Mrs. Attaway's people have given distinguished service. Letters from Col. Brooking to Thomas Jefferson are founcl ill Virginia's State Papers.

Mrs. -4ttaway was educated a t Columbus, Georgia State College for Women a t Milleclgeville, and a t Uiliversity of Georgia at Athens, Ga.

Mrs. Attaway is deeply interested, and is an earnest worker, in her church, is President of the Legion Auxiliary; is Treas- urer oE the P.-T.A., and is a member of the Woman's Club. Mr. and Mrs. Attaway are members of the klissionary Eap- tist Church. They are Democrats in politics.

GEORGE I. MARTIN Southern Master Teacher of Vocational Agriculture

George I. Martin, teacher of Vocational ilgriculture and Principal of the McPhaul Institute, Sylvester, Georgia, was selected Master Vocational Agricultural teacher of the South, March the Sth, 1932, by the Federal Eoard of Vocatiol~al Edu- cation, Washington, D. C.

Legend for c u t on opposite page Top row left to right: M. C. Owen, Coullty Superintendent; C. H.

.Strangtvard, Chairnlan of Board; G. M. Green. Center C. A. Thomp- son. Bottom row: IV. W. Tison and I. J. Hancock.




There were 1,600 teachers in twelve Southern states partici- pating in the Master Teacher Contest. They were ju<lged upon their accomplishments. Some of the points and items considered were as follo~vs:

Number of people reached in orgailized instruction, types of instruction carried on, preparation for inethods of instruction, knowledge of community, plan of work based on com- illunity needs, physical teaching equipment, farming program of pupils stuclyiilg vocational agriculture, con~munity group leadership activities, etc.

In the scholastic year of 1930-'31 there were 69 boys in Sylvester High School agricultural classes. These partici- pated in contests of corn, cotton, county improvement, Future Farmer public speaking, grain judging, livestock judging, poultry judging, etc. These boys made excellent records, standing at and near the top in these contests.

Mr. Martin organized an active Future Farmers of America Chapter, which is a national organization of boys studying vocational agriculture. These boys have savings and procluc- tive investments of $1,157.50 made from their farming opera- tions.

Records show that Mr. Martin reached 174 persoris in organized classes during the school year 1930-'31. Of this number 105 were adult farmers enrolled in evening classes in the. Red Rock and Minton communities. Here farm problems were discussed and Mr. Martin furnished valuable information for their solution.

There are 104 farmers in Worth County who were former agriculture stltdents ~ui~der the supervision of Mr. Martin and are making excellent progress.

In addition to this work Mr. Martin has sponsored regular car-lot co-operative sales of poultry and hogs a t Sylvester. He has introduced pure bred hogs, poultry, cows, and other movements for the benefit of agriculture and the county.

The exhibits of the records of the work done by hilr. Martin and boys under his instruction show that he wrote nlore than 800 column inches of newspaper material which was published by local and state papers. These articles dealt \vitl~ farm a n d vocational agricultural prol~lems.

Many denlonstrations are being carried on in the county under the direction of Mr. hIartin; winter legumes as soil



HISTORY OF WORTH COUNTY, GEORGIA 117

builders, fertilizer and variety demonstrations, a forestry pro- ject of t e i ~ acres of land in cooperation with the Georgia Forestry Service. H e was instrumental in having a soil survey made of Worth County and also in organizing a pure seed association.

Besides being selected Master Teacher of the South, Mr. Martin was selected Master Teacher of the State of Georgia during 1930-'31 for which he was awarded $100 by the Chilean Nitrate of Soda Educational Bureau. Mr. Martin has served as President of the State Vocational Agriculture Teachers Associatioiz and also the Southwest Georgia District Associa- tion.

Mr. Martin is a deacon in the Sylvester Baptist Church and assistant Superintendent of the Sunday School. H e has taken an active part in church affairs and religious activities during his twelve years in Sylvester.

Mr. Martin was born in Clark County, near Quitman, in the state of Mississippi, being the son of Mr. and Mrs. George W. Martin. While still a young nlan he moved with his parents t o a farm in Lauderdale County near Meridian, Mississippi, where he grew up. He was graduated from the Mississippi A. & M. College in 1920 and came directly to Sylvester as teacher of Vocational Agriculture. In April 1922 he was married to Miss Dallas Mae Houston, eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. N. G. Houston, of Sylvester. Mr. and Mrs. Martin are blessed with three children, Mary Sue, 8; George I. Jr., 3, and Dallas Jan, born Jan. 1932.

In June of 1934, because of the able and successful work of Mr. Martin as teacher of Vocational Agriculture, he was given promotion in his work to Assistant Supervisor of Xg- ricultural Education in Georgia. The territory over which Mr. Martin will work includes the southern part of the state, em- bracing seventy-five counties. I n this new work he will super- vise all teachers of Vocational Agriculture named in the a!;ove territory.

ALICE DELANEY TIPTON

Alice Delaney, eldest daughter of Charles G. and Sarah (Ridley) Tipton, was born in Isabella, Georgia, February 12, 1875.

She received her education from the public schools in Isa-



118 HISTORY OF WORTH COUXTY, GEORGIA

bella, Sumner, and Sylvester, Georgia, completing the equiv- alent of a h i g l ~ school course at Sylvester in 1897. She spent six years teaching in the rural schools of Worth County and in 1903 she began teaching in McPhaul Institute at Sylvester and taught in the various departments for more than twenty- five years, where she is a t present teaching the fifth grade.

Her work has l~een one of lo\-e and her ambition the ful- fillment of her ideals in those whom she taught. I t has ever been to her a supreme happiness to see the rounding out of the beautiful characters she was so instrumental in moulding. Throughout her teaching career, efficiency has been her supreme effort and she kept herself well equipped by frequently attending the University of Georgia Summer Schools a t Athens, Georgia.

Education, in her eyes, meant mental, moral, and physical development of the child, and she spares no pains to attain these high aims. Her zeal, devotion, and enthusiasm found a ready response in the impressionable minds of the young, with the result that her pupils leave her for the more advanced grades possessed with firm and enduring foundations upon which the higher fabrics of their educations will securely rest.

Notwithstanding her time being largely engaged with many duties, she was always actively identified with all movements which stand for religious, moral, and civic betterment. Always full of confidence in the victory of good over evil; huoyant and optimistic in temperament; possessing a quaint. kindly humor. She is a rare companion as well as a kindly guide, coun- sellor, and friend. Froill the first, her accomplishments and Christian example established her in the love and respect of the people.

She is a metnl~er of the First Baptist Church of Sylvester and an active worker in the Sylvester Woman's Club, Parent- Teacher Association, and is a t present Superintendent of the Intermediate Department of the Sylvester Baptist Sunday School. She is also affiliated with the Order of Eastern Star.



RELIGION

PRIMITIVE BAPTIST CHURCHES

The first churches of this sectiotl of the state were Priinitive Baptist. Old China Grove Church, Mt. Pisgah, Rocky Creek, Zion Hope, and Providence are the old line Primitive Baptists.

Mt. Pisgah was probably organized before, but the last constitution was in 1858. Providence was organized in 1860. Old China Grove Church house is still used by the negro Primitive Baptists. The white membership moved and built the Moun- tain Spring Church near Mrs. Liza Dunn's place. This building is still standing, but not in use.

The Primitive ministers of this faith in Wort11 County are S. W. Cox ancl T . A. Bozeman.

The Progressive Prinlitive Baptist Church is Ephest~s Church in the Stewart settlement north of Sumtler.

MT. PISGAH

Mt. Pisgall was probably organized before, but it was constituted the last time in 1858. Some of those in the constitution were George Truluck, James K. Land, Rebecca Land, daughter of Gecrge Truluck, and Mr. and Mrs. King Chestnutt.

The rnetnbersl~ip now is eighty-three. T~venty-six of these were baptized in 1932. Elder S. \V. Cox of IVortll County is the present pastor.

PROVIDENCE CHURCH

Pro~iclence Church is one of the Old Line Priinitive churches. I t was constituted on Aug. 20tl1, 1860, a t a large spring under some large hickoiy trees near a school l~ouse. For a while this school house was used for svorship.

Those who were it1 the constitutioil were Samuel Castle- berry, Pearsotl Brou~n, James Giddens, Jo1111 \Villiams, Sisters Elizabeth I'earson and Mary Williams, wit11 Elders Henry C.



120 HISTORY OF WORTH COUKTY, GEORGIA

Tucker and 1t7arren Dykes as Presbytery. On Sept. 7, 1860 Elder 1Varren Dykes was called to serve the church. June 9, 1862 Elder P. G. Everitt was called to serve the church. The follonring pastors served through the years: Elder W. W. Woodall was called Fel). 8, 1868. Elder Ji. E. Pittman was called March 14. 1874. Elder W. P. Hall was called Sept. 25, 1909. Elder L. E. Pierce was called Oct. 14, 1911. Elder IV. M. Holcomb was called Sept. 19, 1918. Elrler L. E. Pierce was called Sept. 15, 1923. Elder T. A. Bozeman was called August 14, 1926.

Some of the old people buried in the church yard are Mrs. Nancy Giddens, Mrs. Green Forcl, Mr. Jesse Turner. Some of the old settlers were Aultman, Sikes, Dyltes, McDonald, Gay, Powell, Houston and Sumner families. This is the burying ground for many of these families.

PROVIDENCE CHURCH CEMETERY

1. J. M. Turner, born Nov. 14, 1819, died Aug. 26, 1895. 2. Mrs. G. G. Ford, born April 10, 1849, died May 10, 1890. 3. Mr. G. G. Ford, born Jan. 14, 1843, died Aug. 5 , 1916 4. Eli Sikes, born Jan. 31, 1818, died Jan. 30, 1895. 5. Mrs. Eli Sikes, born March 17, 1824, died May 23, 1903. 6. B. T. Sikes, born April 10, 1845, died Mar. 28, 1916. 7. Elizabeth Davis, born July 20, 1835, died Apr. 25, 1862. 8. Mrs. Jimmie Nipper, born 1800, died 1863. 9. Eld. Warren Dykes, died 1862. Allen H. Dykes, born Sept.

25, 1829, died Nov. 15, 1862. 10. Mrs. Nancy Houston, born Feb. 11, -?

T H E CHURCH OF EPHESUS

A Progressive Primitive Baptist Church The Church of Ephesus is a Progressive Primitive Baptist

Church, built about four miles north of Sumner in November, 1902, ivith eight members constituting it. I t is in what is known as the Stewart settlement.

The following ministers have served this church: Elclers J. T . Gardner, Isaac P. Porter, T. J. Head, R. H. Jennings and G. D. Todd.

The deacons have been as follows: C. A. Thompson, Peter




Stewart, Kenneth Stewart, hlurray Gardner, H. Bartly Stew- ar t and Kenneth R. Steu~art .

The present membership numbers seventy-three. The Chtlrch was built by John Farmer and Ward.

AT OLD CHINA GROVE By John L. Herring

"HnrK! from the tolnbs a doleful souncl; A4ine ears nttencl the cry."

The preacher closed his Bible, picked up his hymn-book ancl lined out the first of the old, familiar soi~g.

The congregation rose. An elder, an aged patriarch, raised the tune; one by one the inen joined in. From across the aisles a female voice took up the air; gradually the song grew in volume, until

/ I Ye living nzen, cotrte aie.w the ground W h e r e you ?nust shortly lie."

rolled out in a wave of song from the log church, through the oaks surrounding, across pine ailcl wiregrass covered hill and vale.

The church stood on the crest of a hill, commandiilg a view of the beautiful, almost primeval, country surrounding. T o the east meandered a small stream towards the Gulf; its waters alive wit11 fish; along its borders one of the finest deer ranges this country knew; the stream taking its i~ame from the nleinory of an Indian warrior killed on its banks. Sur- roundiilg the church was a grove of oaks, and around this, miles of unbroken forest.

The church had ljeei~ b~zilt of pine logs, cut to make room for the building, peeled of their bark, notched and set into place hy hands ready in the service of the Lord. The roof was of sl~ingles split from pine block and drawn, one a t a time, by hand ~ v i t h a drawing knife. Even the pulpit, framed of sinall hewn logs, was built of ljoards split with a frow from the pine. The benches were of logs, split and hewn, and fitted with legs driven into auger-holes.

I t did not require motley to build a church in those days,



122 HISTORY OF WORTH COUXTY, GEORGIA

but a vast amonnt of labor. Material was free and the work was by many ready hands. so after all the task nras not so great. The result was as substantial and time-defying as the sturdy yeomanry ancl their religion.

"Hardshells" we called them-Primitive Baptists now, bu t the name represented that which was solid and lasting; rugged perhaps but true as tried steel, a religion which noble men lived by and died l ~ y .

The song they were singing was like them-nothing friv- olous, nothing temporary, but solemn ancl earnest; hringing thoughts of God, also of the certainty of death and the vast- ness of eternity. There \Irere few revivals then; none among these people; the evangelist was unknown. But there was a staying quality about their religion that inspired one with the confidence that the mariner must feel in the Rock of Ages.

The ordinance of l~aptism had been administered that morning. The convert was a young matron, and she gave her hand to the preacher ancl her life to God amidst a solemn stillness that impressed and glorified.

She was baptized where the road (a three-path trail) crossed the stream. Her head ban-ed in humility, but fearlessly, she had walked through the water until she hacl reached the preacher's hancl ancl the sacred pleclge of faith was taken. Loving hands hacl built of poles and sheets a dressing-room, and after her clothing was changed the crowd climbed the hill to the cht~rch, which was filled. (This young matron was Mrs. Joseph L. Sumner, nee Josephine Thornhill).

Then to the new member was extended the right hand of fellowship, and to the outsiclers the event of the clay was a t hancl. On two opposite benches the nlale rneiml~ers faced. Across the house, on tnro more l~enches also opposite, the female members grouped. It was the obser~ance of foot-~vash- ing, the sacred custom peculiar to that church; a tes t imo~~ial of their humility, e\.en as their Master was hum1)Ie. Then the sermon came.

The preacher hacl a wonderful gift. He was a man ~ v h o worked for six days of the week on his farm, but he had time for meditation, and on the Sahl~ath it was good to hear him. His sermon stirred the great cro.\vd, ancl the moment was a tense one when the solemn hyinn was raised.

There were few tears, but many faces were clra~vn with




emotion. I t was a red-letter day- with a people who were as the salt of the earth. In the congregation were inany of the inen n:ho l~u i l t South Georgia.

METHODISM I N W O R T H COUNTY

Col. \V. S. Sumner, kindly furnished the followiilg information as to Methodism in the eastern part of the county:

About 1840 Rev. William Cleme~lts, a Methodist preacher, settled one mile northeast of the present town of Sumner on the only three-path road in that conlinunity and as pioileers usually did, a t once set out to provide a place of worship. Th is "Man of God" with the help of the Sumner, Willis, Gibbs, and other families erected a house of round logs with puncheon floor, cracks stopped with l,oards, and benches of split logs l~e\\rn smooth 011 top side with rouncl pegs for legs.

:\I1 of this was done n~ i thou t the use of a sa~vtnill, as there were none there a t that time.

This church served as a school house. I t was perhaps the first hIet11oclist church in IVoi-tll County and served as church and school hotise until 1882, ~ ~ r l ~ e n the R'letl~odist church in Surnner was built.

The site of this old Clenlents Chapel is where (Black) Henry Lands' house now stands. TJncle Billy Cleme~lts was a zealous, hartl-working local 111-eacher, and served every conltnunity possible as long as he livccl.

He l)reacherl in ail oak gro\-e for some time before the present Clements Chapel on Daniel's Creek was 11uilt about 1891. This church is nonr in Turner County. Puckett's Chapel, Ilcar Parkerville, \\-as I>uilt al~ottt 11371, ancl was nanletl it1 Honor of Rev. hlr . Puckett who preached there a t that time. This meml)ersl~il> has l>een movecl t o Bridgeboro.

Mrs. Eliza J. Sumner has furnishetl nluch of this information. She says she heard MI-. Puckett's first sei-IIIOII in MJorth County, 1869, in the co~trthouse at Isabella. She says: "It was a rare thing t o have l~reaching in that village a t that time, so it was generally given out, and nearly e\reryl~ody turned out, only the old whiskey sots remained do\srn stairs."

Rev. Puckett taught school near Parkerville and probal~ly taught in the churcl~.

She also states that Rev. Summerfield Tucker ran a nleeting



124 HISTORY O F WORTH COUNTY, GEORGIA

under a bush arbor a t Puckett's Chapel in 1874. Our friend and enthusiastic historian, Col. Suinner, bears names of these two distinguished pioneer men of God, IVilliam (Clements) Sunlmerfield (Tucker) ancl Ive think their mantles as well, fell upon his worthy shoulders.

As characteristic of those early days, we must relate a little story of their humor and custom : Aunt Lucindy, Uncle Billy's wife, seems to have been a veritable Xantippe. and Uncle Billy was forced to chastise her now and then. H e was "up in church" on one occasion. H e pleaded guilty. Aunt Lucindy was asked to testify. She told the "court" that she just got so mean sometimes that she cot~ldn't behave till he whipped her. He just had to whip me. I needed it." Case was dis- missed.

Sunlner maintains a strong and prosperous place on its circuit.

Mr. J. C. Sumner (Uncle Jack), George W. Sumner, and Joseph M. Stlmner were heads of large and well grounded Methodist families, making Sumner one of the earliest strong- holds for this denomination in the Su~nner vicinity. T h e Garretts and Trammells ancl others added to their strength.

We have not learned just how far back Methodist circuit riders began to travel the rough ancl untried roads and trails of this part of Worth County-bttt we do know that in 1893 and '91 Rev. E. L. Padrick was serving on an east and west line of churches and preaching places from Tp Ty through Sum- ner, Poulan, Sylvester, Isabella to Wesley Chapel i~iclusive. The Sumner circuit has consisted of the churches a t Shingler, Poulan, Sumner, and T y Ty for several years, and T y Ty, now in Tift, has been a stronghold for many years.

The Poulan Church was built in 1895. Poulan church site was given by Mrs. N. B. Ousley, widow of Rev. N. B. Ousley and mother of Mrs. T. L. Ketchens of Sylvester. Rev. Mr. Ousley organized the Poulan Sunday School long l~efore the present building was erected. Rev. Mr. Ousley and family, the \V. S. Sumners, Kimbles, Ketchings, Stevens, Bowers, Jor- dans, Lesters, hferritts, Kennons, Jones', Chapmans (Tom), and many more have been, and are the forces that developed And have kept alive that aggressive spirit of lV1ethodistn in- herited from John TITesley, himself.

Bethel was built in 1915 in the Scooterville section and



HISTORY O F M!ORTH COUNTY, GEORGIA 125

\Vright's Chapel in the 9th Dist., is also a Methodist preaching place and a fine field for cultivation.

Kimball, near Minton, is a good cl~tlrch and until a few years ago served a large cotninunity of Methodists.

Tempy Church serves a group of very devoted and devout Methodists.

When the church a t Shingler was built the old church a t Oak Grove was abandoned. Oak Grove was built about 1904.

There was no church in the northern part of the county, as we have thus far ascertained, prior to 1852. A two-story bttild- ing was erected at Pindertown. The lower floor was used for worship and called Asbury Chapel. The second story was the home of the Masonic Lodge.

In 1852 this building was moved to Smoak place on a hill north of Warwick and continued to be used as Asbtlry Chapel and lodge rooms. Now, a t this date, 1934, no vestige of the old house remains. A few old settlers point out a part of the present Smoak Cemetery as the site where the little memorial to the greatest pioneer Methodist circuit rider and a great Bishop once stood.

I n 1855 a Methodist church was built in what is now Crisp County and callecl Zion Hope. A little later, some think 1856, a Methodist church was located near the site of Bay Springs, now in Crisp. The membership of this church was moved to Anclrews Chapel near Acorn Pond, Worth County.

These early churches wit11 a fourth in Irwin County, called Sandy Mount, constituted the first Methodist circuit in this section and Rev. Thomas Lanier and Rev. Andrews were the first "circuit riders."

