USA > Georgia > Chatham County > Savannah > A history of Savannah and South Georgia, Volume II > Part 73
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Other lines of ancestry are traced to the highlands of Scotland and particularly to the clans of Campbell and McDonald. To this triple twist of English. French and Scotch ancestry, many of the traits of character, as well as the indomitable energy of the various members of the family, may well be ascribed.
SAMPSON B. BARFIELD. Among the planters of south Georgia, few families have been for a longer time or more actively engaged as crop producers and contributors to the agricultural and civie wealth of this section than that of Barfield. Several generations of this family have been residents of the state, and one of its prosperous and worthy members is Sampson B. Barfield, whose home for many years has been in the Club House district of Lowndes county.
Ile was born in Twiggs county, this state. on the 28th of Novem- ber, 1853. His great-grandfather was a native of England and on coming to America settled in South Carolina, but according to the best information at hand later settled in Georgia, being one of the pio- neers of Twiggs county, where he spent the rest of his days. In the same county the grandfather. William Barfield, who was a native of South Carolina, owned and operated a farm and lived there until his death, which occurred before the war. His four sons and three daugh-
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ters were named as follows: John, Richard, Sampson, Frederick. Betsey, Polly and Patsy.
Frederick Barfield. the father. was born in Twiggs county, was reared on a farm and began his independent career on a tract of land about seventeen miles from Macon. where he lived until 1856. In that year he settled in Lowndes county, which was then a much larger civil division than at present and the county seat was located at the old town of Troupville. The Barfields came here after the manner of emigrants to a new land. bringing in wagons their household goods, farm imple- ments. ete. During their first year's residence the trading center was Troupville, but all the surplus products had to be hanled on wagons to Tallahassee or Newport and Jacksonville, Florida. Frederick Bar- field bought land about four miles south of the present site of Hahira. A elearing of twelve acres and a log house constituted the improve- ments, and he at onee began the task of elearing more land for the plow and engaged in general farming. At the time of the war he was past the military age, but in 1864 joined the state militia and went to the defense of Atlanta, where he was soon discharged on account of dis- ability. His death oceurred in 1872. Ile married Bethany Brewer. a native of Twiggs county. and she died in 1889. They were the par- ents of thirteen children. named as follows: William, Mary, Sarah, John, Carrie, Frank, Emeline, Epsie, Columbus, Sampson, Lafayette, Tempy and Belle. Of these, Belle died in childhood and William at the age of twenty-four. John and Frank both served in the Confed- erate army.
Sampson B. Barfield spent his early youth in Lowndes county, being reared in habits of industry and thrift, and after the removal of the family to Lowndes county he bought two hundred and twenty- five aeres of timbered land that is included in his present farm. There he built a substantial log house, which continued the dwelling of him- self and family for twenty-seven years, when it was replaced by a commodious and attractive residence of frame. From the beginning of his independent eareer he sueeeeded and with increasing means bought lands until his present holdings aggregate about fourteen hundred aeres, all located in the Club House district.
Mr. Barfield married Miss Lizzie Lawson. a native of Lowndes eounty and a member of one of the old families of this seetion. Her parents were William and Maley (Vickers) Lawson, and her grand- father was Ashley Lawson (see sketeh of Lawson family elsewhere). Her father served in the army of northern Virginia and saw arduous service as a soldier of the south, and was captured and held prisoner at Point Lookout several months before the end of the war. For sev- eral years he owned and operated a farm. a part of which is now included in the village of Hahira. Mr. and Mrs. Barfield have reared ten children, namely : Willie. Carrie. Charlie. Eddie. Zeno. IImm Mason, Ruth, Rosa. Ethel and Christelle. Mr. Barfield has been a director of the Bank of Hahira since its founding. is a member of the Farmers' Union, and affiliates with Hahira Lodge No. 346, A. F. & A. M.
REV. WALTER C. JONES. Born in one of the early homes of sonth Georgia. Rev. Jones represents a family which bad a pioneer part in . the settlement and development of this section of the state, and dur- ing his own career has followed a life of service and benefit to the com- munity as well as for his individual welfare. He has spent many years in the ministry of the Methodist church. and since retiring has beeome noted as a fruit grower and nurseryman at Cairo.
