USA > Georgia > Clinch County > History of Clinch County, Georgia, revised to date > Part 18
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nominated Woodrow Wilson for President. In 1914 Colonel Dickerson defeated Dr. A. H. Culpepper for representative by 388 majority. He served through the sessions of 1915 and 1916. He figured very conspicuously in the passage of the new prohibition law and the State Railroad legislation during the 1915 session, championing each measure. Colonel Dickerson was married June 29th, 1897, to Miss Orie L. Moon, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Nelson Moon, of Scottsville, Va. The wedding took place at the home of the bride and was in important social event. Congressman W. G. Brantley was best man. Mr. and Mrs. Dickerson have four sons, the oldest of whom is R. G. Dickerson, third, who is studying law. Colonel Dickerson has been for several years a director of the Bank of Homerville, and was in 1913 elected its president, succeeding H. J. Peagler, deceased. He has also served in various minor positions, such as town council- man and local school trustee and town clerk.
DICKERSON, WALTER T., was born in Clinch County, February 8th, 1878, the son of David and Malinda (Sir- mans) Dickerson. After receiving a primary education in the common schools he attended the Georgia Normal College at Abbeville. Coming back home he taught school a few years and was in 1899 elected county school commissioner, succeed- ing C. H. Smith, resigned. Mr. Dickerson was just twenty- one years old. He was admitted to the bar in 1901 and formed a partnership with Jesse Grantham, which continued a year or two, as Dickerson & Grantham. He was re-elected county school commissioner successively until 1911, when he resigned. He was in 1910 nominated State senator by a majority of 434 over Senator F. B. Sirmans. He served through the sessions of 1911 and 1912. In 1913 he was ap- pointed solicitor of the County Court and re-appointed in J915, which he now holds. Colonel Dickerson is vice-presi- dent of the Bank of Homerville, a position which he has held since 1905. He married Miss Tobitha Pearson, a daughter
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of Benaje Pearson, of Coffee County, by whom he has a daughter and two sons.
DRAWDY, SHERMAN LEE, was born in Charlton County, April 18th, 1865, the son of John J. and Elizabeth (Patten) Drawdy. In 1869 his parents moved to Clinch County and settled near Homerville. He was raised up on his father's farm, but having a desire to study law, he began to study Blackstone and other standard commentaries at home; later he entered the law office of Hon. John C. Nichols at Blackshear, where he read law. Returning home, he was admitted to the bar at the October term, 1888, of Clinch Superior Court. Later he was admitted to practice in the higher courts. He has practiced law in Homerville since first admitted and has never formed any law partnerships. He was married January 24th, 1898 to Miss Lucy Moore, daugh- ter of Hon. Henry C. and Fannie C. (Smith) Moore. In the primary of 1900 he was a candidate for representative and defeated Hon. Rowan B. Johnson by 196 votes in the pri- mary, and in the general election easily defeated his Populist opponent, William Barlow. He did not offer for re-election. In 1908 he was again elected representative, defeating Judge S. C. Townsend after a very hot race. He served through the session of 1909 and 1910. It was during this session that he introduced and passed the bill creating the new Waycross Judicial Circuit. In 1913 he was appointed judge of the County Court of Clinch County for four years. He was mayor of Homerville 1907-1909. He is a Mason and a Woodman.
DUKES, EDWARD TAYLOR, was born in Thomas County, Ga., December 12th, 1846, but was reared in Brooks County. He joined the Confederate Army in May, 1864, Co. "B" Ist Georgia Reserves, McLaw's Division. In 1865 he was mustered out. Two years later he came to Homer- ville, where he engaged in the mercantile business. He was a candidate for clerk of the Superior Court in 1872, and
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defeated David O'Quin and P. M. Lee. He was com- missioned January 18th, 1873. He removed back to his old home in Brooks County in 1874, shortly before his term was out, leaving his deputies in charge of the clerk's office. He engaged in the mercantile business in Quitman, where he still lives. In 1870 Mr. Dukes was married to Miss Lucy E. Wade, and by her had a son, Edward Scott Dukes, who died upon reaching manhood. Mrs. Dukes died in 1871, and in 1876 he married Miss Arie Bryan, who died in 1881. One daughter was born to them, Nellie Leland Dukes. Ten years after the death of his second wife, Mr. Dukes married Miss Mattie E. Roundtree, of Quitman, and they have one daugh- ter, Frances R. Dukes.