Some of this i~liorn~ation comes from Crisp County History, courtesy of Mr. IV. P. Fleiliing

METHODIST CHURCHES

Pinson Memorial Church of Sylvester It ~voulcl require a far l~acknrard look and a vivid imagina-

tion to get a just setting and background for this subject. During the years 1893 and '94 ~ v l ~ e n there were a few fam-

ilies in the little village of Sylvester and a little school house sat ~vlihere the home of Dr. and Mrs. Jefford now stands, a Methodist Circuit Rider passed this way on his quarterly rounds.



FIRST METHODIST CHURCH, SYLVESTER, GA.




He went from Wesley Chapel to T y Tp, taking it1 allout five preaching places. This preacher was Rev. E. L. Padrick.

As has ever been the custom of Methodists, the little bunch a t Sylvester desired a time and place of worship in their own midst and also as has ever been the custom of the Circuit Rider, he not only responded to every call, but sought every opportunity to present our I~lessed Gospel. Hence the little school hotlse became the preaching place and a night service was held once a month.

During the year 1894, the little group decided that they should be organized into a church and have a regular pastor.

The Conference sent Rev. W. C. Glenn to the Circuit and he organized the Sylvester Methodist Church.

For two years or more the Circuit included Beulah, Wesley Chapel, Isabella, Sylvester, Sumner, Poulan, and T y Ty. Some of these places had only an afternoon service once a month.

In 1896 Rev. E. A. Sanders served the Circuit. The metnbers that organized and pioneered the little band

through those trying years, 1894, '95, '96, were Dr. and Mrs. Crockett, Mrs. Priest, (Mrs. E. E. Hiclis), Mrs. Belle Ford, (Mrs. A. H. Overton), Mr. and Mrs. Walter A. Allen, Mrs. W. H. McPhaul, (Mrs. T. C. Jefford), the Welches, Brinsons, Wallaces, and later in the same year came Prof. C. E. Grubbs and family, and by the close of the Conference year the records showed fifty-two members on roll.

I t was during this year and the next, 1897, that funds were raised and a permanent church home worthy of the cause was l~uilt.

These devout nlen and women worked faithftllly and dil- igently ancl by October, 1898, during the pastorate of Rev. Jason Shirah, the little band walked into the beautiful new building with joy and righteous pride, \vit l~ praise and thanks- giving, and sat on rough board seats for the first service

This notable day marked the first Sunday in Sylvester for this writer ancl her family.

Mr. and Mrs. T. K. Ileinsohn presented the church with a check to cover cost of seats which were soon placed.

Mr. W. H. McPhaul ga\le the lot and much tnore material aid. H e also served on the building committee. Another citizen, Mr. J. S. IVestbery, though not a Methodist. was a loyal friend and serlred on the building committee. The other members were Mr. G. J. Wallace and Mr. W. A. Allen.




Church services and a union Sunday School had been held in the old Baptist Church, the original part of the residence, just north of the Metllodist Parsonage.

During Rev. Shirah's ministry there were many additions to the church. Several families moved into the growing town.

The notable event of the year was the organization of a Woman's Foreign Missionary Society by Mrs. Shirah, a tal- ented and consecrated woman. It goes lvitl~out question that she has organized more Missionary Societies than any woman in the South Georgia Conference. The work and growth of this orgatlization has kept full pace with the steady advance of the Church.

No charter member of the Society is living in Sylvester. Mrs. R. ,4. Holmes rnoved into the town soon after organization and was enrolled as the seventh member and has been active in tile Society since that date, Sept. 1898. After serving many years as president she resigned in May, 1932. She bears testimony of the experience that there is supreme "real life in service."

Rev. S. W. Brown was the pastor in 1899. In the early part of this year the Methodist Sunday School was organized and held in the new church. Mr. R. A. Holmes was the first superintendent.

The little bell that so clearly and cheerfully rings out the signals for the classes now, was purchased by Mr. Holmes at this time. I t has passed thru the fire, and the use for thirty- three years has worn off some of its outward glitter, but the little heart rings as genuinely as ever.

I n 1900 Sylvester was made a half station with only Beulah and Wesley Chapel remaining with this charge. Rev. W. F. Hixon was the pastor.

By the second Quarterly Conference an Ep~vorth League had been organized, and Mr. A. H. Pinson was confirmed as President.

Rev. M. F. Beals was on the charge during 1901 and '02. Rev. M. B. Ferrell served the church in 1903. Soon after he

came the church sustained a great loss, the death of a Mother in Israel - Mrs. Nannie Wallace. She was President of the Missionary Society, a Sunday School teacher and an inspiration to old ancl young.

There was another event that marked time in the history




of this church. A young Locl~nivar, Mr. C. H. Strangward, came out of the North. He soon found his way to the Meth- odist Church and to the Epworth League. Very naturally the League sought him. In 1904 he ancl Miss Nannie Carter were married. As there

is no Episcopal church in Sylvester he cast his lot with the Methodists in 1913, and today is serving most faithfully and efficiently as teacher of the Men's Bible Class and Chairman of the Board of Stewards. Unusual reserve and quiet digcity have marked his life through all the years.

In 1904 Rev. J. S. Jordan, a lovable Christian of the old school as well as a devoted minister of the Gospel, served the church.

By 1905 the church became a "Station" and Rev. R. E. Bailey filled the pastorate during 1905 and 1906.

Rev. IV. L. 1j7right was on the charge four years, 1907, '08- '09 and '10. These years record in our memories some important and interesting history.

In 1908 the church lost one of its staunchest members, Mr. T. J. Pinson. I t was his rule, as a member and as a steward, never t o allow the preacher to go to Conference with a deficit. His loyalty t o the church was business-like, yet tender and beautiful.

By the year 1909 the members began to feel that they must have larger and more fitting quarters. The church had grown sufficiently strong to feel that it was time to honor God with a more adequate edifice.

The Pinson Estate and Dr. and Mrs. Jefford and others gave liberally, so the Corner Stone of the splendid T. J. Pinson Memorial was laid in 1910.

The Pinson Estate proposed to the Building Committee t o pay one-half the cost of the new structure so that it might stand as a creditable menlorial to the lately deceased member, Mr. T. J. Pinson, and that i t be called "The T. J. Pinson Me- morial Church." This generous contribution made possible this splendid building. D r and Mrs. Jefford not only gave liberally toward the new building, but have get~erously supported and responded to its various calls to the present time, notably the Centenary and Educational campaigns. Albert H. Pinson gave $1300 for seats.

The building committee was composed of Mr. A. H. Pinson,




Mr. W. R. Jol~nston, Mr. J. &I. Bullard, Dr. T. C. Jefford, Mr. J. J. Hall, and Mr. G. M. Pinson. Much lavish admiration was expressed by visitors from far and near for the new house of God.

March 3rd, 1913, Bishop Warren A. Candler preached a great dedicatory sermon and the same day baptized all the Methodist babies in town.

Our much beloved pastor and preacher for three years, 1921, '12 and '13, was Rev. E. M. Overby.

Then came Rev. T. G. Lang, a most cultured and scholarly Christian minister, during 1914, '15.

Rev. J. G. Christian served the church during 1916, '17. The building was seriously damaged by fire Jan. 13, 1917. Rev. J. C. Flanders was on the charge 1918, '19, '20. Rev. S. C. Olliff was the very active and zealous shepherd

during 1921. His great achievement was getting the entire Centenary assessment subscribed. No pastor was more loved, more popular, and more successful in pastoral work.

Rev. B. E. Whittington was the preacher in 1922. Rev. W. A. Huckabee gave us four years of devoted ser-

vice. W e thought best to keep one of this family with us as a per-

manent citizen, Mrs. Wrennie Huckabee Bullard. In 1927 Rev. T. 0 . Lambert came and m7as a most devoted

and much loved leader for three years. Rev. H. W. Joiner rounded out four years of faithful service,

1930, '31, '32, '33. The Sunday Scliool Superintendents seemed to wear better

than the preachers. Mr. Holmes, Mr. Allen, and Mr. Passmore filled the office till Dec., 1908, then Mr. W. R. Johnston was elected and has served faithfully at his post and is with us yet.

Some fine young men and women have grown up under the influence of this church and have gone out into the world to honor God and bless humanity.

Proud as \\re may be of our post, let us push on toward greater heights, spiritually, and may ours be a sanctuary where God definitely meets his ow11 and reveals to them his will and the ~ o ~ v e r to withstand the arch enemy of rigl~teousness.

To date 579 members have been enrolled. Of the charter members still with us are Mrs. A. H. Overton and Mrs. E. E. Hicks. And there are many others present who have been




helping to steer this "Ship of Zion" for Illany years. As there has been a shift of pilots, there has been a shifting crew and many ~vorkers have been called across "The Bar," but others d r o ~ p e d into their places and progress still marks her course.

SMOAK CEMETERY

The old Sinoali Cemetery is located ~vllere the old Asbury Church once stood.

While this is just over the line in Crisp from Worth County, many pioneer citizens of Worth are buried there. Copying from some of their tombstones we give below:-

John S. Smoak, born Nov. 13, 181 1, diecl Nov. 22, 1900. Mrs. J . F. Smoak, born Dec. lst , 1843, died May 4, 1901. Jim D. Posey, born June 12, 1832, died Nov. 8, 1902. Mary J. Posey, born hiray 5, 1842, died May 11, 1901. Willianl Posey, born Apr. 1830, died Oct. 7, 1899. Amanda Posey, ~vife of LVm. Posey, born July 17, 1837, clied

Jan. 8, 1902. Capt. James 31. Rouse, born Nay 3, 1830, died June 15, 1892. Sallie J. Rouse, wife of Janles M. Rouse, born Nov. 14, 1836,

died May 13, 1894. Malincla Gleaton, born Sept. 15, 1826, died May 16, 1890. C. T. Gleaton, born March 16, 1811, died May 1, 1898. Martha A. Gleaton, 1)orn rlpr. 16, 1842, wife of C. T . Gleat-

on, diecl Dec. 18, 1921. Janles IV. Gleaton, l ~ o r n Fell. 26. 1859, died Nov. 5, 1919. Sarah E. Gleaton, .\vile of James 'IV. Gleaton, born Sept. 15,

1861, died May 15, 1918. W. J. Murphy, born May 31, 1841, died July 1, 1931. Martha Ann iVurphy, 1301-11 Rug. 19, 1845, died Aug. 2, u

1916. Xhe Odom, boril Fell. 7, 1832, died July 26. 1903. Harriet J . Odoin, wife of Abe Ocloin, born hilay 2, 1832,

died July 20. 1900. Jas. S. Hari-is, born Oct. 11, 1845, died Dec. 18, 1899. P 7 l lloillas J. Hari-is, Sr., born Sept. 30. 1830. died Dec. 28,

1899. Fanilie E. Harris, wife of Thos. J . Harris. born Mar. 17,

1834, died June 4, 1885. Sarah J. Raines, wife of J . R. Raines, born Jan. 13, 1834,

died May 23, 1883.




John B. Odonl, born Oct. 2, 1827, died Sept. 7, 1881. Chappel H. Brown, born Dec. 24, 1831, died March 13, 1865. Co. F, 59th Ga. Regiment. Mary Elizabeth Law, wife of Chappel H. Bro\vn, born Aug,

3, 1833, died Jan. 2, 1911. James P. Cox, born Nov. 29, 1858, died June 9, 1896. Mary Annie Fenn wife of James P. Cox, born Sept. 30, 1865,

died Jan. 24, 1905. Ann B. (Rouse) Ridley, wife of Dr. J. N. Ridley, born May

31, 1864, died Sept. 27, 1888. Dr. J. N. Ridley, born Nov. 10, 1549, died Feb. 8, 1905. Salliz J. (Rouse) Ridley, \\rife of Dr. J. N. Ridley, born Aug,

16, 1872. Died Aug. 18, 1912. E. T. Goodman, born Apr. 11, 1844, died Aug. 30, 1911. Mary E. Goodman, wife of E. T. Goodman, born Oct. 13,

1854, died Oct. 28, 1908. Charles L. Liddon, born Sept. 25, 1835, died age 57 years.

MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCHES

There are twenty-three Baptist Churches in Worth County with an approximate membership of twenty-five hundred. The- names of churches and dates when constituted are as follows:

Red Oak, 1854; Union, 1862; Bethel, 1865; Sumner, 1880; Friendship, 1883; Salem, 1886; New Bethel, 1887; Isabella, 1889 ; Acorn Pond, 1894 ; Pine Forest, 1894 ; Sylvester, 1891 ; Emanuel, 1898 ; Bethel, 1905 ; Poulan, 1906 ; Gordy, 1907 ; Pine Hill, 1910; Antioclz, 1912; Bridgeboro, 1913; Shingler, 1916; Evergreen, 1917 ; Warwick, Oakfield, Good Hope.

OLD MOUNT HOREB

Old Mount Horeb Church was first built along the banks. of Flint River in 1548. The first building nras a log house. In 1856 i t was rebuilt out of lumber on the same site. I n 1868 it was moved froill the river to where it now stands, which is about three miles from the original site. The land on which this building stands was given by Mrs. C. E. Buckalew. At that time the deacons were H. LV. Vines, David Ridley, and T. IV. Tison. H. R. Joiner was clerk. I ts membership and con- gregations were the largest of any in the county in its early days. The old building was forty feet by one hundred feet,



HISTORY OF W O R T H COUNTY, GEORGIA 133

When the church was rebuilt i t was made only thirty feet by sisty feet as the larger room was no longer needed.

SOME INSCRIPTIONS ON GRAVES AT MOUNT HOREB CHURCH

1. Henry R. Joiner, born Feb. 10, 1829, died Feb. 12, 1875. 2. Celia E. Buckalew, born Feb. 10, 1816, died hlay 27, 1895. 3. htrs. Levisa Ross, wife of J. Z. Ross, born Feb. 21, 1854,

died Nov. 28, 1882. 4. Mrs. Sarilda Pearce, born Nov. 29, 1832, died Oct. 21,

1881. 5. Eli 'CV. Hall, born Nov. 25, 1852, died Jan. 3, 1881. 6. L. IV. Hall, wife of Dr. \V. J. Hall, born July 26, 1862,

died Oct. 25, 1883. 7. Sara M. Ford, born Mar. 31, 1840, died Feb. 19, 1922. 8. \V. A. Davis, born Sept. 29, 1823, died July 9, 1866. 9. Mrs. Retsey Davis, born 1785, clied 1863.

10. Mrs. Mary A. Davis, born Sept. 15, 1826, clied March 31, 1863.

11. Samuel B. Castleberry, born Jan. 23, 1823, died Mar. 13, 1894.

12. J. 14. Turner, born Feb. 2, 1813, died Nov. 6, 1900. 13. Martha Jane Powell, horn March 13, 1851, died Feb. 2,

1891. 14. Kohert McDonald, born July 10, 1846, died July 17, 1923.

FORT EARLY CHURCH

Fort Early Clzurch was organized and the house was built on the River Road near the town of Warwick. The church was lately niovecl to Warwick, but the colored people have a church on the same ground where once stood the old church. This was considered one of the mother churches because it lent a helping hand in constituting other churches in other portions of the county.

I t probably took its name from the old fort that stood at, or near, the mouth of Swift Creek.

Some of the first preachers were Peyton Lunsford, J. M. Champion, Rev. Isaac Hobby, and Rev. J. T. Adams.



134 HISTOR'T' O F WORTH COUKTY, GEORGIA

RED OAK

Red Oak Church was constitutecl on the 5th day of Novem- ber, 1854, wit11 the follo~ving persons as charter members: R. D. Sinclair and wife, Mary Ann Sinclair, of Tennessee, IV. M. IV. Head and n-ife, Mary Head, of South Carolina, W. M. Tanner and n-ife. Elizabeth Tanner, of North Carolina, Wash- ington G. Rhodes, of South Carolina, Luerana Brown, of S o u t l ~ Carolina, John IVilliams and wife, Mary IVilliams, of North Carolina, Holly K. Gatlghf, of Laurens County, Ga. R. D. Siilclair was elected deacon and John IVilliams was elected clerk. Thomas Aldridge, of Doolj- County and Larkin Joiner, of Pulaski County Presl~yterj-, ancl Warren Dykes, Dooly County, IlIoderator.

The church house was made from hewn logs, 30 feet \vide ancl 30 feet long, and was built near the southeast corner of lot of land No. 90, in the 16th District of IITorth Cot1nt~-, Georgia.

NEW BETHEL

Along in the '80's of the nineteenth century, Mr. Tom Coram, Mr. Ton1 Eclx~~arcls, and Mr. Monroe Gruhbs moved to this community fro111 Raildolph County.

Mr. Cora~n organized a Sunday School ailcl 11uilt a log llouse for its meeting place. He soon had large ci-onrds and ~vi th the help of Rev. James Bass, a missionai-JT sent from the Bethel Association to this county, a church was organized in this little log house. The follon-ing were charter members, Mi-. and Mrs. Toill Coi-am, Mr. and Mrs. Tom Edwards, Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Ropes, and Mrs. John Wiliis.

The church was na~ned for Bethel Church a t Spring\-ale, Randolph County, the church where most of them first joinetl. Later, with the help of Mr. Iiilloughby l\l'angl~am, these members built the 11sesent building of N e ~ v Bethel.

UNION BAPTIST CHURCH

Utlion Church is the oldest lllissionary Baptist Church south of the railroad in \IJorth County. It was organized by Rev. IYilliam JV. Holamon, grandfather of J. Otis Holamon, of Sylvester, in Mr. John IVingate's home, grandfather of Mrs. Gorcloil Davis, of Sylvester, about 1875.




Preaclling services were held on his porch for sometime until a log house could be built. This house served for both church ailcl school house for a number of >-ears. Now there is a splendid church there.

I t is told that the moving spirit 11ehincl this organization was Mrs. Te~nperailce Wingate, the mother of John Wingate. She was lovingly called "Grandma Jiingate." She prayed to learn to read so that she might read the Bible and, with such little help tliat it was considered a miracle, she was enabled to read this Precious Word she had so longed to read for herself.

She lived to reach the century mark. She is 1)ui-ied it1 this church yard. On her toi l~b is this inscription, "Mrs. Temper- ance IVingate, Born Apr. 13. 1786, Diecl Sept. 21, 1886. Re- r~leinber nle as you pass I)!., as you are 1 1 0 ~ SO once was I, as I am now, so you nus st be. Prepare for cleath ailcl follow 111e."

She has manj- descei~clants in this couilty nrho are substantial meil and women of JITorth.

The first Sunday School south of t l ~ e railroad was organized and led 11y IVilloughby H. Rilai~gham in 1878, in Union Church. Sotne of its first pastors were : ITilliam 1'. Holamon, Billy Hurst , J. T . Adams, Jim Bass, P. R. Jones, and Isaac Hobby.

Rev. 13. F. Barbee, of Doerun has been the pastor for tnany years.

rlrouncl this churcl~ today is one oi the lnost sple~~clicl neigh- borhoods in the county.

ISABELLA BAPTIST CHURCH

The tonrn of Ssal>ella was laid out at the time of the creation and organizatioii of 13'orth County as the county seat. After a court house vras l~ui l t it was customary for local preacllers to hold sen-ices in the court house. This co~lti~lued UP until about 1859, nrhen a fen. 11eliel-ers in tlze Baptist faith organized themselves into a church, but still coiltitlued to use the court house as a nleeting place. Among the original members were Rachel Sutnner and her two claugl~ters, Mahalie Campbell and Tenlpie J . Sumner; Rielvina Paul, Mrs. Cox, and perhaps a few men. During the war this little orgailization was disbancled and these few ~novecl their tnembership to old



136 HISTOR\- OF WORTH COUNTY, GEORGIA

Bethel Church. Among the preachers who first served the old Isabella Church were Tom Adams, Isaac Hobby, David Champion, and J. S. Filyaw.