Walter C. Jones was born in the Hickory Head section of Brooks
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county, Georgia, June 26, 1855. His father was Malachi, who was born in the Black Creek section of Bulloch county, in 1809. The grand- father was Thomas Jones, born and reared in Warren county, Georgia. going to Bullock county when a young man and rearing his family and spending his last days in the latter vieinity. Thomas JJones mar- ried a Miss Denmark. Malachi Jones was reared and married in Bul- loeh county, and from there came into southwestern Georgia. aceom- panied by his wife and three children. The journey was made aeross the country with team and wagon, and his first location was the pres- ent site of Dixie, which was then located in Thomas county. Buying a traet of timbered land. he eleared a space among the trees and there built a log cabin. which was the first shelter of himself and family in southwestern Georgia. Indians and wild game were still plentiful in the almost unbroken forest areas which surrounded his home on every side, and his labors contributed one more plantation to this see- tion of Georgia.
About 1845 he sold his land and bought a place in the Hickory Head seetion of Lowndes county, now in Brooks county. There he again built a home and it was in that house that Rev. Walter C. Jones was born. For many years after the settlement of the family, no railroads were built through this country, and the father marketed his eotton either in Tallahassee or St. Marks. One year he sold his eotton at St. Marks for 316 eents per pound, and then turned and invested part of the proceeds of the erop for a stoek of salt for which he had to pay $2.00 per sack. Malachi Jones improved the fine farm and spent the remainder of his life in Brooks county, where he died at the age of seventy-one. The maiden name of his wife was Sarah Reissier Groover. Her father was Charles Groover, a native of Savannah, and her anees- tors eame to America with the Salzburgers. At that time the family name was spelled Gruber, and was subsequently changed to the present form. Charles Groover, elerk of court of Bulloeh county, spelled his name Gruver until 1837, as shown by the records, and then ehanged it to Groover, and so far as known all other members of the family adopt this spelling. Charles Groover from Savannah moved to Bulloch eonnty, where he bought a plantation. was soon afterwards elected elerk of the court, and served several years in that official eapaeity. He remained a resident of Bulloch county until his death. The maiden name of his wife was a Miss Reissier, who survived him and later married Nathan .Jones, and spent her last days in Bulloch county. Her sons were Sam- uel of Statesboro; Charles E., a well known resident of Savannah, and Daniel who died a young man. Mrs. Malachi Jones died at the age of sixty-nine years, and of her fonrteen children, eleven grew to maturity, named as follows: Sophronia, Nathan. Julia, Charles E., William M., M. Franklin, Andrew J., Thomas T., Clinton R., Walter, Colquit, and Sally A. The son, Nathan, enlisted at the breaking out of the war in the Confederate serviee and died while a soldier. Charles E., Wil- liam M .. and M. Franklin served all through the war, and Andrew entered the army when a boy in 1864, remaining until the final sur- render.
Walter C. Jones attended the rural schools in Brooks county and the Hickory Head High School. The beginning of his career was as a merchant, engaging in that business at Quitman at the age of twenty- two and continuing in that line for nine years. In 1887 he joined the south Georgia conference of the Methodist church, and for nearly a quarter of a century was active in the ministry with pastorate in dif- ferent sections of the state until failing health compelled him to retire, and he is now a superannuated minister. However, he still engages
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in the active work as preacher, when his health will permit, and is teacher of a fine Bible class of ninety members at Cairo.
On leaving the regular work of the ministry, Mr. Jones located at Cairo, and turned his attention to farm life. He established a mr- sery and has made a specialty of the culture of pecan trees and for several seasous has sold as high as 12,000 to 15,000 trees. lle also has a large and profitable pecan grove of his own. and his farm located close to Cairo is considered one of the best in Grady county. In 1912 he erected an attractive and comfortable home, built in the. colo- nial style, and located on Gordon Heights one mile from the court house in Cairo.
Rev. Walter C. Jones, on January 20, 1892. married Miss Martha Melvina Powell. Mrs. JJones is a native of Cairo, and a daughter of Rev. William Powell, who was born in that portion of Decatur county. which is now included within the limits of Grady county. The grand- father of Mrs. Jones was Kedar Powell, who was born in Decatur county, a son of parents who were natives of North Carolina, and among the first settlers of southwest Georgia. Kedar Powell established his home about six miles south of Cairo, where he improved a farm out of the wilderness and lived there until late in life, when he moved into Cairo. and spent his last days in this town. Rev. William Powell was one of the first merchants in Cairo, and after the railroad had been built through, he was appointed station agent, an office which he held until his death. He was also interested in farming, and his place was partly included with the incorporate limits of Cano. William Powell mar- ried Lucretia Brocket, a daughter of Capt. Lemuel Broeket, a large planter of Florida. Mr. and Mrs. Jones have five children named Wal- ter Colquit, Jr., Margaret, William Powell, Joseph Mabbett, and Lu- cretia.