DUPONT, AUGUSTUS, christened John Peter Au- gustus DuPont, Jr., was the son of Capt. J. P. A. DuPont and wife, Eliza G. Nichols, and was born in Savannah, Ga. September 17th, 1856, and with his family removed to Clinch County about 1858. He was raised up at Lawton or DuPont, and received a good education. He graduated from Roanoke College, Salem, Va., with first honors and also from the University Law School in Iowa in 1880. He soon returned home, however, and settled down, and resigned the practice of law. In 1881, when DuPont was re-incorporated he was named its mayor. He was appointed on the adjutant-general's staff of the State militia, which he held for seventeen years. In 1900 he was elected as commissioner from the State of Georgia to the Paris Exposition, but was unfortunately taken sick and prevented from going. In 1904, Hon. R. B. John- son, representative from Clinch County, died, leaving a va- cancy to which the County Democratic Executive Committee nominated Mr. DuPont, who was elected at a special elec- tion held July 16th, 1904. In the next election he did not offer for re-election. Mr. DuPont served through the session of 1904. After this he lived in retirement at the old family home in DuPont, until his death in a local hospital in Savan-
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nah, Feb. 27th, 1913, and was buried in Valdosta. He was survived by a daughter, Eliza Gussie DuPont, who since her marriage resides in Charleston, S. C.
ECORD, WILLIAM AUGUSTUS, was born in Lin- coln County, Ga., September 20th, 1846. When the Civil War broke out he joined the Confederate Army in 1861, joining Co. "G" 22d Georgia Regiment. He served through the war, being wounded at the Battle of Sharpersburg. After the war was over Mr. Ecord was mustered out at Appomat- tox court-house, and came back to Georgia and settled in Coffee County, where he married Miss Victoria Fussell, December 23d, 1871. In 1875 he removed to Homerville and entered the mercantile business. On January 30th, 1884, Mr. Ecord was appointed by the Ordinary as clerk of the Superior Court to succeed B. R. Johnson, who had removed from the county. Soon afterwards he was elected at a special election and commissioned March 4th, 1884, for the unex- pired term. In 1885 he was re-elected and by continuous re- elections served until 1893. When the Populist Party was. formed in Clinch County, Mr. Ecord joined it, and was their candidate for clerk in 1892, but was defeated by S. W. Reg- ister, his Democrat opponent. In 1898 Mr. Ecord was the Populist candidate for State senator, and in 1896 for clerk. His first wife having died, Mr. Ecord married March 10th, 1901, Mrs. Eliza L. Mattox, daughter of Rev. Robert F. Lanier and widow of Dr. L. C. Mattox. By his first wife Mr. Ecord had four children, James Monroe, Atticus Haygood. George Pierce and Lizzie L. Ecord, who married H. L. Mat- tox. There are no children by his second wife. Mr. Ecord is a member of the Homerville Methodist Church, and in 1900-6 was superintendent of the Sunday School. He has also served as church steward and as recording steward. To- gether with his wife, they own and operate the Ecord Hotel in Homerville.
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FENDER, DAVID C., was born about 1848, the son of W. F. and Anna Fender. He was reared at Stockton, where he lived until his death. He married Mattie, daughter of Barzilla Staten, Jr., May 4th, 1881, and they had several children. Mr. Fender was nominated for representative in the primary of 1898 over R. B. Johnson and J. H. Inman, and in the general election which followed, defeated Hon. M. S. Corbitt, his Populist opponent by 215 votes. He served through the sessions of 1898 and 1899 and was one of the most faithful members of the House in attendance. He was always present at each roll call. He did not offer for re-election. His death occured at his home near Stockton, October 14th, 1901. Mr. Fender was also a member of the Board of Education for several years and was its president four years.
FINDLEY, JOHN QUINCEY, was born in Tattnall County, about 1820. He married Miss Lusina Findley, and by her had one child, William R. Findley. He came to Clinch County about 1850 and settled near the Echols County line, on Cow Creek. He was elected coroner of Clinch County in 1857 and commissioned January 13th, 1858. He served until 1861. When the Civil War came on he left his farm and joined the Confederate Army, O'Steen's company, which was organized at Homerville, in 1862. The next year he died of pneumonia at Lynchburg, Va., while in the army. He was survived by his widow and son. Mrs. Findley died in 1909.