About the year 1588 a move was started to re-organize the old church, and finally, through the efforts largely of Rev. H. V. Golden, who became its first pastor and served for several years, the organization was perfected in the year 1889. In 1890 t l ~ e l~uilding which now stands was erected. The charter tnembers of the new church were Robert Cochran and wife, Mrs. Georgia Cochran, L. L. Simmons, Melvina Paul, Mrs. Tempie J. Paul, Mrs. Mahalie V. Kelly, and Mrs. Mary F. Cox. During the same year, VC'. J. Herring, Jr., became a member and was elected chairman of the board of deacons. H e served in this capacity until his death in 1905.

Among the pastors who served the church were H. V. Golden, R. L. Rachels, F. L. Wimberly, S. E. Blitch, G. Tom West, Rev. Norton, Rev. Culpepper, E. H. Shingler, Rev. Sullivan, J. W. Smith, A. L. Young, P. U. Waters, S. G. Bur- gess, J. H. Wyatt , B. F. Barbee, V. T. Johnson, W. C. Willis, and P. L. Branch.

At one time, before the removal of the court house to Syl- vester, this became a large and flourishing church, and was the scene of many happy occasions \\re11 remembered by tllany of the older citizens of the county.

SYLVESTER BAPTIST CHURCH

The first sernlon delivered by a Baptist minister in Sylvester was a t the home of Josiah S. l ies tberry about 1885.

Mr. and Mrs. J. S. Westberry invited Mr. and Mrs. Tom Cora~n and Rev. and Mrs. James Bass, all of whom had recently moved to leu-el- Worth from Randolph County, Ga., to spend the day at their home in Sylvester. In the afternoon a number of friends came in and Rev. James Bass was invited to preach to them. After the sermon he organized a Sunday School ancl Mr. J. S. \Vestberry was elected superintendent. He held this ofice for several years. This was really the beginning of Sylvester Baptist Church. This little Sunday School mas held in the small, one room school house.

In 1891 the Baptist Cl~ttrch was organized by Rev. G. Torn West with the follo~ving members : Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Roper, Mr. and Mrs. C. iV. Hillhouse, Mr. and Mrs. T. R. Perry, Mrs.




J, A l . Freeman, Mrs. J. H. Westberry, and Mrs. 2. IV . ililathews. The same little school house where the Sunday School met furnished then1 a place for worship until the year 1893, when a small ~vooden building was erected as a church on Main Street.

As the village grew the church grew in membership and, in 1900, a brick buildiilg was erected on Isabella Street where the church now stands. C. IV. Hillhouse was the builder and he gave his services to the church. l-Ie and J. Honrell Uiestberry were the largest contributors in a financial \tray.

In 1905 a large and comfortable pastoriun~ was built on the adjoining lot. Up to this time the pastor did not live here and services were held one Sabbath in the month and on the Sat- urday before. Rev. McLenlore was to live in the pastorium, but he was not here long, being called to other fields. The first pastor to occupy it was Rev. R. B. Taylor in 1905.

I'liheil the grounds around the courthouse were being paved, Mr. C. W. Hillhouse said he could not bear for the cour tho~~se grounds to appear better than his church grounds. So out of his own purse he paved the front and side walks of the church and pastorium a t a cost of $500.

The first brick building and pastorium cost $12,500. The first 13rick church was on the old style of church edi-

fice-vestibule, and auditoriun~-with a small room on each side, but no Sunday School rooms. For a long time the church felt the need of these.

In 1919 this brick building nras enlarged and remodeled into a new, commodious structure with ample Sunday School facili- ties and departn~ents. A nexv brick and stone \\la11 covering the original brick s~rall was built around the old church making it harmonize with the new Sunday School annex.

A pipe organ, a t a cost of $4750, was built into the new church. I t was proposed to lea\-e out the chil~les as they \vould make it more expensive, but C. W. Hillhouse would not let this be done and paid for it out of his o\vn purse, although he was already the largest contributor.

There are eight melnurial n.indo\vs to the follo~ving families: Alford, Spurlin, Westberry, Hillhouse, and a Window to Mother was put in by C. I!:. Hillhouse in memory of his mother, 34rs. Amanda Hillhouse Mangham.

The \\rindon-s to Aunt Ellen Roper and Uilcle Tom Coram



FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, SYLVESTER, GA. (See legend on page 139)




were put in by the church in tnemory of these faithful workers who did so rnbch for its early life.

-

This building is a hlemorial church to the World War Veterans \\rho were members of it.

A bronze tablet in the vestibule gives the following: "1914- Roll of Honor-1918."

"Fred E. Deariso, Ed~vitl L. Deariso, Carl W. Deariso, Robert L. Deariso, William L. Farris, Preston 13. Ford, Wil- !iam J. Ford, Edward J. Ford, Herschel B. Forehand, Clair A. Godwin, Frank B. Hillhouse, J. Grover Hillhouse, Roy M. Hillhouse, Alford S. Johnston, Dr. Edwin J. La\vsorl, Ju!ian M. Love, Henry E. i\/Iartin, Henry C. Sanders, Jr., Ben W. Tipton, James L. Tison.

"Dedicated to the Glory of God and to the honor of the Defenders of the Nation, who went forth from this church to preserve the Cherished Institutions of our Republic."

Two of these boys were gold star boys. J. Grover Hillhouse was killed in the aviation service and Julian M. Love died on the battlefield of France.

I t is not only a nlonument to these brave boys, but to many consecrated members of this church. Esl~ecially is this so of the faithful deacons who served not only thiot~gh its construction, but through the years until the last payment was made. Some of them, G. F. Alford, T. A. Spurlin, John \V. Slappy, J. Dallis Martin, and N. G. Houston, were active members of the board for twenty and thirty years or more. This church is also a monument to Mrs. G. F. Alford, who was musical director and organist till her death, a period of about twenty years, and to these two pastors, Rev. M. L. Lawson, who was with the church during its construction and was one of its building committee, and Rev. Ernest L. Baskin who was pastor when the last indebtedness was lifted. By their wise council they steered it through these years.

Two of the inembers of this church, J. Howell l ies tberry and Charlie lV. Hillhouse, were with it through the building of all its three homes and were the largest contributors to each. - Es~ecial ly is this churcl~ building a monument to these two men who stood by it and steered it through the financial breakers of Illany stormy years. C. LV. Hillhouse was a charter

(Legend for cut on page 138). Inserts, left: Dr. E. L. Baskin. Right: Dr. M. L. Lawson, Pastors whose efforts helped make this church possible.




member and J. H. Westl~errj- joined soon after its organization. H e was its treasurer for all its life escept three years up to 1932.

It is no less a monument to the charter metnl~ers 1~110 began this glorious worlr more than 40 years ago. Only four are living in 1932, Col. and RIrs. T. R. Perry, Mrs. C. 17. Hillhotlse, and Mrs. 2. W. Mathews.

This church was finished a t a cost of $79,000. Recently the Cradle Roll, Beginners and Primary Depart-

ments under the leadership of Mrs. E. L. Baskin, Mrs. I. H. Mann, and Mrs. T. R. Perry, Jr., has been equipped and beauti- fied and is considered second to none in the state.

This church has been greatly blessed in the godly men who have served it as under shepherds of their Lord and Master. The most of them have gone to their reward. Belon- are given the pastors serving the Church from organization to date, as follows :

Rev. G. Tom West, organizer 1891 to 1893; Rev. J. M. Champion 1893 to 1894; Rev. W. 0. Crumbley, 1895 to 1896; P. A. Jessup, 1896 to 1896 ; Rev. W. 0. Dorsey, 1896 to 1897 ; Rev. A. C. IVellons, 1897 to 1899; Rev. P. A. Jessup, 1899 to 1903; Rev. Larkin Crumbley, 1903 to 1905; Rev. J. S. NIc- Lemore, Jan. 1905 to June 1905; Rev. R. B. Taylor, June 1905 to 1909; Rev. J. A. Reiser, 1909 to 1915; Rev. %I. L. Laxvson, 1916 to 1924; Rev. E. L. Easkin, 1924 to date, 1934.

REV. ERNEST L. BASKIN

Among the earnest. successful ancl popular ministers of Southern Georgia, Rev. Ernest L. Baskin takes high rank, and as Pastor of the First Baptist Church a t Sylvester he has ex- erted a most beneficent influence throughout the community. A native of Kay City, Berrien County, Georgia, he was born and reared on the farm of his parents, James B. ancl Fannie (Ha- gan) Baskin, both of ~vhoin are living in Ray City, the father l~e ing now retired.

After graduating from the Atillto~vn High School in 1908, Ernest L. Baskin entered Mercer University, where he was graduated in 1912 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, and then went to the Southern Baptist Seminary where he received the degree of Master of Theology in 1916. Then, after




one year of postgraduate work in New Testament research, he accepted the pastorate of the First Baptist church, Chapel Hill, University of North Carolina, ~vl~ei-e he built a fine new church edifice a t a cost of about one hundred and thirty thousand dollars. In 1924 he came to Sylvester as pastor of the First Baptist Church. He has stimulated the congregation t o greater activity in all of its departments and it is now one of the most active, aggressive, and prosperous religious societies in this section of the county. The church has a membership of four hundred, with a Sunday School of three hundred and seventy-five members. Its auxiliary societies include a fully graded L'IToman's Missionary Union and a Baptist Young Peoples' Union. Rev. Baskin sets the pace for his people and, because of his earnest labor for the upbuilding of the church, his splendid ability and his genial nature, he has won an enviable standing among the representative residents of the community. As a speaker Mr. Baskin is eloquent, forceful, and convincing and he has proven a tremendous power for good in this locality where his ability and devotion are fully appreciated. He is a member of the Georgia Baptist Association, Moderator of the Mallary Association, and is a member of the Kiwanis Club a t Sylvester, in which work he is deeply interested.

Rev. Baskin wedded Miss Mary P. Groom, of Kansas City, Missouri, daughter of Michael F. and Luttie (Chappell) Groom.

Mrs. Baskin was educated in the Kearney Public Schools and the Southern Baptist W. M. U. Training School a t Louisville, where she met her future husband. After graduating she served as Secretary of the hfissouri State Board of Missions for a period of t\vo years. She has been to her husband a help- mate in the truest sense of the term, aiding him very ma- terially in his pastoral work by her quiet charm, commenclable tact and gracious personality. They are the parents of two children, Ernest L., Jr., and James Groom.

M. L. LAWSON

The subject of this sketch is a descendant of a notable line of ancestors runnitlg back to the tenth century in England and Austria. They were among the first settlers of Virginia and Georgia. hfartin Luther Lawson was born in Brooks




County, Georgia, March 8, 1870. H e received his education a t Mercer University and the Southern Baptist Theological Sem- inary. He is a man of wide experience, having held pastorates a t strategic points in the Carolinas and Georgia. Some of the leading churches of the South have been served by him, among them Laurens, S. C., Camden, S. C., Hendersonville. N. C., Sylvester, Ga., where he was pastor nearly eight years, Daw- son and Cuthhert, Ga. He served as trustee of Norman Junior College for many years, and also of Bessie Tift College. He was married to Mamie Smith, Tennille, Ga., September 20, 1892, Dr. T. J. Beck was the officiating minister.

Mrs. Mamie (Smith) Lawson is a daughter of the late Ed- win and Sarah Smith, of Tennille, Georgia, a t which place she was reared and educated. She is deeply interested in all religious work, her unusual sweetness of disposition, her consecrated Christian character, her synlpathy and generosity inspire many to be follo.cvers of her Lord and Master.

Mrs. Lawson was a charter member of the Barnard Trail Chapter of D. A. R., of Sylvester, and served as Regent of that chapter the last year of her residence in Sylvester, 1924. H e r Revolutionary ancestors were among the first to settle in Washington County, Ga. They are as follows: William and Hugh Irwin and John Orr, are certified Georgia soldiers in the Revolutionary War. Colesby Smith received land for ses- vice in that war.

Rev. and Mrs. La~vson have only one child, Dr. I.:dwin J. Lawson. Dr. Lawson is an eye, ear and nose specialist of Moultrie, Ga. H e is a World War Veteran, anil was wounded while in service as a Surgeon in France.

SUMNER BAPTIST CHURCH

Quoting from the old minutes of the Suil~ner Baptist Church :

"On the 4th Sunday in May 1881, a large congregation asseml~led a t Sumner Station, Nrorth County, the o1)ject of the meeting was to constitute a Missionary Baptist Ch.urch.

''Elder J. C. Bass of the Bo~ven iVIissionary Baptist _4ssocia- tion was elected Moderator and Elder P. R. Jones of the Houston Association was elected Clerk of the Presbytery.

"The Moderator then callecl for letters for membership, whereupon brother Y. A. J. Jones and wife, and Mary A.




Jones, Jane A. Jones, M. A. L. Jones and Oscar R. Jones came forward bringing theirs. After the reading of the Church covenant also the Articles c ~ f Faith were read and adopted it was pronounced a church by the moderator with beautiful and appropriate words. The regular day of monthly meeting on the 4th Sabbath and Saturday before in each month was selected and Rev. J. C. Bass was called to preach as an Evan- gelist until the following Octoher. The moderator appointed a committee to procure a place of meeting, to take up a collec- tion, and builcl a house of worship. The moderator appointed ,4. J. Alford, C. A. Alford, Dan Garrett, James J. Clements, Y. A. J. Jones and P. R. Jones.

"Thus ended one of the most pleasant days of our lives and one that we trust will prove a blessing to us and to the com- mutiity a t large."

This old book 01 minutes show who are the faithful back in those early days of this church's life. P. R. Jones served in all capacities, as clerk often, and pastor from 1881 to 1884. Charies G. Tipton as clerk from 1884 to 1894, resigned Feb., 1895. J. li. Edwards was clerk from 1895 to 1896. D. W. Sumner was clerk from 1897 to 1900.

Pastors were P. R. Jones from June 1881 to 1884; S. E. Blitch from 1884 t o 1887; M. C. Irvin from 1887 to 1888; J. H.

Caywoocl from 1888 to 1589; Rev. R. L. Rachels from Fell. 1889 to 1893; Rev. Snell 1894 to 1895; Rev. ilr. E. Shepherd

1895 to 1896. Services nrere held in the school building for several years. The minutes show a report from the building committee in 1887 that the work on church was progressing slowly for lack of lumber.

The prayers of the little handful of members 53 years ago that the organization of that church be a blessitlg to the community has been answered many fold. I ts powerful influence for good has steadily increased through the years, and today it i s well organized for work in the Master's Kingdom and is c;ne of the best churches in a small town in the Mallary Associatio~?.

This church first belonged to the Houston Association but joined the NIallary Associatioil Nov. 13, 1886, l~ecause it was nearer and more convenient to attend.

SUNDAY SCHOOL CELEBRATION

Below is given a brief history of the Sunday School Cele-




bration, an annual event that was considered the greatest of its kind for forty-two years. Miss Emma Sutton, a resident of this sectioil and a writer of al~ility, gives the following from the pen of C. IV. Graves, in her paper, "The Azilian." published a t T y Ty, Ga., June, 1916:

The Sunday School Association was organized in 1881 about ten iniles southwest of T y T y under a l ~ i g oak tree- in God's first temple. Chief among the organizers and first workers were Major Peter Pelham, Rev. Joel Graves, father of C. W. Graves, and John G. McPhaul, all of whom are Presbyteriails, though the organization was non-sectarian, and is now. In 1882 began the annual celebration, the first meeting being held at Hillsdale in a Presbyterian church of which Mr. Joel Graves was pastor. There is no sign of the old church now, and Mr. Graves has bee11 dead many years. Major Pelham was for many years the President. Since 1886 these meetings have been held a t Poulan in a building which the association erected for its own use. On these occasions everybody is invited and thousancls attend. There is al\vays a program of speaking, songs, ancl prayer, and dinner for all.

Since the Worth County Sunday School Association began its existence many other counties in the state have or*g-anized similar ones, but this easily leads them all. I t keeps alive the Sunday School spirit, each year infusing n e ~ v life into the Sunday Schools of the county, and incalculable good has been done. The early records of the association have unfortunately heen lost, but there are many people yet living who have never missed a celebration. Each quarter there is a convention 11~1si- ness meeting, and always dinner for all, without which no public occasion in this part of the country is complete, but there is only one celel>ration in the year. For a number of years this was held on Friclay before the seconcl Su~zclav in May, but this date has been changed on account of the schools.

The annual singing contest is a l~vays helcl in this tabernacle, not far froin the l'oulan Presbyterian Cllurch. All the Sunday Schools in the county take part in these contests, and a committee decides ~ v l ~ i c h is entitled to the banner.

Poulan is a small place, and other associations have these celebrations, but the crowds still attend the pioneer organization, the mother of thein all. There are extra trains and




special rates, and people from several different counties are attracted to Poulan.

Belocv is given "One Day at this Celebration" written by John L. Herring in his Saturday Night Sketches:

"A12 hnil the po7~1er of Jesus' nnnze! L e t angels prostrate fall!

Bring forth the royal diadem, A n d crown Him Lord of all."

Two thousand people stood to sing the opening hymn; out from uilcler the immense tabernacle rolled the great volume of sound, drowning the organ accompaniment. When it was concluded, there was a rustle as the crowd was seated, and then a grey-headed patriarch, his giant frame still unbent with years, stepped forward to invoke Divine guidance.

I t was the annual celebration of the County Sunday Schools. For a year, in season and out, with varying success, meeting in log school houses or churches, in rough frame buildings, or even in more desolate sections a t private residences, the tireless workers had struggled on-brave, undaunted spirits, men and women who were building nobly on the foundations for a Christian citizenship. Perhaps in extreme of winter no one met with them for a few weeks; perhaps they took a short

( I vacation- winter quarters'-but usually where even three or four gathered together, there was the lesson, the song and the prayer. Perhaps the attending children walked many miles along paths through the wiregrass beneath the pines to reach the school, perhaps there had been discouragement from sources where encouragement was expected; but one way or another the year and its work had passed, and with the coming of spring and the glorious weather of May, they were all gathered for a revival of spirit and the fresh impetus for the task that comes through co-operation.

Their association owned its tabernacle in a central town (Poulan) ; an inlnlense wooden shelter on substantial posts of fat pine logs, the seats of pine boards, the grouncl covered with sawdust. Under it now was a great fluttering of fans, a scent of cinnamon and Hoyt's cologne, augmented by an occasional whiff of hair oil. Girls in cool white or bright colors in lawns and muslins; boys in striped seersucker (of varying length, according to the number of washings), and beside




them the sober garments of the men and ~ironlen of maturer years.

Outside as far as the eye could see, stood teams and vehicles of varying character according to the owner's means, from the humble ox-cart to the glistening carriage and pair; besides these, many hundreds came on the excursion trains operated from either direction. T o the south, the cold drink and refresh- ment stands, operated hy the association to capacity all day.

There were reports from each school, the superintendent of even the most remote having his brief moments bet'ore the crowd. Then an address or maybe two, from men of scholarly attainments and devotion to the work, who willingly left their homes and duties in neighboring cities to contribute to the day's good things. More singing, by different scl~ools, or by the audience as a whole, and then dinner!

Tables formed the outer open walls of the tabernacle. On these \s7as ample room for the cloths and the bounteous picnic spread. The chicken was there, in multitude and abundance; also in salad, pie, roast and fry. Cold boiled ham from the home smokehouse, beef roast, 'cued, dried and fried; pork, pickles, sauces, salads, "ad libitum." And cake of every color flavor and design, but all good. W h o could eat one of those dinners and ever forget? Best of all, the wholehearted hospitality; few ate a t their own tahle alone, but roamed through the crowd, chatting and tasting here and stopping there, as sure of a ~velcome as \vould be the visitor to his or ber own spread.

After dinner, an hour for the thirsty to d r o ~ s ~ n it as best they may ; for the yo l~ng people to court and giggle and laugh, as youth will; for older ones to exchange news and gossip, and for the associatioilal heads to rearrange their plans for the afternoon.

To get such a cro\vcl together after the noon meal required a magnet, I ~ u t the tnan and the occasion met in R. B. Reppard, a Savannah lumberman, a godly man, \\?hose great heart could scarcely hold his love for the children of that day and the Sunday School cause. Reppard could collect a crowd quicker and get it interested easier than any man of his time. He could make five hundred children hold their breath while he told a story and drove home a lesson that would remain through the years as a golden line on memory's tablet. He has gone long since to meet the children he directed on the nrav.