HONORABLE GERMANICUS YOUNG TIGNER. A man of broad capabili- ties, resourceful, and quick to grasp a situation and utilize opportuni- ties, Honorable Germanicus Young Tigner has for many years been an important factor in the public life of Museogee county. serving his fellow-men in various capacities, at the present writing. in 1913. being judge of the Columbus city court of Columbus. A native of Georgia. he was born in Haralson, Coweta county. of excellent English ances- try, being a descendant in the fifth generation from the immigrant ancestor, George Tigner, his lineage being thus traced: George Tigner. Philip Tigner, Young Fletcher Tigner, William Archelaus Tigner, and Germanieus Young Tigner.
About 1750 George Tigner, accompanied by his brother Thomas. came from England. their native country, to America. They were seafaring men. engaged in the merchant marine service, and both located in Baltimore, Maryland. A year later Thomas Tiguer returned to his old home in England. but George Tigner remained in Baltimore, and kept his ships in active service until the Revolution, when they were seized by the British government. After his marriage he lived for a time in Anne Arundel county, Maryland, from there moving to Accomae county. Virginia, and settling near Drummondtown, where he spent his remaining days, being engaged in farming. He was twice married. by his first wife having three children, namely: William, who reared a family, and has descendants living in Virginia, and in various other parts of the Union; llannah married a Mr. Iloughton, and settled in New York State: and Philip, the next in line of descent.
Philip Tiener was born in Accomae county. Virginia. December 25. 1760. Leaving home in the seventeenth year of his age, he went first
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to Norfolk. Virginia, from there going to Salisbury, North Carolina, where he married. With his bride, he came to Georgia, and after spend- ing a short time in Greene county removed to that part of Franklin county that was later a part of Jackson county, and is now included within the boundaries of Clarke county. Purchasing a tract of land through which a erecek Howed, he improved the water power, built a saw mill and a grist mill, and was there prosperously employed in farming and milling until his death. at the age of fifty-nine years. A devout Metho- dist in religion, he erected one of the first Methodist Episcopal churches in North Georgia, it having been known as Tigner's Chapel. He mar- ried first, March 7, 1780. in Salisbury, North Carolina, Naney For- bishi, who died in Green county, Georgia, May 28. 1792. Ile married second Nancy Hall. a daughter of John Hall, a native of Ireland, who came to America in colonial times, locating first in North Carolina, later coming to Georgia as pioneers. By his first marriage he reared five children, Sarah E., James, William, Elizabeth, and Hope H. His sec- ond wife, to whom he was married in 1793, bore him eight children. namely : Nancy; Innocence; Pamelia; Freeborn G .; John Wesley; Young Fletcher. through whom the line of descent was continued; Urban Cooper: and Philip Gillen.
Young Fletcher Tigner was born August 22, 1805. on a plantation located about three miles north of Salem, Clarke county, Georgia. Con- verted when young. he joined the Methodist Episcopal church, and became a preacher in that denomination. as a member of the Georgia conference, filling the pulpits of churches in various places. In Meri- wether county he purchased a plantation near Durand, which was his home for many years. Late in life he removed to Columbus, and lived in that vicinity until his death.
Rev. Young Fletcher Tigner married Sarah Frances Tinsley, who was born in Clarke county, Georgia, a daughter of James Tinsley, and granddaughter of Thomas Tinsley, a native of Hanover county. Vir- ginia. She was a lineal descendant. it is thought, of one Edward Tins- ley, who came from Yorkshire, England. to America in the early part of the seventeenth century, locating in Virginia. Seven of his broth- ers, according to tradition, served, and were killed, in the Revolutionary war. James Tinsley was born near Richmond, Virginia, in 1764. Dur- ing the progress of the Revolutionary war, he went to South Caro- lina, and settled on the Cooper river, ten miles from Chesterton, from there coming, in 1790, to Georgia, where he afterwards spent his remaiu- ing years, his home having been in Columbia county. He married first Elizabeth Zachery, of South Carolina. He married for his second wife Mrs. Lucy Ann (Crawford) Richards, a sister of Hon. William IIarris Crawford, who served as secretary of war under President Madison, as secretary of the treasury nnder both President Madison and President Monroe, and minister to France, and who, in 1824, as candidate for president of the United States, shared the electoral vote with John Quincy Adams. Andrew Jackson, and Henry Clay. Of the union of Rev. Y. F. and Sarah F. (Tinsley) Tigner, nine children were born. namely: James Andrew. Eliza Boring, William Archelaus. Wes- ley Fletcher. Uney A. E .. Samuel Hodges, and Sarah. Julia, and Young Fletcher. Dr. Wesley Fletcher Tigner, uncle of G. Y. Tigner, is a well known Confederate veteran, having fought in all the leading battles of Lee's army from Bull Run to Appomattox: engaged in thirty pitched battles, and now a retired dentist. in comfortable circumstances, and loved by all who know him.