FINDLEY, STEPHEN DECATUR, was born in Jef- ferson County, Fla., near Monticello, March 16th, 1843. the son of Asa Findley. When he was yet a boy his father removed to a place on Cow Creek in then Ware, later Clinch but now Echols County. Here he grew to manhood and when the Civil War came on he enlisted in Co. "G" 5 Ist Georgia Regiment from Echols County, in March 1862. After the company arrived at the front, Mr. Findley, and a few of
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his comrades, were assigned to a company from Quitman County, under command of Captatin John P. Crawford. He was captured twice, the first time he was confined in Fort Delaware twenty-four days and paroled. He got back in the Confederate lines and re-enlisted. He was captured again, just three days before Lee surrendered, and put in prison, being released July 14th, 1865. Captain Crawford remarked of young Findley just before the surrender that Mr. Findley had answered to his name in the roll calls of the company _ more times than any other man in the company. Returning home, Mr. Findley married Miss Mary G. Fiveash, daugh- ter of Matthew Fiveash and his wife, Mary Dame. They had six children. He purchased a farm just above Homerville, where he settled October 9th, 1873; here he lived a few years, then moving to his present home a mile distant. In 1880 Mr. Findley was elected coroner of Clinch County and commissioned January 13th, 1881, for two years. Later he served as a constable of the 1224th district. He is now living in Homerville engaged in the hotel business.
FINDLEY, WILLIAM RILEY, was born in Clinch County, May 25th, 1857, the son of John Q. and Lusina Findley. His father died in the war when the son was only a few years old, and the son was thus deprived of a father's help in his early age. Mr. Findley was reared on a farm, and married Mrs. Emma Weaver, of Randolph County, May 25th, 1882, by whom he has five children. About this time Mr. Findley settled near Homerville, where he lived until his removal to Berrien County in 1910. He returned to Homerville in 1914, and now lives on a farm near town. He was elected coroner of Clinch County in 1904, and com- missioned October 17th, 1904. By continuous re-elections he served until his removal from the county in 1910.
GAINES, WILLIAM, came to Clinch County during the Civil War and settled in the Magnolia district. He was a native of Ireland, where he was born in 1824. His wife,
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Ellen, was a native of Canada, where she was born in 1829. They had four children, Mary A., John G., William F., and Helen J. Gaines, who were born in 1854, 1857, 1863 and 1867, respectively. Mr. Gaines was elected county surveyor in 1868 and served until 1871. He later removed to Chat- ham County, where he died.
GARY, WILLIAM H., was born in Hancock County, June 14th, 1834. He was married to Miss Mary Hannah, and by her had three children. Previous to and during the war, he was an employee of the Central of Georgia Railroad. From here (Savannah) he removed to Florida, locating at Ellabelle, where he entered the lumber business. He devoted some few years to this business, but as a financial venture did not succeed. He lost his wife there and shortly afterwards came to Homerville. Here he married Mrs. Elizabeth E. Hodges, widow of John W. Hodges, January 8th, 1880. There were no children by his second marriage. Mr. Gary lived a quiet life in Homerville, attending to his farm and such other work. He was a member of the Baptist Church and was very instrumental in organizing this church at Homerville. He served as church deacon, church clerk and Sunday School superintendent. He served several years on the board of jury commissioners, and when in 1889 the Board of County Commissioners was created, he was named on it, and was subsequently chosen as chairman of the Board. He held the office of county treasurer about a month follow- ing the death of Treasurer Henry C. Moore, in 1891. He was appointed treasurer by the Ordinary June 23d, 1891. He was a candidate for treasurer in 1892 for the full term, but was defeated by A. J. Caswell; also a candidate in 1896. He also was mayor of Homerville three or four years, and was a town commissioner under the old charter. His death oc- curred Sept. 14th, 1901, age 67 years. He had previously been suffering of bone cancer in his head and this was the cause of his death. He was buried in the Homerville ceme-
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tery. Resolutions of the Baptist Church speak loud praise justly due him.
GIBBS, AUSTIN JAMES, was born in Clinch County four miles south of DuPont, December 23d, 1867. He was raised on a farm and went to school about six months. He commenced clerking in a country store at the age of fifteen, acquiring most of his education in that way. He was married to Miss Lillie Harris, daughter of Joseph Harris, of DuPont, June 20th, 1895. There are no children. Mr. Gibbs enter- ed the employ of the railroad company and was agent at DuPont from May II, 1902, until December 15, 1905, and resigned that position to enter the service of the G. F. & A. Railroad. He served as agent for that road at Quincy, Fla., and Bainbridge, Ga., and as car accountant. He resigned this position to accept the management of the naval stores busi- ness of Cranford-Lastinger Co., at Sirmans, Ga., which posi- tion he held until he was elected clerk of the Superior Court. He was nominated in the primary over Hon. S. W. Register, and took charge of the office January Ist, 1909. He served about two months as deputy under A. O. Register, his prede- cessor. He has since, by continuous re-elections, served as clerk, being re-elected in 1916.