Then, the crowning event of the day, the singing contest for the association's blue and silver banner, which had waved its graceful folds all day over the school victorious in the contest of the year before.

Each school selected its song and its leader, but all par- ticipating must be bona fide members. The judges, whose task was a hard one, were always selected from outside the county.

The entries were handed the president, and as its name was called, the school arose and sang. In front stood the leader, hook in hand; the class selected from among the senior members. As he sounded the no,te, gave the word, and the song rang out, there was a burst of n~elody, a zip of harmony, a con- cord trained young voices that put the quickest-eared judge on his or her mettle to pick the winner. When it lvas over and the decision announced, there was no grumbling protest, but a hearty congratulation .of the winners on one side and a cleter- mination to get ready for next year on the other.

All things, even the best things of life, come to an end. A happy day had been well spent, 11ut the lengthening shadows, the sunbeams nolv across the tal~ernacle, attest approaching night, and once more the assembled thousands stand as one for the farewell song-a farewell that means a final parting for many; to.others but au revoir until the cycle of time again brings May and reunion :

God be wi th you till we nleet again. By his counsels guide, uphold you. W i t h H i s sheep securelji fold you, God Be wit11 you till w e meet again.

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF SYLVESTER

The First Presbyterian Church of Sylvester was organized April 4, 1911, by a coinmission of Macon Presl~ytery cotn- posed of Rev. I)ouglas, Rev. Bronrnlee, Rev. Yenable and Elder Vereen, which met in the h1ethoclist Church in Sylves- ter. The pastor elected was Rev. G. LV. Tollett, he presented fourteen applicants for inembership in the organization.

Charter Members Mrs. Edna C. Jones, J. A. Kitchens, Mrs. Lillie 'ill. Kitchens,

Miss Viola Monk, Jaines RiIcGirt, Mrs. Nellie McGirt. Mrs. G. A. McMillan, 11. A. Warren, Mrs. Katie Westberry, Miss



148 HISTORY O F W O R T H COUNTY, GEORGIA

Katie Hazel IVcstberry, &I. H. Westberry, Miss Alherta Weeks, Juclge 1. B. IVilliamson, Miss Frances I i i l l iatnsot~.

The followillg were elected by the congregation as officers of the church: Elders : AT. H. ?Vestberry ancl James McGirt; Deacons: J. B. Williamson, J. A. Kitchens and Rf. A. IVarren. The officers were then ordainecl and installed by the com- mission.

Of the charter members nine are living, two of whom are located in Sylvester.

They bought the Methodist Church in the fall of 1911, the filethoclist having planned to build a neur ancl larger church. They built a large ancl comfortable house for the pastor's home on the adjoining lot.

During its t~venty-three J-ears of service this church has done much good. While it has never had a large ineml~ershil> it 11as had a goocl ancl consecrated one, and has reached people that none other than a Presbyterian cl~urch could reach.

It has had five pastors ancl t\vo supplies. liev. G. \V. Tollett April 4, 1911 to Sept. 26, 1911.

Rev. W. K. Henderson, March 1, 1914 to November 131, 1915. Rev. G. Kirkpatric, June 27, 1916 to December 17, 1917. Rev. C. U. Leach, March 6, 1919 to December 17. 1925. Rev. Allen and A. W. Dick, sul~plj-. 1925 to 1932. Rev. J. L. Russell the Pastor 1932 to date. It has an active membership of t~venty-three.

POULAN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Poulan Presbyterian Church was organized Saturday, 19th

of December, 1885 with 14 members. Rev. J. JV. Quarterman was the first pastor. hfi-. John G. McPhaul gave the land on which to 11uild the church.

The first ruling elders were Mr. L. McNeill ancl Maj. Pe t e r Pelham.

THE CHARTER MEMBERS Mr. L. McNeill Millard Conoly Mrs. Mary McNeill Duncan 1fcLoud Miss E. E. McWeill Jaines Conoly Miss A. C. R'IcNeill Peter Pelham J o l ~ n F. McEaclzern Mrs. E. F. Pelham Mrs. Lora B. McPhaul Mr. W m . H. McPhaul Mrs. Eliza McMillan Mr. John G. McPhaul George Conoly




The Westberrys, Guytons, and McGirts became members later.

Miss Emma Pelham, daughter of Maj. Pelham and Mrs. Pelham, was the first member to be baptized after the organization of the church.

These three churches in this charge, one a t Poulan, one at Sylvester, one at Doerun, are small churches but a reinark- able fact a l~out them is that each 01 them has recently ordained a minister, Rev. James L. McGirt, of Sylvester, pastor a t Carrollton, Ga., Rev. Charles Augustus McGirt, of Poulan, a pastor in Virginia, and Rev. Wade Harrell, of Doerun.

UNITED FREE WILL BAPTIST CHURCH NEW BETHEL

Kew Uethel Unitecl Free Will Baptist Church was duly constituted on June the 28th, 1890, by Elclers, James 11. Bray, R. H. Ross, S. N. Little, and Deacon J. F. Hambrick.

Constituting lay members were William Massey, Elizabeth Massey, T. H. McGlamory, Elizabetl~ McGlamory, Tilman hScGlamory, Alice McGlamory, J. W . Wisham, Elizabeth Wisdom, J. M. Lalvson, Bee Lawson, Edna Courtoy, and Ella RiIcGlamory.

Pastors of cl~urches were as fo1lo~vs:-S. N. Little from date of constitutitlg, June 28, 1890 to Aug. 31, 1895. Mr. J. T_)aniel, Aug. 31, 1895 to Sept. 5, 1896. S. N. Little, Oct. 2, 1896 to Xov. 5, 1898. N. E. 14assev, Nov. 5, 1898 to Nov. 3, 1899. S. N. ~ i t t l e , * ~ o v . 3, 1899 to Sept. 1, 1903. N. E. Massey, Sept. 1, 1903 to Oct. 31st, 1908. W. G. S to~a l l , Oct. 31, 1908 to Oct. 2, 1909. N. E. htassey, Oct. 2, 1909 to Oct. 3, 1914. R. NI. Rlassey, Oct. 3, 1914 to Sept. 2, 1916. C. T. Oliver, Sept. 2, 1916 to Sept. lst , 1917. A. L. Sellars, Sept. lst, 1917 to Oct. 5, 1918. S. T. Renew, Oct. 5, 1918 to Sept. 6, 1919. W. A. Pope, Sept. lst, 1919 to June 6, 1925. W. H. Emerson, June 6, 1925 to Dec. 5, 1925. Joel H. Little, Dec. 6, 1925 to Aug. 31st, 1929. W . L. Harrell, Aug. 31, 1929 to Sept. 6, 1930. W. R. Lawhorn, Sept. 6, 1930, to date, (1933). Total membership of churcl~, 121.

J . J . Fowler, Church Clerk.




PIONEER PREACHERS OF WORTH REV. P. R. JONES

Rev. P. K. Jones was l~o rn in Chatham County, North Car- olina, November 34th, 1828, and died a t the home of his daughter, Mrs. J. M. Beaty, in Worth County, November 12, 1920, at the ripe olcl age of ninety-two years. He was ordained to the ministry a t Apex, Wake County, N. C., in October, 1877. o

In the year 1880, he came to Worth County, Georgia, ancl from that date until October, 1896, he traveled on foot 16,878 miles and preachecl 1,678 sermons. He baptizecl 486 precious souls and received as compensation $846.75.

At the time of his death, he was a member of Pine Forest Baptist Church, and is buried a t Pine Forest Cemetery. Rev. T. W . Branch conducted the services.

REV. ISAAC HOBBY

Rev. Isaac Hobby, a pioneer Missionary Baptist preacher of Worth County, traveled all over Worth and adjoining counties in buggy and on horse-back preaching the gospel for forty years. The good accomplished by these pioneer ministers only Heaven will reveal. He began his ministry about 1866 when the whole South was suffering from the disasters brought on by the four years of Civil War . H e went about preaching the go.spel of peace and lifting the eyes of the people to Him who has promised to give rest to those n7ho are heavy laden. He was born Octol~er 24, 1834, and died June 26, 1906. He married Harriett Siinpson, daughter of Thomas ancl Lany Willey Simpsotl, she 1)eing born May 9, 1839, and died October 13, 1902. Their children were as follows:

James IVilliain Hohby, ............................ 11orn June 8, 1859 Morris Alexander, ................................ born Sept. 5, 1861

(died October 2, 1931) Sarah Lewis, ......................................... 110ri1 Sept. 4, 1863 Harriet Lucretia, .................................... 1 ) o r May 26, 1867 John Lumpkin, ........................................ 1 1 0 Fell. 21, 1869 Isaac Marcus (Doc) ................................ born Feb. 1, 1871 Martha Catherine, ................................ born March 23, 1876 Joseph Floyd, ............................................ 1 1 Jan. 16, 1881 Minnie Beulah, ........................................ born May 8, 1883




Isaac Hobl~y and Harriet Simpson were married April 2, 1857, by Rev. itTarren Dykes. Witnesses: Alexander Hobby ancl Pearson Hro~vn.

REV. THOMAS GARDNER

Thomas Gardner came to Worth County in the early part of the present century. Combining the attributes of a pioneer teacher ancl Primitive Baptist preacher, he was a man of ex- ceptional ability in both lines, and weilded a large itlfluence in the shaping and building of schools and churches in the county. H e located at Doles, after teaching school a t several points in the county, and lived there until his death, rearing a large and interesting family. Ilis daughter, Mrs. J. H. Rouse, of Warwick, has been one of the leading educators of the county for many years. She was a member of the faculty of the Warwick School for many years, and her children have received splendid educational advantages.

Another daughter, Mrs. Ruby Gardner McKenzie, moved to Montezuma. There were two sons, Murray and Mack, who have macle themselves prominent in the affairs of the county.

REV. I. P. PORTER

Rev. Isaac P. Porter, one of the first settlers of Worth County, having nloved here when he was twelve years old, and before the county was even organized, was born in Lau- rens County March 25, 1842. H e enlisted in the Confederate Army in 1562, and served for six months as a soldier in Sav- annah and on the coast of North Carolina. He was discharged in May, 1865, a t Montezuma, Ga.

He married RIary Powell in 1865 in Worth County, H e moved to Laurens County and lived two years, moving from there to Russell County, where he lived seven years, moving from there to Bradford County, where he lived for four years; then rnovit~g to Worth County, where he has been living since. H e first becaille a ineml~er of the Missionary Baptist Church in 1865, later joining the Primitive Baptist Church, and was ordained as a minister in 1890 and was active in the ministry until about five years ago, when failing health clue to old age and infirmities forced him to retire.

He died in the fall of 1933 a t the age of ninety years.



152 HISTORY OF W O R T H COUNTY, GEORGIA

SUMNER QUARTETTE

This history ~vould be incomplete if no place was given the Suinner Quartette on its pages, for they have been one of the greatest and most beautiful means of advertising Worth County.

T h e Ki~vanis Club sent them to Atlanta wit11 Ex-Governor Chase Osborn to 11roaclcast t o the ~vor ld the greatness and the beauty to be found in life in JfTorth County. Thousands heard Gov. Osborn's address and the songs of the Sumner Quartette.

Below Inre give clippings from the Sylvester Local on this occasion :

Sylvester Local, January 26, 1927. O n Wedilesday evening, Jan. 26th, Sylvester, IVorth Coun-

ty , and South~veqt Georgia were placed on the map in fine fashion through the program sponsored by the Sylvester Kiwanis club over \lTSB in Atlanta, a t which Gov. Chase S. Os l~o rn cleliverecl a captivating address and the Royal-Sum- ner Quartette sang several of their best selections. One prominent Atlanta man said that riot less than ten thousand people of that city listened to the program. I t is safe to say that as many more over the state heard it. It will never be kno.tvn how many the country over listened to the program, but it is safe to say that the total nlould run into many thousands.

I t was announced a t the l~roadcasting station that the Syl- vester Kinranis Club invited and urged fans over the country t o write in to the c l u l ~ and appraise the program offered, and t o encourage the fans to ~vr i te , two ten-pound bags oE pecans were offered, one t o the one hearing the progran~ from the greatest distance and the other bag to the fan tha t mailed in the best synopsis of the program.

Many hundreds of letters were received. These letters were from every state in the Union East of the Rockies. Many asked for further inforination about this great section.

One letter has this to say: "Let me pay tribute to the Royal-Sumner quartette whose

good voices were heard last night over WSB. This station did its vast audience a great favor in broadcasting the sweet singing of the most charming songs that I have heard in many a day. I am a lover of music and possess radio equipment that per- mits my tuning in with the best stations in America, and I



HISTORY OF IVORTH COUSTY, GEORGIA 153

always enjoy good voices engaged it1 singing the spirituals; however, no group of singers, in tny ol~inion, has yet excelled, if equaled the harmon)- and quality of the Royal-Sumner quartette. If WSB does not bring them back to Atlanta the11 I shall have t o spend some of my time in S ~ l ~ e s t e r in order tha t I may hear them often."

One old lad!- nlrote in part as follows: "The parson li\-es across the street from me and I happened t o Ile over there when we caught IYSB, and when we heard tha t quartette it

SUMNER QUARTETTE Left to right: J. Clapborne Porter, Clarence J. Hobby, Bertie N. Sum-

ner, and Gleilll Sheppard Sumner.

sure was grand and ~vl ien they busted out on Maggie, I said, 'Parson, you will have t o hold me! I just can't stand it ' and w h e i ~ tha t Governor of yours go t t l ~ r o u g l ~ speaking I said, 'IVell you all might as well tell me goodbye, I'm 011 my lvay t o W o r t h Co.' "

T h e personnel of this quartette has changed some. I t began a s Royal-Sumner Quartette with Zara and Marvin RoyaI as members. Later Julius l$Taltess took Mal-vin Royal's place.




Zara Royal resigned and moved to Florida. Today it is known as the Surnner Quartette. Glen and Bertie Sumner organized it and have heen with it contitluously since. Clarence 1. Hol>by ancl J . Clayborne Porter joined them in 1927. The 11ersonneI of the present. whose pictures are seen on another page, are:

Glenn Sheppard Sumner, First Tenor. Bertie M. Sumner, Second Tenor. Clarence J. Hobby, Baritone. J. Clayhorne Porter, Bass. They are all native sons of Worth and are related to each

other, and are descended from the earliest settlers in this county.

This quartette are members oE the Kiwanis Club, and have been honorary members for a number of years. The Club bas sent them to many Ki~vanis affairs and Kinranis Conventions t o furnish their part of the programs, and has always received loud acclaim and praise for their work. They went t o the International Convention of Kiwanis at Miami. They were introduced to the Chairman of the music committee of the International Convention who, after trying them out, selected them to sing for the various clistrict meetings. This was considered an honor due to the fact that there were numbers and numbers of entertainers who made application to 11e allowed to sing ancl play for the Convention.

The Quartette was selected to sing for five of the district banquets held in the various hotels of the city and due to the fact that other banquets were being held in adjoining dining rooms, the quartette was induced to sing Eor four additional district l~anquets, receiving after each song applause after applause, and in some cases were forced to consume a good portion of the hour assigned to the banquet.

For many years they gave public concerts of high class music over Southwest Georgia. At that time Miss Ruth Sum- ner, of Sumner, was pianist.

They were the hired choir of the First hfethodist Church of Albany for the years of 1927-'28-'29. They are all high-toned, Christian gentlemen.

The greatest work of the Quartette is evangelistic singing. If the announcement is made, where they are kno~vn, that they are to sing a t a church, the seating capacity is taxed to the limit. With their melody they stir the soul to its very depths.




There is no greater work done for the coming of God's Kingdom than that by those \\rho sing the Gospel of Christ into the hearts of men.

Below \ve give some family details of these singers.

Glenn Sheppard Sumner

G. S. Sumner belongs to the large Sumner family of this county. He is the son of Thomas Lee Stlmner and Lou (Pitt- man) Sumner, of Sumner, Ga. His paternal grandparents were George W. and Rhoda (Porter) Sumner. He is a great grandson of Joseph and Mahala (Smith) Sumner.

Glen Sumner was born Nov. 14, 1894, married Dec. 24, 1922, to Bessie Funderburke. Bessie Funderburke ~ v a s born Nov. 26, 1893.

They have one child, Max Glenn Sumner, born March 21, 1920.

Bertie N. Sumner

Bertie N. Sumner l)eloi?gs to the Sumner family of Worth, which dates back to the first one of the family to come to America, Williatn Sumner, who came to Virginia. He was born 1668. William's great-grandson, Joseph Sumner 11, was first probably in Georgia, Emanuel County, born in 1761, marriecl Mary Kight. He was a Revolutionary soldier. Joseph Suinner, 111, and wife, Mahala (Smith) Sumner, were first to come to what is now Worth County. Through their son, Daniel S. and wife, Martha (Monk) Sumner, and their son, Marion H. and wife, Mary (Harris) Sumner, Bertie Sumner is descended.

Bertie N. Sumner is the sixth child of Marion I-I. and Mary (Harris) Sumner. H e was 11orn Aug. 24. 1890, married Char- lie Mae Roberts May 21, 1917, born Jan. 5, 1898. Their children are Betty Ann, born Fell. 17, 1925, and Mary Jane, born Nov. 19, 1928.

Mrs. Bertie N. Surnner, nee Charlie Mae Roberts, is de- scencledl from the oldest families of Miller County on her paternal side. Her father, James Roberts, was descended from the Bush and Roberts families of Colquitt and Miller Counties. O n her mother's side she is descended from the earliest settlers of Ranc1oll)h County, the Curry and Martin families. Her



156 HISTORI- OF WORTH COUKTY, GEORGIA

mother was, before marriage, Hettie Curry, the daughter of Charles F. and Amanda (Martin) Curry.

Clarence J. Hobby

Clarence J. Hobby is descended from the earliest settlers of Worth County. His line of descent on the paternal side: the first Hol~bp was Andrew Hobby ancl wife Lydia, immi- grating from Charleston, S. C.

Their son Jeff' D. L. Hobby married Amanda Vines, daughter of Hiram Vines and wife, Elizabeth (Tanner) Vines, who immigrated from Crawford County, Ga., and settled in the Northwestern part of the county. They were among the earliest and most influential families.

The son of Jeff and Amanda Hobby lvas Jesse Hobby, the father of Clarence Hobby.

The mother of Clarence J. Hobby was Fannie Rutland before marriage to Jesse Hobby. She is the daughter of John ancl Adaline (Roberts) Rutlancl, who immigrated from Charleston, S. C. to Worth and settled near Wantrick.

Clarence J. Hobby was born in Worth County, May 25, 1903, married Miss Sadie Lumpkin, Oct. 1921, daughter of Lucius and Alice (Allen) Lumpkin, who moved to Worth from Schley County.

Their children are Kieffer Lamar, born Dec. 5, 1928, Doris May, born 1929, Clarence J., Jr., born 1931.

J. Clayborn Porter

J. Clayborn Porter is not a resident of Worth, though he is descended from some of the old families-the Porters and Sumners of this county.

He was born Sept. 15, 1896, and married Miss Pearl Rutland. They have one child, Wilma Elizabeth.

S INGING C O N V E N T I O N S

There may have been many different names under which the Musical iissociatiot~s of Worth have been known, but no matter under what name they went, they have been the means of great uplift to the people musically, socially, and religiously.




They trained the people in song for worship and gave the masses an appreciation of music that they would not have received otl~er~vise.

Copying from the files of Worth Local in 1905, the Bryant Musical Association was organized a t Harmony Church 1903. In 1905 i t met with New Bethel with the following officers: President, Joseph Marion Self; Vice-President, Will J. Davis; Organists, Lula Davis and Pa t Ward.

Leaders were J. M. Self, W. J. Davis, B. F. Barbee, J. K. Stephens, S. F. Smith, Henry T. James, H. Moore, J. H. Allen, 0. F. Cheeks, E. E. Theis, - Sweat, - Walker.