William Archelaus Tigner was born in Meriwether county, Georgia, July 13. 1832, and received his rudimentary education in the rural
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schools, afterwards studying under Prof. Thaddeus Oliver, of Buena Vista. Ile was graduated from Emory College. in Oxford. Georgia. with the class of 1854. and soon after began teaching in Haralson. Coweta eonnty. Succeeding well as an educator, he was made president of a Male and Female College at Clminnenuggee Ridge, Alabama. He afterwards taught in a Lutheran settlement. both in Oglethorpe county. Georgia, and in Macon county. While thus occupied. he studied law in his leisure moments. and after his admission to the bar located as a lawyer in Vienna, Dooly county. After practicing awhile in both Dooly and Oglethorpe counties, he removed to Atlanta, where he formed a partnership with William HI. Hntsey, under the firm name of Hulsey & Tigner. He was later associated with W. D. Ellis as senior member of the law firm of Tigner & Ellis. In 1884 he was elected as senator from the Thirty-fifth district, and took an active and intelligent part in the work of legislation. He was reared a Metho- dist, but when about thirty-five years old united with the Lutheran church, and became a preacher in that denomination, filling pulpits in Ebenezer and other places, and serving as president of the South Caro- lina, Georgia and Florida Synod. For several years prior to his death he lived in Jonesboro. his death occurring there February 19, 1894.
William Archelaus Tigner was twice married. He married first Eugenia R. Dozier, who was born in Marion county, Georgia, in 1834, a daughter of Thomas H. and Martha Thomas (Davie) Dozier. She died March 19, 1872, leaving three children, namely: Germaniens Young, the special subject of this sketch; Martha, wife of A. O. Os- borne, now of Wilmington, North Carolina: and William A. Tigner. Jr., an attorney now in Jonesboro. Georgia. Ile married for his second wife Miriam Byington. who is now living in Jonesboro, Georgia.
Germanieus Young Tigner was carefully educated under his father's and mother's tutorship. attending private schools in Atlanta. and the Jonesboro Academy. A young man of excellent mental attainments. eminently capable and intelligent, he was appointed. in 1876, by Judge Martin J. Crawford. official stenographer of the superior court at Columbus, and met every requirement of that responsible position so efficiently and satisfactorily that he was continued in office for sixteen years. In 1888 Mr. Tigner was elected as a representative to the state legislature, and later was appointed stenographer of the supreme court. At the end of two years he resigned that position, and returned to Colum- bus. In 1902 he was again elected to represent his county in the state legislature, and served in the sessions of 1902. 1903. and 1904. In 1908 Mr. Tigner was appointed, by Gov. Hoke Smith, judge of the city court of Columbus, and served by appointment umtil 1912. when he was elected to the position by an overwhelming majority, receiving a flat- tering vote that proved his popularity with all classes of people.
Mr. Tigner married. June 27. 1889, Johnny Lindsay. She was brought up and educated in Columbus, and at the Moravian Institute at Bethlehem. Pennsylvania. being a daughter of John B. and Helen (Slade) Lindsay, and granddaughter of Res. Thomas Slade, father of Hon. J. J. Slade. of whom a brief biographical sketch appears else- where in this volume. Two children have been born of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Tigner, namely: Helen: and John Lindsay. who died at the early age of seventeen years. Religionsly Mr. Tigner belongs to to the Methodist Episcopal church, and Mrs. Tigner is a member of the Baptist church.
WESLEY FLETCHER TIGNER. 'After a career of forty years as a dental practitioner in Georgia. Dr. Tigner now lives retired at his home
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in Columbus, and is one of the most highly esteemed citizens of that locality.