GIBBS, GEORGE DAME, was born in Clinch County, June 25th, 1858, the son of John and Charity (Dame) Gibbs. He was raised upon a farm and in 1879 married Miss Angie Dampier, daughter of James Dampier, of this county, by whom he had four children. He was elected coroner of Clinch County in 1890, and commissioned January 10th, 1891. He was taken sick with typhoid fever and died at his home above DuPont, November 10th, 1891, survived by his wife and four children. His widow married John J. Drawdy in 1896.
GIDDENS, DUNCAN, was born in North Carolina in 1810, and came to this State a young man. His first wife's name was Savility, by whom he had several children. After
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her death he married a Joyce. He was commissioned a jus- tice of the Inferior Court January 24th, 1854, and served two years. He did not hold any other office. Mr. Giddens lived in the 106 Ist district, and his death occurred September 8th, 1881.
GIDDENS, MOSES, was born in Appling, later Ware County, in 1821. In 1840 he married Miss Pollie Mathis, by whom he had ten children. He came to what is now Clinch County about 1836, and lived here for about forty years, afterwards moving to Coffee County, where he died. In 1853 he was elected tax collector of Clinch County, and served one year. When the war broke out, Mr. Giddens joined Co. "G" 29th Georgia Regiment, which was organized in Berrien County. He served through the war. His death occurred in January, 1906, age 85 years.
GRIFFIN, WILLIAM W., was born in South Caro- lina in 1809, and early in life came to this State, where he lived until his death with the exception of a few years in Florida. He became an early convert to Methodism and was subsequently licensed to preach. He was the first stationed preacher of the M. E. Church at Thomasville. Later he joined the Florida conference and served as a presiding elder for a period, making the trip by buggy to Cedar Keys, thence by boat to Key West, where he was stationed a short while. Later he was transferred back to the Georgia conference and was stationed at Homerville, where his daughter, Mrs. L. A. Sirmans, was living. Here he lived several years, hold- ing the position of railroad agent awhile. In 1868 he was elected Ordinary, defeating J. L. Sweat. He served in this capacity three years. Subsequently Rev. Griffin, with his son-in-law, Colonel Sirmans, and their families, removed to Stone Mountain, in DeKalb County, where he died in 1879. His wife, Ann, was born in 1816, and survived him.
GRIFFIS, WILLIAM, was born in Ware, now Clinch County, March 11th, 1841, the son of Juniper Griffis. He
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was raised on his father's farm, and when the Civil War came on he joined the Confederate Army at Waynesville, Ga., joining Co. "I" 4th Georgia Cavalry. He was captured in the winter of 1863, at Fort Gates, Fla., from which time until the close of the war he was held a prisoner by the Fed- erals. He was married March 12th, 1867 to Miss Olive Sears, daughter of Hiram Sears, of Coffee County, by whom he had three daughters and two sons. He was elected justice of the peace of the 106Ist district in 1875, and served two years. In 1886 he was elected tax collector of Clinch County, and commissioned January 8th, 1887. He served two years. In the fall of 1888 he removed to Ware County and settled at Millwood, where he lived and farmed until his death, May 25th, 1915.
HENDERSON, JOHN S., known also as "Jack" Hen- derson, was born in this State May 9th, 1807. He was among the first settlers of Ware County, and lived there until 1855, when he removed to Clinch County. He settled in Clinch, on the old T. F. Morgan place, but later moved to near Homerville, where he died. He was first married to Miss Pollie Fulwood, a sister of Hon. James Fulwood, of Ware County, and by her had three sons, William, John and Ran- dall Henderson. After his first wife's death, Mr. Henderson married in February, 1840, Miss Sallie King, a sister to Judge Ziba King. By this marriage they had the following children; Duncan J., Marcus F., James C., Alfred, Belinda, Nancy, who married Joel G. Griffis; Julius S., Martha, who married C. H. Smith; Simon W., and Bartow A. Hender- son. Mr. Henderson was a justice of the Inferior Court of Ware County, 1835-7, and clerk of the Superior and Inferior Courts of Ware County, 1836-8. He served as representa- tive from Ware County in the sessions of 1844 and 1845. After his removal to Clinch, he was elected to the Inferior Court in 1858, and served three years. After this he lived a retired life on his farm near Homerville until his death,
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March 25th, 1883. His remains were buried in the Homer- ville cemetery beside those of his wife, who died in July, 1879.