Many sight singing classes taught through the year were reported.

These sight singing classes were where the greatest good came to the masses.

Our educators of the day are recognizing the importance of sight singing for the people as a whole, and are putting it into the public schools.

Some of the singing teachers who have brought this phase of a musical education to the people of Worth are John Royal, called "Singing Royal," whose whole family are musical, Joseph Marion Self, Hammy Moore, Morris Hobby, Bob Steph- ens, Henry James, and others whose names we have not been able to learn.

The Worth County Singing Convention was organized a t Sylvester in the Pinson Memorial Church in 1932.

Officers elected a t the beginning were L. D. Pearce, Chair- man ; President, J. N. Sumner ; Vice-President, C. H. Hancock; Secretary and Treasurer, J. W. Warren.

The by-laws made at that time designated the Court House as the permanent home of this convention where they have met annually since.

The active officers elected in 1932 were, President, I,. D. Mathews ; Vice-President, Wesley Shiver ; Secretary and Treasurer, Johtl A. Golden.

Executive Committee

Judge C. \ I T . h1onk, J. H. Story, V. C. Calloway, C. H. Hancock, N. G. Houston.



CHAPrl'EK XIV

PATRIOTIC ORGANIZATIONS HISTORY OF WORTH LODGE NO. 194

Worth Lodge, No. 194 was chartered Oct. 31, 1855, a t Isabel- la. The first officers were Sam B. Webb, W.M.; A. E. Harris, S.W.; F. M. Surnmons, J.W.; Wm. \V. Tison, Treas.; Simon P. Odon~, Secretary; J. J. Williams, S.D.; Warren Dykes, J.D. ; and Henly O'Neal, Tyler.

The application for dispensation was signed by seven members and during the year, while under the dispensation, seven were initiated, seven passed, six raised, two affiliated, and two rejected. In addition to the above officers, the entire membership for this year was A. L. Lippit, A. M. Giddens, A. H. Dykes, J. C. Trawick, Jas. P. Cox, J. H. Calhoun, J. W. H. Mitchell, and Jno. P. Davis.

Worshipful Masters and Secretaries are as follo~vs : 1855 Samuel J3. Webb, W. M.-Simon P. Odom, Secty. 1856 Samuel B. Webb, W. M.-Simon P. Odom, Secty. 1857 Samuel B. Webb, W. M.-W. F. Bynum, Secty. During this year

the place of meeting was changed from Isabella t o McLellan's Mill.

1858 D. McLellan, W. M.-A. M. Giddens, Secty. 1859 D. McLellan, W . M.-J. H. Harrison, Secty. 1860 D. McLellan, W. M.-Wm. A. Greer, Secty. 1861-'62-'63-'64 No reports were made. 1865 D. McLellan, W . M.-A. M. Giddens, Secty. 1866 J. M. Holamon, W. M.-Jno. A. Ford, Secty. 1867 J. M. Holamon, W. h9.-A. M. Giddens, Secty. The place of meet-

ing was changed this year from McLellan's Mill to Isabella. 1868 Wm. A. Harris, W. M.-J. M. C. Holamon, Secty. 1869 D. McLellan, W . M.-Henry R. Joyner, Secty. 1870 W. A. Harris, W . M.-Wm. J. Ford, Secty. 1871 W. A. Harris, W. M.-Jas. W. Rouse, Secty. 1872 There was no report made. 1873 D. McLellan, W . M.-J. hf. C. Holamon, Secty. 1874 D. McLellan, W. M.-Jas. W. Rouse, Secty. 1875-76 No reports were made. 1877 D. McLellan, W. M.-D. G. McLellan, Secty. 1878 No report was made. 1879' D. McLellan, W . M.-D. G. McLellan, Secty. 1880 D. McLellan, W. 34.-Ernest Cortoy, Secty. 1881 R. F. Hendrick, W. M.-Mark Tison, Secty. 1882 Jno. W. Fowler, W. M.-Mark Tison, Secty.

(158)



HISTORY OF W O R T H COUNTY, GEORGIA 159

1883 J. A. Johnson, W . M.-Mark Tison, Secty. During this year the meeting place changed from Isabella back t o McLellan's Mill.

1884. J. A. Johnson, W. M.-J. A. McLendon, Secty. 1885 J. A. Johnson, W. M.-W. J. Ford, Secty. 1886 J. A. Johnson, W. M.-W. J, Ford, Secty. During this year the

meeting place changed back to Isabella. 1887 J. A. Johnson, W . M.-W. J . Ford, Secty. 1888 J. A. Johnson, W. M.-W. J. Ford, Secty. 1889 M. W. Deariso, W. M.-J. J. McDowell, Secty. 1890 M. W. Deariso, W . M.-J. M. Buckelew, Secty. 1891 Mr. L. Sykes, W. M.-J. M. Buckelew, Secty. 1892 W. L. Sykes, W. M.-J. M. Buckelew, Secty. During this year the

nieeting place was changed f rom Isabella to Sylvester. 1893 W. L. Sykes, 'a. 14.-G. T. Ford, Secty. 1894 IV. L. Sykes, W. M,-D. A. McGirt, Secty. 1895 W. L. Sykes, Mr. M.-G. T. Ford, Secty. 1896 J. H. Westberry, W. hl.-G. T. Ford, Secty. 1897 J. S. Westberry, W. M.-C. E. Gruhbs, Secty. 1898 J. H. Westberry, W. M.-C. E. Grubbs, Secty. 1899 M. J. Crockett, W. M.-C. E. Grubbs, Secty. 1900 J. G. Polhill, W . M.-W. A. Allen, Secty. 1901 J. H. Westberry, W. M.-W. A. Allen, Secty. 1902 E. J. Rhodes, \IT. M.-G. F. Alford, Secty. 1903 J. H . Tipton, W . M.-G. F. Alford, Secty. 1904 T. C. Jefford, W . M.-W. T. Clements, Secty. 1905 W. S. Long, W. M.-W. T. Clements, Secty. 1906 J. D. Martin, \V. M.-W. T. Clements, Secty. . 1907 J. D. Martin, W. M.-C. E. Hay, Secty. 1908 Irwin Gates, W. M.-R. L. Deariso, Secty. 1909 J. H. Westberry, VJ. M.-J. D. Martin, Secty. 1910 P. B. Ford, W . M.-J. 0. Holamon, Secty. 1911 P. B. Ford, W. M.-J. C. Deariso, Secty. 1912 P. B. Ford, W . M.-J. C. Deariso. Secty. 1913 0. L. Deariso, W. M.-J. C. Deariso, Secty. 1914 J. H. Westberry, IV. M.-J. C. Deariso, Secty. 1915 J. H. Westberry, W. M.-J. C. Deariso, Secty. 1916 J. H. Westberry, W . M.-J. C. Deariso, Secty. 1917 C. W. Monk, Mr. M.--J. C. Deariso, Secty. 1924 W . H. Westberry, W. M.-J. C. Deariso, Secty. 1925 W. H. Westberry, W. M.-J. C. Deariso, Secty. 1926 C. W. Monk, W. M.-J. C. Deariso, Secty. 1927 J. G. Hardwick, W. M.-H. W. Alderman, Secty. 1928 P. B. Ford, W . M.-H. W. Alderman, Secty. 1929 C. W . Monk, W. M.-H. W. Alderman, Secty. 1930 C. W. Monk, W. M.-H. W . Alderman, Secty. 1931 C. hl. Rahon, W. M.-H. W. Alderman, Secty. 1932 W. R. Canip, W. M.-H. W. Alderman, Secty. 1933 J. F'. Deariso, W . M.-H. W. Alderman, Secty. 1934 Glenn S. Sumner, W. M.--W. R. Camp, Secty.

WOMAN'S CLUBS O F W O R T H COUNTY

SYLVESTER WOMAN'S CLUB

Perhaps the first organization of women for club work was "The Tuesday Afternoon Study Clul)." A number of the



IVOMAN'S CLUE: I-IOUSE-SY LVESTER



HISTORY O F 14'ORTH COUNTY, GEORGIA 161

~vomcn of Sylvcstcr felt the need of social contact and intellec- taal cu!ti-\.ation, and this organizatioi~ was perfected in the lloille of RIrs. T. J i . Heii:sohn, \\rho served as president. A regulai- cotli-se of study was adopted and pursued n ~ i t h most 11elpf111 results. change of conditions and c i r cu~~~s t ances caused the decline of this clul,, 11ut much seed hacl been sourn, and nenr inspiration pla~lted in the hearts ancl ininds of the women.

THE CIVIC IMPROVEMENT CLUB

Iiroin the files of the IVorth County Local, hlay 15, 1908, we get a full account o l tlle organization of Sylvester women for regular club work.

TVednestlay. htay 13, 1908, Nlrs. i"u'ic11olson Peterson of Tifton, State Organizer for the Georgia Federation, met a numl~er of Tvomen a t the home of Mrs. E. M. Johnson and organized "The Civic Improvement Club." T h e following officers lvere elected:

Mrs. K. A. Holines, President; Mrs. 1. l3. Williamson, lTice- President ; Mrs. Claucle Payton, Correspo~lding Secretary ; Mrs. Clifford Gru l~ l~s , Recording Secretary, and Mrs. L. D. l'assniore, Treasui-er.

The I-ecoi-ds of rcports printed in these files of the Local sl101.i. that these women v,rorked for the city ailcl school-their chief objectives--with an enthusiasm ancl zeal that achieved much for the school and town.

Better ecluiprnent and inore sanitary collclitions was the slogan for the school, anil City Beautiful" n-as the slogan for the tonrn.

lLIuc11 of their titne was given to a study of the work done Ijy the State Federation and its suggestions for small towns. Along this program they were adding unabridged diction- aries to the school foi- gencral and special use, and much was in the interest of health and sanitation.

The State Federation met in TTalclosta and a report for seven nlonths worli -\vent in. This report recei-ced nilstinted praise for work clone and liloney raised ~ ~ r i t h i n the seven lllontl~s of the club's activity.

Mrs. Holines resigned ill December, 1908, and Mrs. J. B. MTilliamson was elected president. which office she filled nlost efficiently until her death in 1917.




I n 1909 deeds were secured from Col. John D. Pope to the area between the A. C. L. and the Gulf Line Railroad, now known and used as Pope's Park, the name being one condition set out in the deed, it being also stipulated that it sllould be a white people's park. This was a veritable bog and jungle, but many could see the wonderful possibilities, and the Civic Improvement Club set about to transform this ugly blot into a beauty spot. Mrs. Clifford Grubbs went to Albany to receive the deeds from Col. Pope, so that the work might begin. The club members worked t~ntiringly. Mr. J. S. Westberry gave free- ly of his time to overseeing the work of moving houses, clear- ing and ditching. Mr. C. A. Alford, President of the Gulf Line Railroad gave the service of their civil engineer without charge, and the railroad furnished culverts for drainage under its line of road. i2 large and attractive pavilion ~ v a s built, seats and swings provided. The eastern edge is being used a s a ball park. In 1910, with proper ceremony and a full measure of pride, the club women presented this park to the City of Sylvester. This enterprise was a colossal undertaking and was completed a t a cost of much hard labor and activity and cash outlay of more than $1,500.00.

The Civic Improvement Club grew with the city, later be- con~itlg a member of the General Federation of Woman's Clubs and, changing its name to "Woman's Club of Sylvester," enlarged its scope of work. It would he hard to estimate or evaluate the services rendered to school and city by this organization. Besides its local work i t has met all requirements of State and General Federation.

The latest and perhaps most courageous undertaking has been the acquisition of a most commodious and modern club house and home. Several years were spent in accumulating funds for this purpose and this stupendous undertaking of owning a home has been a t last consummated. The handsome, attractive and beautiful home, known as the Hugh Westberry home has been acquired and equipped for a club house. I t is the joy and pride of the \vhole city as well as a monument to the indonlitable will and force of these noble women ~ v h o have, with undaunted courage, pushed ahead to the successful accom- plishment of their purpose.

The Ki~vanis Club of Sylvester has solidly stood by these women in this most laudible and praiseworthy undertaking in




making such a valuable acquisition to the city. I t will stand in years to come as a memorial to the pride and aspirations of the splendid womanhood of Sylvester, and we can but fore- see much splendid work going on as the years come and go.

The follo\ving women have served the club as presidents: Mrs. R. A. Holmes, Mrs. J. B. Williamson, Mrs. C. H.

Strangward, Mrs. R. A. Heinsohn, Mrs. J. J. Crumbly, Mrs. J. S. O'Sheal. Mrs. Clifford Grubbs and Miss Alice T i ~ t o n also deserve mention as outstanding meml~ers for their activities, having served untiringly and continuously in many capacities from the beginning of the Tuesday Afternoon Club to the present time.

Mrs. T. C. Jefford was a regular supporter and honorary member of the club, from the organization of the Civic Im- provement Club in 1908, until her death in 1932.

One of the most laudable movements of the club was begun in 1928, when it was decided to invest in a scholarship for girls. Miss Mary Lizzie Willis, a first honor graduate of McPhaul Institute, was the first girl to benefit from this fund.

h s great as material things may be the development of womanhood-mind and heart-is the supreme task. No undertaking has afforded greater joy and satisfaction than this, and these women are hoping to enlarge these opportul~ities as fast as possible.

I t is a tribute to the civic and literary pride of the wornen .of this club that through their efforts many artists of note have visited Sylvester. For several winters the club sponsored a series of programs given by the Alkahest Lyceum Bureau, and for four consecutive years contracted with the Redpath Chautauqua for a five clay program. The club was given the heartiest support and cooperation By the citizens of the entire con~n~uni ty during these Cliautauqua seasons, and by system- atic and efficient work on the part of the sponsors, Mrs. C. H. Strangward, President; Mrs. D. G. Jefford, Treasurer; there was always a surplus in the treasury after full payment of their contract.

All dues have been paid; liberal donations have been made to the endowment and maintenance funds of Tallulah Falls Industrial School, and the club has had a part in esta1,lishing four scholarship funds-the Ella F. White Memorial, the Home Economics scholarship a t Athens, the Wey Memorial




and the Second District F ~ u l d known as the Edna Peterson Scholarship.

Other xvorthy funds in wllich the club has a part include the Red Cross, flood sufierers at Newton, Florida, Storm Relief, Alto Sanitai-ium, empty stocking funcl, permanent blind relief war fund, and Georgia Hall at Warin Spi-ings.

THE POULAN WOMAN'S CLUB

The first club organized in Poulan was The Cosmopolitan Club, some time prior to 1901.

'l'he first Presidents mTei-e Dr. J. G. atld C. N. Wilson. The large membership was enthusiastic and the educational and social benefits to the citizenry of Poulan can not be estimated. The impress was indelible.

The Civic Club was organized by a small group of forward thinking women in the Poulan Drug Store, in 1912.

Mrs. D. A. Phelps was the first President and chief pro- moter of the movement. Mrs. C. N. McDonald was Vice Pres., Rlrs. V. P. Stevens was Sec. and Treas. The records were lost or never kept, so all the charter members cannot be recalled. Among those still active from its ,organization to present writing are Miss Irene EIarshburger, and Mrs. V. P. Stevens. The little band worked with enthusiasm and not without worthwhile results.

In 1916 there was a reorganization and The Poulan Wo- man's Club came into being as a federated club, Mrs. F. M. Kimble was first President of the neuT club.

Poulan has the distinction of having and using a public library-the little concrete building 011 the I~igllway going thru the to\.crn. This l ~ a s served as a club root11 for the 'IYo- man's Club since it was organized.

For a snlall clu11 in a small to\vn these women have accom- ~ l i s h e d some really big things for their school. I t has not only lent a helping hand to the school, but has proven a two-in-one club-includii~g the work of a P.-T. A., also.

Soine of the many efforts for the school ancl its equil)ment

(Legend for cut on page 165.) Poulan Public Library was chartered by the Superior Court of Wor th

County, Georgia on April 27th, 1908. It was made possible by the generosity of northern friends and people of Poulan. This library has the distinction of being the only public library in the county, and not only serves the town and school, but the surrounding territory.



POULAN PUBLIC LIBRARY, (For legend see page 164).




are the purchase of a piano, water coolers for all the rooms, song books, maps, globes, and charts and Inany other things as called for and needed.

On the outside their endeavors make a substantial showing in trees, shrubs, and flowers on school grounds and Library yard and a long highway through to~vn-which the Highway crews have cut down.

Supplies have been sent flood sufferers ancl the little "Empty Stockings" filled at Christmas.

Clinics have been sponsored for bal~ies ancl school children. These ladies take charge of the "Annual lLIeeting of Old

Soldiers" of the county and have made Poulan a pertnsnent meeting place-sponsor a fine dinner and entertaining program.

The mantles of these splendid women have passed from one worthy member to another through the years and they are being worn now as worthily as in the beginning.

BARNARD TRAIL CHAPTER D. A. R.

Barnard Trail Chapter, Daughters American Revolution, was organized Nov. 10,1921. Mrs. Claude Gibson Alford (Mrs. G. F.) had been appointed Organizing Regent by National Headqriarters and had labored faithfully for several months perfecting plans for the organization of a local chapter. A4nd the first meeting was held in her home, with the following chapter members: Mesdames Claude Gibson Alford (Mrs. G. F.), Erin Shealy Alford (Mrs. E. J.), Lallie Ford Camp (Mrs. H. C.), Mattie Alford Gulley (Mrs. E. K.), Mamie Smith Lawson (Mrs. h4. L.), Eennie Alford Westberry (Mrs. M. H.), Frankie Alford Westberry (Mrs. W . H.), Rowena Hanes Ford, Eileen Ford Fiveash (Mrs. W . D.), Helen &4lford hfann (Mrs. I. H.), Ruth Alford Wimpy (Mrs. Jack) and Georgia Hurst McPhaul (Mrs. Neal).

The first officers xvere: Mrs. Claude Gibson Alford (Mrs. G. F.) Regent, Mrs. Bennie Alford Westberry (Mrs. M. H.) Vice-Regent, Mrs. Helen Alford Mann (Mrs. I. H.) Cor. Sec., Mrs. Franliie Alford Westberry (Mrs. W. H.) Rec. Sec., Mrs. Lallie Ford Camp (blrs. H. C.) Registrar, Mrs. Mamie Smith Lawson (Mrs. M. L.) Treasurer, Mrs. Georgia Hurst Mc- Phaul (Mrs. Neal) Historian.




The chapter was named Sylvester Chapter and bore that name until Jan. 1927, when a historic name, "Barnard Trail," was approved by National Headqtlarters.

The follom-ing have in order served the Chapter as Regent: Mrs. G. F. Alford (1921-1923), Mrs. ill. L. Lawson (1923- 1924), Mrs. H. C. Camp (1924-1927), Miss Mary Mangham was elected to serve (1927-1929) she resigned and Mrs. D. G. Jeffords was elected to serve for (1927-1929), Mrs. R. A. Holmes (1929-1931), Mrs. I. H. Mann (1931-1935).

In April 1924 an interesting program was given on early Worth County History and a t the suggestion of Mrs. M. L. Lawson, Regent, the chapter began laying plans for a complete Worth County History.

The chapter, from its very beginning, had loyally supported the historic and patriotic ~ v o r k as outlined by the State and National officers. This is proven by the fact that a t the annual conference in Brunswick in 1929, the chapter was awarded three prizes as follows: ten dollars in gold for being the first chapter to meet all honor roll requirements; a silver loving cup for securing the largest nuinber of sul~scril~ers to the D. A. R, magazine; and tied with Valdosta chapter for a loving cup given to the chapter securing the largest number of T'ible records.

On Fell. 21, 1930 the chapter uilveiled a marker of Sylvester- Albany highway on the spot where Thigpen Trail crossed. This trail was made in 1703-01.

T l ~ e followring is the complete Roster of Barnard Trail Chapter, covering to June, 1933:

Mrs. Claude Gibson Alford (Mrs. G. F.) descendant of Thomas Lowe, Virginia.

Mrs. Erin Shealy Alford (htrs. E. J.) descendant of Thomas Lowe, Virginia.