Wesley Fletcher Tigner was born in Meriwether county, Georgia, August 13, 1834, and is thus one of the oldest native sons of the state. His parents were Rev. Young Fleteher and Sarah (Tinsley) Tigner, concerning whom and this interesting family, further details will be found in the sketch of G. Y. Tigner, in other pages of this work. Dr. Tigner was reared in a rural community and his earliest education was that afforded by one of the neighborhood schools which existed in Georgia before the war. He was very liberally educated for his time, and from the common schools attended Collingsworth institute and in 1856 graduated from Emory College. The following years were spent in teaching, up to the beginning of the Civil war. Then in May, 1861, he enlisted in a company first known as the Henry Grays, and subse- quently designated as Company A and attached to the Sixth Regiment of Alabama infantry. . Few Georgia soldiers saw a more active and strenuous career as soldier than Dr. Tigner. His regiment was sent into Virginia. and became part of the army of northern Virginia. Its campaigns were many, and the doctor's service can be briefly suggested by referring to the important battles which were Gettysburg, Fredericks- burg, Seven Pines, Antietam, Chancellorsville, Yorktown, Williams- burg, Winchester. Kernstown, the Seven Days Fighting around Rieh- mond, and the battles about Petersburg, concluding with the surrender of Lee's forces at Appomatox. He was paroled with the rest of the southern forces and made his way south riding on a pony. He passed through North Carolina and South Carolina in this way, and reached the banks of the Savannah river at Barksdale Ferry, and thence to his father's home in Chattahoochee. He soon afterwards began the study of dentistry at Baltimore college. After a term of two years he began active practice in Columbus, and subsequently returned to Baltimore, where he was graduated in dentistry. Dr. Tigner was for a great many years the family dentist for hundreds of the best people in Columbus and vicinity, and it is of interest to note that he occupied one office in this city for a period of forty years. He has since retired from his active profession and now lives quietly surrounded by family and friends in Columbus.
In 1869 he married Mary Eliza Cunningham, who was born at Talbotton, Georgia, a daughter of James D. and Caroline (Sallie) Cunningham. The two children of the doctor and wife are Mary Frances and Annie Louise, the latter being the wife of J. Ralston Cargill.
WALTER S. DOZIER. Clerk of the court of Terrell county at Dawson, Mr. Dozier is one of the most popular officials of the county, and has had a long and active career in business and publie life in this section of the state. Ile represents one of the oldest and most prominent families of the south.
Walter S. Dozier was born in Warrenton county, Georgia, March 6, .1857. His American aneestry goes back for four or five generations. The family originated in France, among the Huguenots. Leonard. Dozier was born in France, was a Huguenot in religions faith, and immigrated to America early in the eighteenth century, locating in Virginia. He was married in that colony in 1733 and died there in 1785. His son was James S. Dozier, who served as sergeant of artillery during the Revolutionary war, and later in life located in Georgia. dying in Warrenton county, January 18, 1808. Ile married Elizabeth Staples, who was also born in Virginia. Five of their sous were among the settlers and workers who did so much to develop the country in
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Warren county. James S. Dozier, the founder of the family in Georgia. just mentioned, was born in Lunenburg county, Virginia. in 1769. Leonard Wesley Dozier, the head of the next generation, was a native of Virginia, and married Naney Staples. He was one of the early settlers of Warren county, where he died. John Dozier, son of Leonard Wesley and grandfather of the Dawson elerk of courts, was born in Warren county, Georgia, about 1796, and married Antoinet Parham, a daughter of Richard Parham, who was a Virginian who served in the Civil war. John Dozier and wife, so far as known, were lifelong resi- dents of Warren county.
Nathaniel Wesley Dozier, father of Walter S., was born in Warren county, August 12, 1826, was reared and educated in his native locality. and when a young man moved to Stewart county. where he taught school for some time. He entered the Confederate service in 1864. going with the other Georgia troops to the defense of Atlanta. After the fall of that eity, he participated in the battle at Griswold's Station, where he was wounded. He was then granted a furlough and returned home and the war closed before he had recovered from his wound. After the war he located in Webster county, where he taught school at Weston for some time. In 1872 occurred his removal to Dawson, where he became identified with merchandising, and was later in the ware- house business and engaged in the sale of fertilizer, which continued until his death on May 4, 1910. Nathaniel W. Dozier, married Mary MI. Fuller, who was born in Warren county, Georgia, January 26, 1832. She was a daughter of Spiney and Sarah ( Harden) Fuller, and a grand- daughter of Spiney Fuller, Sr. Sarah Harden, her mother, was a native of Warren county, and a daughter of Benjamin Harden, who was married in Warren county in 1796 to Mary Smith, whose mother was the widow of a revolutionary soldier, who had come to Georgia. and located in Warren county in 1789. Mrs. Nathaniel W. Dozier, the mother, is now a resident at Dawson. She reared four children whose names are Walter S., Mary C., George Wesley and Alice.
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