HITCH, SIMON W., was born in Jones County, in 1848, the son of Sylvanus and Ann A. (Nichols) Hitch. When his father settled at Homerville, about the close of the war, young Hitch also came, and served awhile as clerk of the County Court under Judge Z. King during 1866-7. In 1870 he was admitted to the bar at Homerville and practiced law at Homerville several years until his removal to Waycross, where he lived until he died. In 1871, he was at the age of twenty-three elected solicitor-general of the Superior Courts of the Brunswick Circuit, and held this office ten years. Col. Hitch remained in the active practice of law until 1910, when he retired on account of age and health. Col. Hitch died in Waycross, September 18th, 1915, and was buried there. He was married and had several children.
HITCH, CHARLES F., was born June 30th, 1855, in Jones County, the son of Sylvanus and Ann (Nichols ) Hitch. He was reared principally in Homerville, and when a young man entered the mercantile business in Homerville. He mar- ried Miss Alice Mattox, daughter of H. P. Mattox, and by her had one child, Ruth Hitch. On the death of A. J. Cas- well, county treasurer, Mr. Hitch was appointed county treasurer August 2Ist, 1893, by the county commissioners. At the succeeding special election he was defeated by Robert G. Dickerson for the unexpired term. Mr. Hitch served as treasurer about one month. His death occurred June 30th, 1894, and he was buried in the Homerville cemetery. His widow married D. O. Ratliff in 1896, and is now living in Bartow, Fla.
HODGES, ARCHIBALD, was born in Liberty County, November 5th, 1804. He came to what is now Clinch County about 1850 and settled here. He married Fannie, daughter of George W. Delk, and by her had several chil- dren, one of them, Edward C. Hodges, still living in this
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county. Mr. Hodges, Sr., was elected a justice of the peace of the 106Ist district in 1851 and held the office two years. On January 24th, 1854 he was commissioned a justice of the Inferior Court, which he held four years. Mr. Hodges died October 25th, 1862, at his home in the 1061st district and is buried at Arabia Church. He was a brother of John W. Hodges, who came to Clinch in 1853.
HOWELL, WILLIAM T., was born in Pulaski County, in 1847, and with his parents came to Clinch County at an early age. He joined the Confederate Army in 1864, Co. "H" 4th Georgia Cavalry, and served until the close of the war. He married Salina, daughter of Judge John L. Mor- gan, February IIth, 1874, and by her had several children. After her death he married a daughter of P. W. Courson. In the primary of 1900 Mr. Howell defeated George Cor- nelius for Ordinary, and was elected in the general election following, defeating his Populist opponent, Martin S. Cor- bitt. He assumed charge of the office January Ist, 1901, and served four years, and did not seek re-election. He was ap- pointed on the county board of tax assessors in 1914 and served until January Ist, 1916. His death occurred at his home in the 586th district, January 20th, 1916, and was buried at the Fender graveyard.
HUNTER, WILLIAM HENRY, was born in Clinch County, November 18th, 1867, and was raised on a farm. He married Miss Mary Jane David, daughter of J. J. David, formerly of Clinch, but then of Lowndes County. To them were born nine children, eight of whom are living. Mr. Hunter was for many years employed by the G. S. Baxter Company at Fargo, in this county, but in 1911 removed to Homerville and bought a farm and entered the grocery business. In 1912 he was a candidate for county treasurer, but was defeated by Randall Corbitt by one vote in the pri- mary. In 1914 he was again a candidate, and was elected, defeating George M. Bennett by forty-six votes. He took
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charge of the office January Ist, 1915. His term of office will expire January Ist, 1917, after which the treasurer's office is abolished by Legislative Act, passed in 1915.
HARPER, BENJAMIN A., the fourth son of Samuel S. and Sarah C. (Sellers) Harper, was born in Bucksville, S. C., February roth, 1869; with his parents he came to Clinch County at an early age. He married Mrs. Sarah J. (Carmichael) Kirkland, widow of Franklin D. Kirkland, in 1891. He served a short while as constable of the 1389th district and four years as postmaster at Argyle. In 1899 he was commissioned justice of the peace of the 1389th district and served until 1910, when he resigned. In the primary of 1910 he was elected representative from Clinch County, by forty-seven majority over David J. Smith and A. H. Cul- pepper. He served through the sessions of 1911-12. He was licensed as local preacher of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, in 1912, and served four years as supply for Glenmore charge. He is a Mason and Woodman of the World.
HUGHES, FRANCIS MARION, was born in what is now Clinch County, September 28th, 1849, the son of Wil- liam and Nancy Hughes. He was married and had several children. He was reared upon his father's farm and farm- ing was his life-long occupation. In 1892 he was elected on the Board of County Commissioners and served two years. In 1898 he was appointed on the Board of Education and served as its president the last nine years of his life. His death occurred at his home near DuPont, August 10th, 1913, and he was buried at the North cemetery.
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