Mrs. Nella Gaulden Bateman (Mrs. L. G.) descendant of Jacob McLendon, Sr., Georgia.

Mrs. Mireilllie Huckabee Bullard (Mrs. J. M.) descendant of William Bennett, Nortli Carolina.

Mrs. Lallie Ford Camp (Mrs. H. C.) descendant of Robert Pullen, John Ford, David Hanes.

Mrs. Ella Roper Coram (Mrs. P. A.) descendant of Jacob RIcLendon, Sr., Georgia, William Douglas, Georgia, Sterling Jenkins, Georgia.



16s HISTOR\- O F VVOIITH COUKTY, GEORGIA

Mrs. Cathritle Grubhs C11eney (Mrs. Lawrence IV.) descendant of Robert i\lartin, South Carolina, and Purnal Truitt , Del- aware.

Mrs. Judith Donrcl Chestnutt, descetldatlt of John Ilallum, South Carolina.

Mrs. i\iIinta Sikes Catneroil (Mrs. W. A.) descendant of Jacob McLenclon, Sr., Georgia, William Douglass, Georgia, Sterling Jenkins, Georgia.

Mrs. i l n ~ a n d a I'erry Darling (Mrs. Charles) desceildant of William Cone, North Carolina.

Miss Lizzie J. Deariso, descendant of John Ford, Georgia. Mrs. RIiltlretl Holines Dickert (Mrs. C. K.) descendant of

Maj. Benj. Catchings, Georgia. Mrs. Birdie Lewis Felcler (Mrs. J. D.) descenclant of En-

sign J aco l~ Lewis, Va. i'virs. Roivena Hanes Ford, desceildatlt of Robert Pullen,

David Hanes. Mrs. Eileen Ford Fiveash (Mrs. N. D.) descendant of

John Ford, liobert Pullen, David Hanes. Mrs. Bessie Roberts Forest (Mrs. J. K.) descendant of

Robert bIartin, South Carolina. Mrs. Emlnie Castellow Freeman (R/lrs. L. 0.) deicendailt

of Jacol:, RiIcLendon, Jr., Georgia. Mrs. Frances McGirt Gardner (Mrs. \V. K.) clescelltlallt of

JIaj. John Hinton, North Carolina. Mrs. Lillie Martin Grubhs j?llrs. C.) descellclallt of Robert

Martin, South Carolina, and Purnal Truitt , Delaware. Airs. l lva Gibson Greer (Mrs. Lovic) descendal~t of T l ~ o m a s

Loxve, Virginia. i\/Irs. Mattie illforcl Gtllley (Mrs. E. I<.) desce~ldailt of

Lieut. Rol~er t Loye, North Carolina. Mrs. Lillian Critt Heinsohn (Mrs. R. A.) descentlatlt of

LA1~ral~am Kenrkirk, Korth Carolina.

Legend for cut on page 169. Top row, left to right: Xlrs. J. \\r. Warren; Mrs. \V. J. Madeville;

Mrs. J . D. Feldcr; Mrs. J. S. O'Sheal; A,liss Mamie Perry; Mrs. P. A. Cora~ll and Mrs. J. M. Bullard.

Secol~d row, left to right: Miss hlary klalighalll; Miss Josie Belle John- son; Miss Lizzie J. Deariso; Mrs. H C. Camp and Mrs. N. G. Houston.

Third row: Mrs. Rowena Ford; Mrs. J. H. Tipton; Mrs. T. R. Perry, Sr., and Mrs. Clifford Grubbs.

Fourth row: Mrs. Nella Bateman; Mrs. J. 0. Holamon; Mrs. I. H. Mann; Mrs. D. G. Jefford and Mrs. G. I. Martin.



MEI,ILIBERS, BARNARD CHAPTER, D. A. R. (For legend see page 168.)




Rdrs. Orrie Castello\v Hillhouse (Mrs. J. H.) descendant of Jacob McLendon, Jr., Georgia.

Mrs. \jTinifred Woolard Holamon (Mrs. J. 0.) descendant of Edward Vail, North Carolina.

Mrs. M:ildred Steed IIolmes (Mrs. R. A.) descendant of Maj. Renj. Catchings, Georgia.

Mrs. Emma Sumner Houston (,Mrs. N. G.) descendant of Joseph Samner, Georgia.

Mrs. Julia NeSmith Jefforcl (:Mrs. D. G.) desceiltlant of Joshua Hodges, Sr., North Carolina.

Mrs. Floried Saxon Jenkins (Mrs. J. B.) desce~idant of Robert Martin, South Carolina.

Miss Josebel Johnson, descendant of Nathan l3ost\vick, Sr., Georgia.

Mrs. Gussie Peebles Jones (Mrs. C. S.) clescendant of John Ford, Georgia.

Mrs. Lillie Monk Kitchens (Mrs. J. A.) descen~lant of William Cone, North Carolina.

Miss Lucile Kimble, <!escendant of John Bradley, Georgia. Mrs. Lollie Johns King (Mrs. John N.) descendant of Col.

Robert Irwin, North Carolina. Mrs. Mamie Smith Lawson (Mrs. &I. L.) clescendant of

Colesby Smith, Virginia, Hugh Irwin, Georgia. Mrs. Helen Alford Mann (Mrs. I. H.) desce~lclant of Lieut.

Robert Love, North Carolina. Mrs. Carrie Harris Mandeville (Mrs. W. J.) desce~ldant of

William Gainer. Mrs. Dallas Houston Martin (Mrs. G. I.) descendant of

Joseph Sumner, Georgia. Miss Mary hfanghan~, descendant of Jacol:, McLendon, Sr.,

Georgia, Willianl Douglas, Georgia, Sterling Jenkins, Georgia. Mrs. Ethel I\dangham McConnell descendant of Jacob Mc-

Lendon, Sr., Georgia, JYilliatn Douglas, Georgia, Sterling Jen- kins, Georgia.

L-lrs. Georgia Hurst McPhaul (Mrs. Neal)--. Mrs. Maude Wall O'Sheal (Mrs. J . S.) descendant of James

Quillian, North Carolina. Miss Margtterite O'Sheal, descenclant of Janles Quillian,

North Carolina. Mrs. Kathreen Coratn Outler (Mrs. L. T.) descendant of

Jacob McLendon, Sr., Georgia, William Douglas, Georgia, Sterling Jenkins, Georgia.




Mrs. Sarah Ford Peel~les (Mrs. W. 2.) descendant of John Ford, Georgia.

Miss Mamie Perry, descendant of IVilliam Cone, North Carolina.

Mrs. Amanda Williams Perry (Mrs. T. R., Sr.) descendant of William Cone, North Carolina.

Mrs. Nancy Perry Porter (Mrs. R. M.) descendant of Wil- liam Cone, North Carolina.

Mrs. Rosalie Mangham Tipton (Mrs. J . H.) descendant of Jacob hlclendon, Sr., Georgia, William Douglass, Georgia, Sterling Jenkins, Ga.

Mrs. Maude Dowd Thompson, descendant of John Hallum, South Carolina.

Mrs. Elizabeth Williams Warren (Mrs. J. W.) descendant of John Ford, Georgia.

Mrs. Frances Alford Westberry (Mrs. IV, H.) descendant of Lieut. Robert Love, North Carolina.

Mrs. Bennie Alford Westberry (Mrs. M. H.) descendant Lieut. Robert Love, North Carolina.

Mrs. Ruth Alforcl Wimpy (RIrs. Jack) descendant of Lieut. Robert Love, North Carolina.

Mrs. 1-atrelle Acree Catnmage (Mrs. Einil) descendant of Capt. James Jones, North Carolina, Thomas Maxwell, Sr., Georgia, Capt. Jacob Higginbothan~, Virginia.

REGENTS OF BARNARD TRAIL CHAPTER D. A. R. I

Mrs. Claude Gibson Alford (Mrs. G. F.) 1921-1923

Mrs. Claude Gibson Alford, Organizing Regent, served a s Secretary and Chaplain and nras always on Executive Board until her death in 1930. Under her l e a d e r s ~ l i ~ the membership was greatly increased.

Mrs. Mamie Smith Lawson (Mrs. M. L.) 1923-1924

Mrs. Niamie Smith Lawson, Second Regent, nlade a most nlagnificent ancl enthusiastic leader. Under her direction the Worth County History was l~egtln in compliance with advice from the D. A. R. National Organization. She was treasurer for three years, Regent one, resigning to nlove to Da~vson, Ga.. now a resitlent of Cuthl~crt, Ga.



(For legend sec page 173.)



HISTORY O F IVORTH COUNTY, GEORGIA 173

I11 Mrs. Lallie Ford Camp (Mrs. H. C.)

1924-1927 Mrs. 1,allie Ford Camp. Third Regent, was a charter mem-

1x1- and first Registrar. Served as Regent in 1924-1925, filling the unexpired term of Mrs. M. L. Lanrson. After n-hich she was elected Regent and servecl the following two years. During her Regency the name of the Chapter was changed to Barnard Trail Chapter. She is Recorcling Secretary 1933-1931.

Mrs. L,allie May Ford Cainp, daughter of William Jack- soil ancl Rowella Hailes Fortl. Born in Al l~any, Ga.. Fell- ruary 4, 189.7. and mo~recl to Sylvester, Ga., when six months of age. Married to Hiram Cald~vell Camp, soil of Hiranl Luther and Kora Caldn~ell Camp. of Coweta County. Ga., on Fel~suai-y ?4th, 1918. She is the mother of s i s c1:ildren; I d l i e Forcl. Walker, IZill!.. 13arl>ara, and twin boy and girl, Jaines and Jean.

IV Miss Mary Mangham

1927 Miss Mary Mangham, Fourth Regent, was born in Randolph

,County, Cia., parents I V i l l o u g h l ~ ~ ~ Hill Mangham aild Georgia Amanda Roper Manghatn, clescellded froin Jacob RIcCle!ldon, Sr. I i i l l iam Douglass ant1 Sterling Jenkins, maternal Revolu- tionary ancestors, who livecl ill &'ilkes County, Ga. A~no l lg her paternal ancestors were JT.Tilliam Castilo Hill and his wife, R/lal-y Dylies Hill, pioneer settlers of Raiiclolph County, Ga. She removed in early life to Wor th County, Ga., and then with her parents to \iTaresboso, Ware County, Ga. She attended Cox college, Atlanta, and gratluatecl fro111 the State Norinal School - for teachers at Athens \vith L.I. Degree. Later moved back ~ v i t h her mot l~er to Sylvester where she resides. Occt~pation, teaching. Served as Vice-Regent of Chapter 1924-1925 for an unexpirecl terlz~. Electecl Vice-Iiegent 1925-1927. Elected Reg- ent in ;\la!-. 1927. On accottnt of ill health resigned Dec., 1927. Correspo~~ding Secretary and Co-Chairman of History.

Legend for cut on page 172. Left to right, top row: Mrs. AIaniie Smith Lawsoil (Mrs. 14. L.) Mrs.

Lallie Fortl Canlp (Mrs. H. C.), Center, Mrs. Claude Gibson Alford, (Mrs. G. F.) Left t o right, Miss Mary hlangham, Mrs. Julia ( F e Smith) Jefford, (Mrs. D. G.), Bottom row, left t o right: Mrs. Mil- dred Steed Holines (Mrs. R, A.), Mrs. Helen Alford Mann (Mrs. I. H.).




v Mrs. Julia NeSmith Jefford (Mrs. D. G.)

1927 - 1929 Mrs. Julia NeS~nith Jefford, Fifth Regent, was Registrar

of the chapter two years. Elected Vice-Regent May, 1927, and in ~ e c e t n h e r was elected Regent, as Acting Regent having resigned, under her leadership the Chapter won Mrs. John A. Perdue Magazine Trophy and State Treasurers Prize ; first to reach Honor Roll, in 1929. Tiecl with General James Jack- son Chapter for Bible Record Trophy.

V I Mrs. Mildred Steed Holmes (Mrs. R. A,)

1929 - 1931 Mrs. Mildred Steed Holmes, Sixth Regent, Honor Roll met,

Granite boulcler placed where the Thigpen Trail cut for Col. Moore to move supplies over for his Army in putting clown the Spaniards and Appelackee Indians in this section, where it crosses the highway. Unveiled Feb. 21, 1930. Scholarship f~ lnd in ~duca t iona l work begun. Forty members on the roll, twenty-four resident.

VII & VIII Mrs. Helen Alford Mann (Mrs. I. H.)

1931 '32 -'33 -'34 Mrs. Helen Alford Mann, Seventh and Eighth Regent-Cor-

respot~ding Secretary, Recording Secretary and Vice-Regent. The greatest work of the Chapter under her Regency has been the finishing of the coinpilation of the Worth County History. Member of Executive Hoard for Illany years.

During her administration the Chapter has joined with the State and National D. A. R. in all patriotic and educational undertakings.

SYLVESTER PARENT-TEACHER ASSOCIATION

On December 19, 1919, a group of parents and the teachers of McPhaul Institute met in the school building and organized the Sylvester Parent-Teachers Association, with Supt. J. T. Lowe acting chairman. The following officers were elected:

Mrs. C. Grubbs, President ; Mrs. J. T. Lowe, Vice-President; Mrs. J. L. Tracy, Recording Secretary; Mrs. H. C. Camp, Treasurer.

The charter menlbers were: Mrs. Sallie Crockett, Mrs. H. C.



HISTORY O F WORTH COUNTY, GEORGlA 175

Camp, bIr. and Mrs. R. L. Deariso, Dr. and Mrs. I. C. Deariso, Miss Lizzie J . Deariso, Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Dickson, Mrs. J . E. Hite, Mr. C. W. Hillhouse, Mrs. A. D. Hamby, Mrs. R. S. Foy, Rev. and Mrs. J. C. Flanders, Mr. and Mrs. C. Grubbs, Mrs. J. 0. Holamon, Mr. and Mrs. N. G. Houston, Miss Dallas Houston, Mr. and Mrs. D. G. Jefford, Mr. and Mrs. J A. Kitchen, Prof. and Mrs. J. T. Lowe, Rev. M. L. Lawson, Miss Mary Mangham, Mrs. IV. C. Manning, Miss Elizabeth Norwood, Mrs. C. I. Parnell, Mr. and Mrs. A. H. Pinson, Mrs. J. G. Poll~ill, Mrs. P. B. Powell, Mrs. C. H. Reynolds, Mrs. N. M. Rhodes, Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Strangward, Mr. and Mrs. J. N. Sumner, Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Tipton, Miss Alice Tipton, Mrs. Mark Tison, Dr. and Mrs. J. L. Tracy, Mr. and Mrs. J. IV. Warren, Mrs. Grover Woolard, Mr. and Mrs. M. H . Westberry, Mr. and Mrs. Wolfe, and Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Whitehurst.

T h e enrollnlent steadily increased, there being one hunclred ancl five enrolled the first year.

The first objective of the P.-T. A. was to add two new departments to the school work, that of Domestic Science and Agriculture, and the sum of $1000 was appropriated immediately for the development of this work.

One important achievement of the P.-T. A. during the first year was the placing of this institute uncler the R4cMichael Law which made i t a county wide high school. This consoli- dation placed the school in position to receive the Barrett- Rogers fund.

T h e P.-T. A. has functioned regularly since its organization, and some of the important things accon~plished have been as follo~vs: Purchasing desks for school rooms, books for library, every kincl of class room equipment, complete equipment for Home Economics department, playground equipment, curtains for stage, shrubbery, renovation of base- ments, painting class room ~valls, extension work in the county, and health clinics. Every phase of child welfare work has been carried 011 ; children have been clothed ; the under- nourished have been fed; boolcs have been furnished, and a ~hysic ian 's care has been provided for the needy.

Material work has not been the sole objective of the organization. Literary programs have been given once a month; courses in child study have been frequently sponsored; his-




torical pageants have been presented, and prizes have been given for excellency in school work.

The follo~ving women have served a s president: Mrs. C. Grubbs, Mrs. D. G. Jefford; Mrs. E. Woody, Mrs. .A. H. Overton, Mrs. C. A. Alford, and Mrs. P. E. Williams. Mrs. M. C. r3wen was elected to serve the next term 1933-35. After one year's service she resigned and Mrs. H. C. C:LI?I~ was elected.

MRS. M. COBB OWEN In 1931 Mrs. N ! . Cob11 C)~.i.en was tllacle President of M7c,rth

County Cot~llcil of P.-T.A. She organized seveilteei~ P.-T.PL.'s in the couniy and much splendid work has been acconiplished as a result.

During this time she also served as President of the Syl- vester I).-T.A. in 1933-1934. Under her leadership great \vork has ljeen done. Some of the things of note was the work on and around the school huilding done by the C.W.4. The P.-T.A. furnished $75 worth of the material. The Higli School Meet was entertained by McPhaul Institute sponioretl the P.-T.A. $25 was spent on the library. but the greatest xvork clone in the year was the seating of the school auditoriuin with opera chairs, the P.-T.A. paying one half of the expense, their part ainounting to $500.

THE KIWANIS CLUB OF SYLVESTER Probably the outstanding organization ill Wor th Couilty

for the last tell years has been the Kiwanis Club of Sylvester. T h e meml->ership is coinposecl of the substantial and out-

standing patriotic l~usiness men, joined together for the primary pul-pose of builtling up Sylvester and Worth County.

I t would take a slnall history to name the accomplishmeilts ~vrought l)y this club one by one, 11ut there has, since its organization, l~een nothing proposed or begun that promisecl anything of value or l~enefit to the underprivileged o r needy, or for tlie proinotion of the welfare of the people of the county, that this club has not unan imous l~~ supported and sponsored.

The encouragemei~t ancl support of its meml~ers has made i t

Legend for cut on page 177. T o p row: Mrs. J. J. Crutnblp; and Mrs. M. C. Owens. Center: Mrs. G. C. Woolard. Bottom row: Mrs. Eugine Attaway and Mrs T. R. Perry, Sr.-See

index.



See legend on page 176.



178 HISTORY OF WORTH COUNTY. GEORGIA

possible for the Sylvester Woman's Club to 11uy and pay for their beautiful club house, and there has, at all times, been a beautiful spirit of cooperation and mutual interest in public affairs between the Woman's Club and the Kiwanis Club. Their joint support of McPhaul Institute has been of incalculable value. Annually the faculty of McPhaul Institute has been their guest, and on these occasions the faculty was made to feel that their services and efforts were being appreciated.

The club has sponsored from time t o time all moves for the betterment of the farming interests, and the creation and -

maintenance of a better feeling of goodwill and fellowship, not only among its members, but among the people generally.

Since its organization the club has lived up to its motto: "We Build." They have truly builded, both financiaily and physically, and its influence a t all times has been for the uplift of the spiritual, as well as the financial and cultural.

The Kiwanis Club of Sylvester is not only the outstanding organization of Worth County, but is recognized in its own district, comprising several of the cities in southwest Georgia, also in 110th state and national conventions as one of the outstanding cluhs in the whole country.

In April, 1923, a few of the leading business men of Syl- vester, realizing the great need of some kind of civic organization, arranged for a banquet at the local hotel and invited all the business men of the town to be present. I t was decided a t this meeting to organize a Kiwanis Clul), and steps were immediately taken to secure the fifty members necessary t o organize and secure a charter from Kinranis International. A little later another Banquet mas arranged at which the organization was perfected, and on April 1, 1923, the charter was obtained and the club began to function, by electing M. H. Westberry, President, and John L. Tipton, Secretary, with the following charter mernl~ers :

Alford, E. J. Alford, G. F. Burts, A. M. Bullard, J. M. Bozeman, W. 0. Brooks, W. M. Conoly, J. 0. Camp, H. C. Crumbley, J. J. Davis, C. A.

Deariso, C. W. Dupriest, J. J, Dent, L. L. Ford, E. J. Fite, W. A. Forehand, W. C. Gully, E. K. Hall, J. D. Heinsohn, R. A. Huckabee, W. A.

Hillhouse, R. M. Jefford, T. C. Jefford, D. G. Joiner, E. L. Johnston, W. R. King, C. M. Kimble, F. M. Leach, C. U. Lancaster, P. M. McGill, A. K.



HISTORY OF WORTH COUNTY, GEORGIA

McPhaul, N. A. Roberson, 0. L. Sutton, J. M. Monk, C. W. O'Sheal, J. S. Tison, J. L. Maan, I. H. Sumner, G. W. Tollison, 0 . 0 . Murray, S. R. Shell, L. D. Tracy, J. L. Overton, A. H. Sumner, B. N. Tipton, John L. Pollard, R. B. Strangward, C. H. Westberry, M. H. Passmore, L. D. Sumner, J. N.

Since its organization the following members have served as its president, it being the policy of the club to elect a new member as president each year: J. D. Hall, R. A. Heinsohn, C. H. Strangivard, F. M. Kimble, C. ItT. Monk, Dr. Wnlier C. ~ i ~ k n , \V. C. Forehand, T. C. Jefford, C. W. Strangwxrd and J. S. O'Sheal.

John L. Tipton served as secretary until 1930, when P. M. Lancaster was made secretary and has been serving continuously since that time.

The Kiwanis Club is the only organization of its kind ever organized in Sylvester that has been able to survive for long, but it is now (1934) just as strong and influential as ever, and has never missed a single one of its regular weekly meetings.

At the present time Dr. J. S. O'Sheal is president of the club, and is serving efficiently and well.

The officers elected to serve the year of 1934 are as follows : Clifford Grubbs, President; P. M. Lancaster, Vice-President; Eugene Attaway, Secretary.

J. G. Kirkland, a member of this Club, has been elected a District Governor to serve the year of 1934.

CAMP BILL HARRIS In the year 1897, on July 7tl1, the Confederate Veterans of

Worth organized themselves into a Camp and named it in honor of one of their comrades, Hon. Wm. A. Harris, who served in the Mexican War and the W a r Between the States. The name selected was Camp Bill Harris, No. 1149, with following officers :

T. J. Hall, Commander J. L. Boon, Fourth Lieut. ~ a m e s Gregory, First Lieut. J. W. Price, Adj. A. J. Roper, Second Lieut. W. L. Sikes, Surgeon Jordan Willis, Third Lieut. Jordan, Chaplain

The minutes were lost until the 10th of Sept. 1904, when this meeting was called to order by Commander J. J. Hall. The minutes show he declined re-election and Major Peter



180 HISTORY OF WOKTH COUSTY, GEORGIA

Pelham was elected Coiiimander for the next two years. T h e dues were a t first 10 cents per year, but later on the dues were raised to 25 cents.

Their annual meetings \\.ere to be held on or a s near a s possible the 26th of April, i\lIemorial Day, 11ut four i~usiness nleetings were held each year until they becatne too few and too feeble for but one. They met at different tvwils wherever invited, and were always entertained royally with dinner on the ground and pul~l ic speaking. The Adjutants always kept the records. These mere: J. 147. Price, to 1901; l i m . A. Hall, 1904 to 1906; J. 13. Martin, Adjutant 1906 t o 1930. From then on some one has been a1)pointed to act as clerk for them.

Their membership at one time was 119; a t the last meeting 1932, there were seven. It is with sorrow that w e see this line of soldiers, wllo wore the grey so gallantly, growing so thin.

I n 1906, E. J. Rhodes was elected Commander, for the next two years.

W. R. Williams, First Lieut. G. W. Roper, Second Lieut. G. J. Wallace, Third Lieut. J, D. Martin, Adjutant L. A. Kelly, Color Bearer Dr. W. L. Sikes, Surgeon Bro. J. L. Boon, Chaplain J. J. Rouse, First Sergt.

J. J.

J. H. Parrish, Second Sergt. W. R. Black, Third Sergeant N. M. Brown, Fourth Sergeant J. I?. Willis, Fifth Sergt. Abner Faircloth, First Corporal L. B. Bartield, Second Corporal I . T. Denby, Third Corporal J. N. Houston, Fourth Corporal

Hall, Treasurer

I n 1906 twenty-five veterans received Crosses of Honor be- stovved by the Perry Chapter of U. D. C., represented by Mrs. L. G. Holtzclaw. Quoting- her words from the speech of presen- tation :

"This little Southern Cross of Honor. JTThat is it? ii simple l ~ a d g e of I~ronze 11earing on one side nrithin a laurel ~ v r e a t l ~ the words 'Deo \Tindice' nieaning 'God is our Vindicator,' and these memora1)le dates 1861-1865. O n the other side 'United

Legend for cut on page 181. Top row left to right: John W. Watson, John T. Denby, Jim IVillis,

W. H. Eady, L. A. Kelley, G. W. Roper, Jesse J. Hall ............................ ? Levi Barfield, R. A. Bell.

Middle row left to right: C. C. Walters , .................................... ?, Jim Eady, ? ................. John Harshburger, N. M. Bowen, Seal) Harrell, J. D. Martin,

............................... ?, W. Alex Williams, Peter Pelham. Bottonl row : I, ........................................ ? Isaac P.

Porter, John Rouse, T. J. Britt, G. J. Wallace, Jim M. Watson, Peter Stewart, ............................................ ?, Joe J. Scott, Jim H. Parrish.



See legend 011 page 180.




Daughters of the Confederacy to the United Confederate Vet- erans.'

"It is almost valtteless in itself, but money cannot buy one, nor influence procure one.

"In all the world's history you can find nothing like it. Germany has her Iron Cross, France her Cross De Guerre, England her Victoria Cross, but all of these are awards for victories that reflected glory on the respective countries.

"No protld nation offers you this badge of honor. This token comes to yott from the women of your Southland. The women whom you offered your lives to protect. The \fromen who thirty years after the war in which you fought so gallantly that although you were not the victor it has been said of you, 'That fame's loudest blast will sound to all the listening world the name of Lee and his follo.wers.

"These women have banded themselves together to do you honor and vowed that the story of your valor and glory shall be told to generations yet unborn.

"To us, your faithful Southern Daughters, you have ever been heroes, not only on the battlefields, but when you returned hungry, ragged, almost crushed, to your homes desolate, burned to the ground often, you still showed yourselves the noblest warriors in the reconstruction of your country. You are the bravest, noblest, truest warriors that ever trod God's green earth. As such we offer you this Cross, our badge of honor and beg that you will wear i t and prize it, and let it ever speak to you of our pride in you."

Some years later thirty crosses were bestowed by the Albany Chapter of U. D. C.

Below is a roster of Confederate soldiers who were entertained in a reunion at Doles. This information, together with ages at that date, County of residence, County and State of enlistment, and cornpan;, is taken from the w o r t h Local of May 20,1910 :

Names of Veterans Age Present Residence Enlisted W. B. Hamilton .......... 67 Berrien Worth John J. Rouse .............. 68 Worth Worth G. J. Wallace ................ 71 Worth Sumter W. T.. Story .................. 76 Worth Dooly Richard McConor ........ 69 Worth Wilkinson J. T. Cochran ................ 67 Worth Terrell W. J. Murphy .............. 70 Worth . ' . m c r James Massey .............. 63 Worth Worth

Company G Ga. G Ga. K Ga. F Ga. I Ga. F Ga. B Ga. K Ga.



HISTORY O F W O R T H COUNTY, GEORGIA 183

Naines of Veterans Age Present Residence Enlisted Company

R. A. Lundy .................. 65 ................... J. E. Eady ...63

G. W. Roper .................. 63 ................ J. 0. Roberts 65

T. M. Moore .................. 66 J. M. Prather ................ 74 J. H. Goodman ............ 63 J. S, Fillyaw .................. 66 R. A. Hill ...................... 62

.................... S. G. Long 62 J. K. Patterson ............ 66 B. F. Kilcrease ............ 78 James Rouse .................. 64

.............. W . J. Gregory 76 .................... W. C. Cone 64

A. McD. Cameron ...... 63 David Champion .......... 75 Jesse Hobby ................ 70

............ W. A. Williams 64 J. J. Kilcrease ................ 72 Stephen Rouse .............. 76 M. T. Ford .................... 75 G. G. Ford, I I, ............ 70 I. P. Porter .................... 68 M. F. Simpson .............. 70 Mathew Gay .................. 70 James Houston ............ 75 J. D. Houston ................ 68 W. C. Williams ............ 63 Lam Parker .................. 64 G. W . McCraney .......... 70 Robert McDonald ........ 63 J. C. Wright .................. 72 J. T . Denby .................... 64 J. H. Parrish ................ 62 R. A. Bell ........................ 69 J. A. Slappy .................. 70 J. J. Fountain ................ 70 J. W . Watson ................ 66 J. W . Trammel1 ............ 63 N. B. Lunsford .............. 63 D. G. Summers ............ 65 E. J. Rhodes .................. 71 L. B. Barfield ................ 70 R. B. Boyen .................. 67 Wootson Tolen ............ 90 J. W. Woodard ............ 66

Worth Worth Worth Turner Worth Turner Worth Turner Worth Wor th Worth Worth Worth Worth Turner Worth Dougherty Worth Worth Worth Worth Worth Wor th Worth Brooks Worth Worth Worth Worth Worth Crisp Worth Worth Worth Worth Wor th Colquitt Turner Worth Worth Worth Worth Worth Worth Crisp Macon Turner

Terrell Worth Randolph Campbell Worth Troup Worth Worth Worth Worth Wilkinson Schley Worth Worth Dooly Harnett Co. N.C. Worth Worth Worth Schley Worth Worth Worth Worth Worth Colquitt Worth Worth Worth Pike Co. Ala. Worth Lee Dooly Worth Berrien Webster Worth Macon Worth Worth Worth Sumter Mitchell Worth Dooly

Sunlter Campbell

K Ga. G Ga. E Ga. I Ga. F Ga. K Ga. F Ga. B Ga. F Ga. F Ga. B Ga. G Ga. F Ga. F Ga. C Ga.

F N.C. G Ga. G Ga. E Ga. B Ga. A Ga. B Ga. G Ga. F Ga. G Ga. H Ga. A Ga. B Ga. F Ga. B Ga. G Ga. D Ga. G Ga. D Ga. D Ga. A Ga. F Ga. C Ga. D Ga. A Ga. R Ga. C Ga. H Ga. B Ga. C Ga. C Ga. C Ga.

Major Peter Pelham was elected Commander in 1910 for life and served until his death in 1924, when Jim E. Eady was made Commander. H e served one year. Sam G. Long was elected in 1926 and senred as Cominander until his death in 1934.

The old Confederate Flag of the Camp was placed in the



183 HISTORY OF WORTH COUKTY, GEORGIA

care of Hon. Brooks P. Ford, of Sylvester, a t the meeting ill 1932.

For a nurn1,er of years these Old Veterans have met iiz Poulatl, where they are al\vays royally entertained. T h e Poulan people ha\-e l>romised them a place of entertainment as long as they live.

HISTORY O F C. A. BROWNLEE POST 113, AMERICAN' LEGION

C. A. l3ro1viilee Post 113, Georgia Department. The Ainer- ican Legion, \vas orgailized in 1920, the follo~ving veterans of the World IVar being charter members : H. B. Stewart C. J. Jorclan Fred E. Deariso C. A. Godwin J. L. Tison S. B. Mathetvs Lawrence Hancock W. hI. Gooc!mai~ Leon Hancock Id. H. Conoly E. J. Ford IV. Y. Rodclen1,esry Guyton hf. Oclom D. N. McGirt G. E. Murphy

The Post was named for Chesley Arthur Brownlee. who died of sickness contracted in service.

The f o l l o ~ ~ i n g named inen have served as Post Commancl- ers: E. J. Ford, Robert -4. Heinsohn, H. Bartley Stewart, Edgar C. Pullen, Rev. E. L. Baskin, Eugene Attaway, M. C. O~ven and C. W. Deariso.

The office of Post Adjutant has been filled by D. N. IfcGirt, C. L\ul~re_v Davis, Ralph UT. O'Sheal, Colon M. Rahon. Car1 w. Deariso and C. S. Bozeman.

J. I,. Tison and Tom &I. Purdom (D. S. C.) have served as Finance Officers since the orgailization of the Post, and P. Brooks Ford has served as Rehabilitation Officer since 1921, handling since that time hundreds of cases for both white and colored veterans, at no cost whatever to the veterans.

No history of Brownlee Post 113, The American Legion, 117ould be c o ~ n ~ ~ l e t e without embodying the Preamble to the: . -

Constitution of The -4n1erican Legion : - "For God and country, we associate ourselves together for

the following purposes: T o uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States of America; t o maintain law and order; to foster and perpetuate a one hundred per cent. Americanism; to preserve the memories and incidents of the Great War ; to inculcate a sense of individual obligation to t h e community, state and nation; to combat autocracy of both the classes and the masses; to make right the master of might; to promote peace and good will on earth; to safeguard and transmit t o posterity the principles of justice, freedom and democracy; t o consecrate and sanctify our comradeship by our devotion t o mutual help-. fulness."



HISTORY OF WORTH COUKTY, GEORGIA 185

With this idealistic and mtttually helpful program in nlincl a t all times, these veterans who answered the country's call in 1917 and 1918, have endeavoretl to "carry on" in peace as. in war.

Kealiziilg fully that the future peace and prosperity of our country del)encls on a patriotic and ~vell informed citizenry, Brownlee Post 113 has always taken an active interest it1 those things educational and patriotic.

They have not forgotten those who made the SLI~II-etne Sacrifice, and on each hletnorial Day have decoi-ated the graves of solcliers 1v11o are buried in Worth County, and for the benefit of the future are endeavoring to have permanent markers kept as to tlie location of graves of soldiers. The Legion asks the co-operation on the. part of relatives and friends of deceased veterans ill keeping these records straight as the years go by.

Next to keeping sacred the memory of the rleceasecl veterans, comes the care of the disabled and their depenclents, and the dependents of those who have ailswered the Final Roll Call, and in line with this, Bro~vnlee Post has worked faithfully through the Service Office of the Post to assist these in every possible way, and since its organizatio~l 11as handled hundreds of cases, co\rering claims of all kincls-hospitaliza- tion of veterans, disability claims, adjusted compensation, grave markers, funeral expenses, etc., in all involving the writing of thousands of letters, ancl the preparation of thousands of claim for~lls and affidavits.

The members of Bro\vnlee Post have taken an active nart it1 ol~sel-\-ing patriotic clays, and in co-operatjon nit12 the schools of the county, eitncr supplying or aiding in securing speakers on these occasions, during Kational Etlucational Week, and working with them in e\-ery way possil~le. The Post has to date donated regtllation size U. S. Flags to ten of the larger scl~ools of the county, has given citizenship medals, has spoilsored County Fair for two years as an educational feature, paying out 1no1-c than one thousand dollars in pl-em- iums, the major portion of which was paid to scl~ools or to the boys and girls of various schools in the county.

AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY

C. A. Brownlee Unit No. 113 :In~erican Legion Auxiliary was organized ATarc11 7, 1921.



186 H I S T O R Y OF W O R T H COUNTY, GEORGIA

They are a patriotic organization and their aim has always been to co-operate with the Post in every way possihle and to aid sick and disabled veterans and their families.

The charter members were :

Mrs. Lallie Ford Camp, Pres. Mrs. J. R. Simerly Miss Lizzie J. Deariso Miss Lula Baker Mrs. Julia NeSmith Jefford Miss Lulie Williamson Mrs. M. L. Lawson Mrs. E. C. Pullen Mrs. M. S. Cameron Mrs. L. J. Hun t Mrs. IV. 0. Bozeman Mrs. W. A. Huckabee Miss Pearl Story Miss Mae Huckabee Mrs. M. D. Majors Miss Bailey Levy Mrs. George D. McQueen Miss Fannie Levy Mrs. Ralph O'Sheal Mrs. Rowena J. Ford Miss Marguerite O'Sheal Mrs. Lucy Crumbley Mrs. J. R Proffitt Mrs. W. T. Clements Mrs. R. A. Heinsohn Mrs. L. D. Shell Mrs. T. W. Bond Mrs. A. P. Majors Miss Aline Alderman

For a few years the Unit did not hold regular meetings but during that time assisted the Post in their undertakings.

On Nov. 19, 1931, they were re-organized with the following officers :

Mrs. J. S. O'Sheal, Chaplain Mrs. H. C. Camp, Pres. Mrs. M. C. Owen, Historian Mrs. J. J. Crumbley, 1st V. Pres. Miss Erlene Nance, Cor. Sec. Mrs. Colon Rabon, 2nd V. Pres. Mrs. L. H. Conoly, Serg't. a t Mrs. Fred Deariso, Sec.

Arms. Miss Lizzie J. Deariso, Treas.

Mrs. H. C. Cainp was elected Second District Committee- woman a t State Convention in June, 1932 and Mrs. E. Atta- way was elected as President of C. A. Rrownlee Unit No. 113.

Membership for 1933-34 :

Mrs. E. Attaway Mrs. Alex Boss Mrs. Roy Banks Mrs. R. H. Bridges Mrs. E. L. Baskin Mrs. H. C. Camp Mrs. L.H. Conoly Mrs. 1. J. Crumbley Miss Lizzie J. Deariso Mrs. Fred Deariso Mrs. C. W. Deariso Mrs. J. D. Felder Mrs. Rowena Ford Mrs. E. J. Ford Mrs. R. S. Foy Mrs. W . M. Goodman Mrs. Leon Hancock

Mrs. Gaston Jones Mrs. D. G. Jeffords Mrs. J. W. Jenkins Airs. G. D. McQueen Mrs. B. 0. McNair Mrs. Maurice Majors Mrs. J. S. O'Sheal Mrs. R. W. O'Sheal Mrs. M. C. Owen Mrs. T. M. Purdom Mrs. C. M. Rabon Mrs. 2. D. Respess Mrs. G. S. Sumner Mrs. H. B. Stewart Mrs. H. G. Troutman Mrs. E. C. Thompson



CHAPTER XV

JOURNALISM WORTH COUNTY NEWSPAPERS

?Vorth Co~znty's first newspaper was the Vindicator, edited by Daniel G. McClellan, who lived at what is now called Mer- cer's Mill. The paper was printed in Albany and distributed from the postoffice a t Isabella, then the county site. This paper survivecl for two years, 1878 and 1879.

In the year 1880, J. IV. Hanlon established the Worth S ta r at Isabella. This was the first printing press brought into the county, and was a press operated and inked by hand. After operating the paper a t Isabella for about two pears, Mr. Han- lon moved it to T y Ty, where i t was published until 1884.

In 1883 the Sumner Free-Trader was established at Sum- ner. It was financed by Hon. A. J. Alford, then an extensive turpentine ancl sawmill operator, with W. M. Clements as Editor and Walter A. Allen in charge of the mechanical department. few months later Allen succeeded Clements a s editor, and a little later the name of the paper was changed to the 1Yorth County Local. In 1893 the paper was moved from Sumner to Svlvester, and Mr. Allen continued as its editor until 1903. during the month of A~ipust that year the paper was published by A. J. Tison. Clifford Grubbs then took charge of it as editor and publisher. Up to this time the paper was printed on an old Washington hand press, but Mr. Grubbs soon installed a power press and other modern equipment. A year later it was incorporated under the name of the Sylvester Publishing Co., with Mr. Grubbs as editor and manager. I n 1911 a linotype machine was installecl which eliminated the setting of type by hand. On April 18, 1917, Mr. Grubbs relin- quished control of the paper to G. R. Nottingham, who operated it as editor and publisher until July 1 , 1921, when he sold out to its present owner, A. K. McGill. I n 1924, in order t o make it more representative of the city, the name of the paper was changed to The Sylvester Local.

In 1900 J. L. Tipton and R. L. Tipton, cousiils, established the Worth County News a t Isahella, and a little later also




published The Sylvester Chronicle. These publications were continued until in 1903, 1v11en they were consolidated with the Worth County Local a t Sylvester, and continued with W. A. Allen as editor.

T h e Ashburn Advance was established a t Ashburn, then in Wor th County, in 1892, with H. D. Smith as editor, rind was published for several years.

I n 1902 the TViregrass Farmer and Stockman xvas established a t Ashburn, then in Worth County, with Joe Lawrence as editor.

I n 1905 the Poulan Searchlight was established a t Poulan with Major Peter Pelham as editor. I t was published only a short time.

T h e Nut-Grower, a montl~ly publication, was issued from Poulan for several years l>y the Nut Grower Company as pub- lishers.

All these papers have long since passed out of existence except the Sylvester Local a t Sylvester, and the Wiregrass Farmer-Stockman, a t Ashb~~r t l . now Turner County.

EDITORS OF WORTH COUNTY

WALTER A. ALLEN

One of the pioneer newspaper men of Worth County was Walter A. Allen, born in Thomasville, Ga., Oct. 2nd) 1856, died June, 1919, in Albany.

H e was editor of the Sumner Free-Trader in 1884. The proprietor was Hon. A. Jackson Alford, a large naval stores operator of Sumner.

I n 1893 he moved with the ne~vspaper to Sylvester and changed the name of the paper to Wor th County Local. H e edited this paper until 1903, nrhen he moved to Camilla and became editor of the Camilla Enterprise from 1903 t o 1909.

H e moved to Florida ant1 establishetl a paper a t Largo and was editor until his health failed, when he returnecl to live in Albany, nrhere he diecl.

Mr. Allen and his esteerlled family were residellts or' IVorth County for more than t\ventj- years. They added much to the civic, social and religious life of this county. He did much to mold pul~lic opinion and to educate the people in right thinking and movements that promoted the welfare of the country.

Ill-. ,Allen sleeps in Sylvester Cemetery.



H I S T O R Y O F MTORTH COUKTY, GEORGIA 189

Their children are : Aubrey, Bernard, Bertram, Lois, Ola, (Mrs. J. T. Campbell).

Miss Lois Allen taught inusic in Sylvester and Doerun for several years.

ARCH K. McGILL Arch K. McGill, editor and owner of the Sylvester Local

since July, 1921, was born and reared in Webster County, Ga., being the second son of Charles and Julia Elizabeth (Erightwell) McGill. His grandfather, Baldy McGill, one of the first settlers of Webster County, served the state as a soldier in the wars against the Creek Indians. Mr. McGill had seven uncles in the Confederate Army, three on his father's side and four brothers of his mother, one of ~ v l ~ o m died in service. Two of these uncles lost a limb in battle.

Upon reaching the age of maturity, Mr. McGill acted upon the famous advice of Horace Greely and went west. Early in youth he acqt~ired a love for newspaper work and, after learn- ing the rudiments of the printing trade, established The Press, a weekly ne~vspaper, a t Wapamucka, Indian Territory, in Feb- ruary, 1901. In 1907 this territory becanle a part of what is now Oklahoma. Mr. McGill continued as editor and owner of The Press in the newly admitted state until February, 1913, when he sold it to Col. i41exander. Returning to his native state in August of that year, he bought a half interest in T h e Progress a t Lyons, Ga. I n February, 1915, he bought ou t the interest of his partner in the paper and became sole owner. On June 9th, that year, he was married to Maggie Lou Walker, eldest daughter of Mrs. Minnie Vann Walker, of Lyons. Her father dying ~vhen she was a small child. Mrs. McGill, wit11 her mother and onljr sister, Inez, lived with her grandfather, George IV. Vatln, a t Sa~rannah. Mr. Vann was a native of Satnpson County, N. C . He served in the Confederate Army th ro~~ghou t the Civil War . He died a t Lyons in 1919. Mrs. McGill, like her 11~1s1~anc1, learned the nenrspaper business early in life, being employed, together ~ v i t h her sister, Inez, on the L>-011s Progress since finishing school and worked up until the time Mr. AtlcC;ill bought the paper.

In June, 1921, Mr. McGill sold the Lyons Progress to Mr. C. M. Napier, and immediately moved to Sylvester and took charge of the Sylvester Local on July 1st of that year.

Mr. and Mrs. McGill have t\vo daughters, Inez Franc and Jean Olive.



CHAPTER XVI

BAR

JUDICIARY

Worth County is in the Tifton Judicial Circuit, composed of Worth, Turner, Tift, and Irwin Counties. I ts courts are the Superior Court with four terms a year, on fourth Mondays in January, April, July, and October; and the City Court of Syl- vester, with four terms, meeting on second 3londays in March, June, September, and December.

HONORABLE WILLIAM AUGUSTUS HARRIS

Colonel Bill Harris, as the "grand old man from the County of Worth," was familiarly and lovingly called, was a man with a heart as well as a mind. I t was no ordinary heart that beat in his breast. I t was a heart quick to respond to every noble impulse, and human enough, in its rugged sincerity, to encompass in its realm of kindness a host of friends, 11-ho loved him in return lvith the ardor ~vhich such a true spirit and loyal soul always win.

Two of his distinguishing traits n7ere his loyalty to his friends, and his devotion to the "Lost Cause." This wris a subject that was sacred with him, and he was always ready to rise in its defense, throughout his long and useful life in the service of his state. However, he ~ v a s broad enough to forgive and clo his duty toward reuniting our country.

Col. Harris was born in Milledgeville on Jan. 18th. 1826. being the oldest son of Hon. Iverson Louis Harris, one of the ablest Jurists in the history of the state, and Mary Euphemia Davies, a daughter of Judge i i i l l i a n ~ Davies of the Federal District Court a t Savannah.

In his boyhood he was a pupil of the celebrated teacher, Prof. C. P. Benion, and when but thirteen years of age, entered Oglethorpe College. Afterwards lie spent two years under Rev. T. M. Cooley, L.L.D., a t Grantville. Mass., and




;\[.\J. Will. -4. HARRIS




finishecl under the late Bishop Stephen D. Elliot, at Montpe- lier Springs.

When war xvas declared with Mexico, he left school and home and went to the front under Henry R. Jackson, then Colonel cornmanding the Georgia Volunteers. H e was in Quit- man's division of General William Worth's Brigade.

Returning from the Mexican War , young Harris read law in the office of his father, was admitted to the bar, and moved to this, then Irnritl County, where he began the practice of his profession.

Being something of a pioneer by nature he cast his lot in the wilderness of Irwin, now Worth County, in the early fifties.

When Worth County was for~ned he gave it the name of Worth, in honor of his commander in the Mexican War, Wil- liam James Worth, and nat~led the county-site Isal~ella, for General Worth's wife.

In the Civil War , Colonel Harris was Captain of the Yancy Independents, a company formed by him, and he was Colonel of the 14th Ga. Regiment. He was commissioned a hlfajor in the 10th Georgia Militia, 1864-1865, home guards.

Major Harris was married Feb. 13th, 3868 to Miss Augusta Forcl, born Jan. 6th, 1853, daughter of James N., and Cath- erine Fulton Ford.

Forty years ago the sul~ject of this sketch was one of the most prominent men in Georgia politics, probal~ly no man being better kno~vn throughout the state. H e served for many years as Secretary of the Senate without opposition. and his friends were anxious that he should become a candidate for governor, and his election would have beetl almost assured a t that time.

H e was often importuned to take 1111 his residence in the State Capitol, where lle spent a portion of each year; but he . stoutly refused, having learned to love the home of his adop- tion with an affection that was pathetic.

As a character he stood alone. Rugged, yet tender as a woman, generous to a fault, charitable to such a degree that he was often imposed on.

A lawyer of marked ability, and for many years the only one in l i o r t h County, his stentorian voice was a terror to evil



HISTORY O F WORTH COUKTY, GEORGIA 193

doers, and his tender eloquence often moved his hearers to tears.

Major Harris was probably the most prominent person in the early history of our county. H e remained, until his death Aug. 17th, 1894, a resident of Isabella, the old capital of the county, his home a true type of Southern hospitality, and he the ideal Southern Gentleman.

His charming little home was one of the show places of this section in its setting of rare shrubs, flowers and fruits, per- fectly tended, and the gem in this setting was the beautiful wife, who presided over his home.

Being of a modest retiring nature, she had no tastes for public life, but kept the home fires burning, thus assuring him a haven of peace and rest after the strenuous weeks periodi- cally spent for so many years in the State Capitol.

H e sleeps in Milledgeville beside his distinguished ancestors in the historic old cemetery, the inscriptions on whose monuments mark the last resting place of many men who played an important part in the making of Georgia History. In addition to his father, Judge Iverson Louis Harris, his mother, Mary Euphemia Davis Harris, and many others near t o him, lies Augustin Harris, father of Judge Iverson L. Harris, who was the first school cornmissioner of Baldwin County.

Below is a list of the Civil offices filled by Major Harris : Senate, Worth Co. 1855-56, 1857-58, 1859-60; 10th Dist.

1873-74, 1875-76. Secretary of the Senate, 1877, 1878, 1879, 1880-'81, 1882-'83,

EX. '83, 1884-'85, 1886-'87, 1888-'89, 1890-'91, 1892-'93. Constittltional Convention 1865, Worth Co., Justice, Inferior Court, Worth County, Jan. 12, 1857-

Feh. 1858, res.; May 1, 1866-'68. Judge County Court, Worth County, May 10, 1866.

JUDGE RALEIGH EVE

R. Eve, Judge of the Superior Court of the Tifton Judicial Circuit, was born August 7, 1871, in Asheville, N. C. He attended the high schools of Asheville and Washington, D. C. He is a Methodist and a Democrat. Before being elected to the Su- perior Court bench he served many years as Judge of the City Court of Tifton. He is a student and has a brilliant legal mind, having during his long service on the bench, proven himself




to be fair, just and impartial in his clecisions, and has established for himself an enviable reputation as an able jurist.

H e was married December 16, 1914, in Tifton, Ga., to Miss Jewel1 S. Strickland. They have one son, Robert Worth. Judge Eve was the son of Charles TV. and Kate E. (Reese) Eve

Robert Worth Eve, son of Judge Eve, was 1)orn while the Superior Court of Wort11 was in session, and the Grant1 Jury requested the Judge to nan1e the young man Worth, which was done. So \Vortli County has a Judge wit11 whom she i s more than pleased and a namesake in the person of Robert Worth Eve. I t is told on the Judge that other meml~ers of the family clesirecl to name the young man Raleigh for the old man, but the "Old man" protested. wit11 tlle statement that "Raleigh" was to hard to spell ancl too hard to pronounce. A coinpromise was 1-eacl~ecl 11y handing the young man the name of Rohert \Vortll.

JUDGE DAVID H. POPE

Juclge David H. Pope attained prestige as one of the able jurists of Georgia, and was long and successfully engaged in the practice of law at Albany, Ga.

He was born at Marietta, Cobb count^-, Georgia. March 12, 1840, and was a child at t l ~ e time his parents nloved to Walker County, where he attended Villa-Academy. At the age of nineteen years he nlovecl to Albany, and it was in this city that his marriage to Miss Martha W. Hoclges was solemn- izecl. The follo~ving children were horn to them : John D., Henry \IT., Walter D., Ella, Julia, Robert L., and David. He read law under the 1~-eceptorship of General Slaughter, ancl was adillitted to the bar in Clinch County in 1860, having previ- ously been retainzcl in a case, the trial of which occurred a s soon as he was aclnlittecl to practice. Shortly aftel-tvard he movecl to Isabella, JVorth County, where he formed a partnership with William A. Harris, under the firin name of Harris & Pope. H e was a resiclellt of Isabella at the outbreak of the Civil l'lTar, and forthwith nlade subordinate all private interests to tender his services to his c o ~ ~ n t r y in the defense of the cause of the Confederacy. Hc entered a Georgia Regiment of Voltlnteers in the capacity of private, reinaiiliilg in the service until the close of the urai-, after having risen to the rank of Captain.




In 1866 Judge Pope moved from Isabella to Albany, and shortly afterwards was elected to the office of Solicitor Gen- eral of the Southwestern Circuit. H e was judge of the County Court in 1872, when he resigned this office and moved to Sherman, Texas.

Although he was enlinently successful in his professional work in the Lone Star State, he found the conditions there unsatisfactory, and returned to Georgia within the same year. H e located again a t Albany, Ga., and continued his practice, and in 1879 entered into a partnership with General Gib. J. Wright, this professional alliance continuing until his son, John D., was graduated a t the University of Georgia and admitted to the bar in November, 1882, at Camilla, Ga., when a partnership was formed under the title of D. H. Pope & Son. This association continued until his death.

Judge Pope was a stalwart Democrat of the Jeffersonian school and took a deep interest in his party affairs; but he never sought or held any public office after resigning as Judge of the County Court of Dougherty, though he was several times urged to accept judicial and other offices of trust.

H e devoted his entire time and energies and profound ability to the practice of his chosen profession, in which he attained distinction, and which he dignified by his life and services.

Judge Pope died June 7, 1904.

P O P E H O M E ON POPE HILL

A LANDMARK

The Pope Home on Pope Hill is one of the landmarks of Sylvester. I t has the distinction of being the first brick structure in Worth County.

Judge David H. Pope, \\rho lived at one time in Isabella bought the lot of land on which this home now stands a t $1.00 per acre. H e refused to buy the adjoining lot now owned by Dr. Claude 14. King because he considered it too high a t $1.50 per acre.

A cyclone had recently passed over it and laid the primeval forest flat for about a mile wide and extending across it. Judge Pope had the trees cut into cord wood and shipped to Albany where he exchanged i t for brick, with which he built the Pope



196 H I S T O R Y O F W O R T H COUKTY, GEORGIA

Home for his son, Henry \V. Pope. The walls are more than a .foot thick. The home is o~vned now by the heirs of Henry W. Pope. H i s son, Forest, and daughter, Lena, reside there.

The Pope Park o r City Park was once a part of that estate. Judge David Henry Pope had expressed the wish t o give the city of Sylvester a park before his death. After his death the heirs, through his son, Judge John Pope, of Albany, made the deed t o the present Pope Park to the Civic Iml>rovement Club, of Sylvester, ~ v h o in turn deeded it to the City.

JUDGE FRANK PARK

Tudge Frank Park's early manhood was devoted t o teaching and railroad surveying. H e was admitted to the Georgia bar in 1891, practiced a few years in Atlanta, and in 1896 located in this county. H e served ten years as Chairman of the Demo- cratic County Committee, and from 1908 until 1913 was judge of the Albany Circuit.

In November, 1913, he was elected to represent the 10th District in Congress to fill the unexpired term of Congressman Roddenberry of Thomasville, deceased; and a t the expiration of this term he was re-elected and served the term out, altho in failing health, and greatly depressed on account of the serious condition of his wife. She suffered greatly for about two years, and passed away a t JV11ii.e Springs, Fla., on May 27th, 1924, being about sixty years old a t the time of her death. She was born and reared in Selina, Ma., and was married to Judge Park in 1894.

Judge Park went to Florida on the con~pletion of his last term in Congress, and located in Holly\vood in the 11ope that his health would improve. I n Nov., 1925, he became critically ill from blood poisoning, caused by an infected foot, and altho the limb was amputated in an effort to save his life, he died a t For t Lauderdale Hospital, Nov. 21st, 1925.

Interment took place beside his wife a t IVhite Springs, Fla. Judge and Mrs. Park lvere survived hy a (laughter. Sarah,

who spent her girlhood in Sylvester. She is nlarried to Mr. T. G. Finlayson, and resides in Alabama.

The interest and uphuilding of Worth County was the prime desire of Judge Frank Park's heart.

The first school for eliminating illiteracy in adults in the



HISTORY OF WORTH COUKTY, GEORGIA 197

HON. FRANK PARK, CONGRESSMAN




United States was 1)egun and sponsored by him for more than eight years in Worth County. IVe make this statenlent ad- viseclly.

THE PARK FAMILY

The Parks belong to a family of great anticluity. The founder of this family follo~ved William the Conquerer into England and was given the command of the Royal Parks, and the title of Baronet. His descendants went into Scotland and Irelatld.

Arthur Park, the progenitor of the Park family in the South, emigrated from Irelancl and settled in Petlnsylvania, a t Wes t Chester, in 1720. The line of descent is through his son, Joseph, who was born in Ireland. John Park, the son of Jo- seph, was a Revolutionary soldier, killed at the battle of COW- pens, S. C. William, the son of John, vTas also a soldier in the Patriot army in Sumter's Command.

William's son, John, was born in Clarke County, Georgia in 1800. He was the father of James F. Park, Ph.D. and L.I.,.D., of LaGrange, Ga., the father of Judge Frank and Henry Park of Sylvester. Their father, Dr. Park, was a distinguished scholar and educator who lived, a t one time, a t Tuskeegee, Ala. Their mother ~ v a s Miss Emma Uaily. Dr. Park gave his sons the best educational advantages.

Realizing that Southwest Georgia offered great opportunities to the young man. Judge Frank Park and Mr. Henry Park came to Worth County. Henry Park is one of the leading merchants of Sylvester to-day.

EDWARD EUGENE COX

Edward Eugene Cox was born April 3, 1880, in Mitchell County, Ga. After graduating from the high schools of Ca- milla in 1898, he entered Mercer University and received his B.L. degree in 1902. H e entered upon the practice. of law in Camilla, Mitchell County, and was later elected as Judge of the Superior Courts of the Albany Circuit. He served in this capacity from January, 1913, until he was elected as a member of Congress from the Second Congressional district in March, 1925. He has been a member of Congress since that time, being elected without opposition for each successive term.




Judge Cox was married January 19, 1902, to Miss Roberta Patterson. There are two children by this marriage, Lamar and Mary Bennett. Mrs. Cox died in 1916 and Judge Cox was again married on August 6, 1918, to Mrs. Robert Hill, the former Miss Grace Pitts, of Cordele, Ga., the marriage taking place in New York City. They have one daughter, little Gene.

The second Mrs. Cox was at one time a teacher in McPhaul Institute of Sylvester. Here she met ancl married Robert Hill, of Sylvester. H e died about three months after their marriage. Mrs. Cox owils considerable property and has other interests in Sylvester.

Judge E. E. Cox, represented the Second Congressional District in Congress from 1925 to this year of 1934. H e was re-elected to represent this District for the next Congressional term beginning in 1933.

Judge Cox is the son of Stephen and Mary Williams Cox.

JUDGE CHESLEY WADE MONK

Judge Chesley Wade Monk has been judge of the City Court of Sylvester since Jan. lst, 1917. His present term will not expire until 1937. During his long term in office he has shown himself to be a jurist of unbiased fairness and impartiality in his decisions. His firmness in judgments ancl administration of justice, together with unfailing courtesy and tireless pati- ence, has evidenced a remarkal~le ability.

H e is a loyal Democrat, but refrains from taking an active part in local politics, holding that a judge should not be a partisan in anything.

Judge Monk is a Master Mason, Sllriner, Knight Templar and a past member of the State Democratic Executive Com- mittee, as well as being Secretary of that Committee at present. H e is also an enthusiastic member and past president of the Kiwanis Club.

H e is a man of deep religious convictions and takes an active part in religious work, being a member and musical director of the Baptist Church.

He, with the other heirs of his father, mT. W. Monk, own the old Monk Homestead where he was born May 31st, 1887, Worth County, near Tempy. H e successfully operates this farm, it being to hiin both recreative and remunerative. By inheritance and early association he loves the place and the




industry. His father anti nlother were both master farmers, she carrying on the work after her husband's death.

Judge i\/Ionk attended Sylvester schools, graduating from McPhaul Institute. In 1910 he received his G.L. degree from Mercer University. lieturning to Sylvester, he began the practice of law, and has lived here continuotlsly since that time.

Judge Monk married Ruth Marie Ridley the daughter of Dr. Jaines Ificholas Ridley ant1 secoild wife, Sallie Jane (Rouse) Ridley, on Apr. 15, 1919. Her parents were descendants of pioneer families of this section. Dr. Riclley was one of the wealthiest ancl most influe~ltial men of the country. Mrs. Ruth Monk is a graduate of McPl~aul Institute and received her college education a t Bessie Tift College. She is a member of the Woman's Cluh, the P.-T. A., ancl vitally interested in any civic or church work. She is a memher of the Baptist Church.

They are the parents of t ~ v o interesting childsen, one son, William Ridley, and daughter, Charlotte.



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