USA > Georgia > Clinch County > History of Clinch County, Georgia, revised to date > Part 21
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opponent, William Dame, by eighty-eight votes. He did not offer for re-election in 1900. Mr. O'Steen is a member of the Primitive Baptist Church.
PRESCOTT, JESSE P., was born in South Carolina, in 1824. He was married in 1845 to Miss Sarah -, and came to what is now Clinch County in 1848. He was com- missioned justice of the peace of the 1058th district, then in Clinch County, September 2Ist, 1850, serving seven years. He was commissioned tax collector of Clinch County, Janu- ary 13th, 1858, and served one year. About this time Echols County was created, and Mr. Prescott's home was included in the new county. He was elected the first clerk of the Superior and Inferior Courts of Echols County, and commissioned April 15th, 1859. He held this office for about twenty-five years. By an Act of the Legislature, approved December 13th, 1859, Statenville was incorporated and Mr. Prescott was named one of the town's commissioners. He was a mem- ber of the Missionary Baptist Church. Mr. Prescott died at his home in Statenville in 1904, and was buried in the local cemetery. His children were : E. J. W. Prescott, T. M. Pres- cott, H. D. Prescott, Miss A. M. and W. E. Prescott.
RAMSEY, THOMAS GREEN, was born in Dooly County in 1823. While quite a boy his father moved with the family to Stewart; here he attended the "old field school," but finished his education at Cedartown Institute in Polk County. In 1846 he went to Alachua County, Florida, his father's family having moved there the year before. In 1852 he met Miss Elizabeth Sikes and they were married in 1853. In 1854 he removed to Clinch County, Georgia, not far from Milltown, where he farmed. In 1861 he, with Mr. Benjamin Sirmans, were elected delegates to the secession convention at Milledgeville, both voting for secession. Returning home he sold his plantation preparatory to moving back to Florida ; but the war coming on he purchased and settled a place six miles south of Homerville. Here he was elected one of the
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judges of the Inferior Court, being commissioned September 19th, 1862. He served until 1865. In 1875 he removed with his family to Montgomery County, where he purchased a farm on the Ocmulgee River, six miles below Lumber City. He lived here until 1884, when he moved to Arredondo, Fla. Here he engaged in farming and stock-raising up to the time of his death, September 13th, 1905. Of his family of eight children, three survive him. His son, Perry G. Ramsey, is now, and has been, several years sheriff of Alachua County, Florida.
REGISTER, AUGUSTUS OTIS, was born in Clinch County, near Withers, November 20th, 1874, the son of S. W. and Mary Register. He was raised on his father's farm, and at the age of nineteen came to Homerville, when his father was elected clerk of the Superior Court, and assisted him in the office work for several years. In 1898 he was mar- ried to Miss Maggie Inman, a daughter of J. H. Inman, and by this marriage had four children. After his marriage he removed to a farm which he bought about six miles south of Homerville, where he lived a few years. He was commis- sioned ex-officio justice of the peace of the 1365th district, October 26th, 1900, but in the course of a year or so removed from the district. In 1905 his father appointed him deputy clerk of the Superior Court, serving until his father's death. In 1908 Mr. Register was elected at a special election to suc- ceed his father as clerk. His term expired December 3 Ist, 1909. In November, 1908, he appointed A. J. Gibbs his deputy and Mr. Register removed to Berrien County, where he has since resided. In 1908 his wife died, and he subse- quently married Miss Leola Shaw, of Berrien County.
REGISTER, GUILFORD A., was born in Ware, now Clinch County, April 13th, 1842, the son of William Reg- ister. When the Civil War came on, he, with his brothers, joined Co. "G" 50th Georgia Infantry, in April, 1862, and served until the close of the war. Shortly after the war he
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married Rachel E., daughter of William Hughes, by whom he had seven sons and a daughter. In 1882 he was elected coroner of Clinch County, and was commissioned January 9th, 1883, serving one term. In 1884 he was elected tax col- lector of Clinch County, and commissioned January 13th, 1885, serving one term. For many years Mr. Register lived on his farm south of DuPont, but later lived in DuPont. After the death of his first wife in 1905 he married Miss Carrie Day, of DuPont, but had no children by her. His death occurred in DuPont, May 11th, 1911. He was buried in North cemetery.
REGISTER, SAMUEL W., was born in Ware, now Clinch County, August 5th, 1839, the son of William Reg- ister. In early life he was a farmer and pursued that occu- pation more or less all of his life. He was married August 18th, 1859, to Miss Mary Stanford, daughter of David Stanford. By this union were born eight daughters and one son, A. O. Register. Leaving his wife and child on the farm he joined Co. "G" 50th. Georgia Regiment in April, 1862, and served until the close of the war. He lost three fingers off his left hand in battle. He was in all the important battles of the army of northern Virginia. Returning home he was elected tax collector of Clinch County in 1865, and commis- sioned January 22, 1866, for two years. He was a member of the first Board of Education under the amended laws of 1872. When the 1365th district was created in 1884 he was elected its first justice of the peace, being commissioned Janu- ary 22d, 1885. He served until October 7th, 1890, when he resigned to make the race for clerk of the Superior Court. He was defeated by his Populist opponent, W. A. Ecord, who was the incumbent. However, two years later, Mr. Register was elected by a large Democratic majority. He was com- missioned clerk January 6th, 1893, and served by re-elections until 1908. In the Democratic primary of 1908 he was de- feated by A. J. Gibbs. His death occurred shortly afterwards
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on May 17th, 1908, vertigo being ascribed as the cause of his death. The following day his body was taken in charge by the local lodge of Masons, of which he had been a member since 1867, and conducted to the cemetery at Cow Creek Church, six miles south of Stockton, where it was buried. He was survived by his wife and nine children. His widow died in 1915. He was succeeded as clerk by his son, A. O. Reg- ister, his term not having expired.
REGISTER, PERRY A., was born in Clinch County, May 24th, 1866, the son of John T. Register. He was raised on his father's farm and married Christina Copeland, daugh- ter of David Copeland, of Naylor. They have several chil- dren. In 1896 Mr. Register was nominated for county treas- urer, defeating W. H. Gary by 176 majority. He served dur- ing 1897-9, and was succeeded by George M. Dame. Mr. Register has since entered the mercantile business at DuPont, in which he has been very successful.
REGISTER, LUCIUS C., was born in Clinch County, in 1868, the son of John T. Register. He was raised on his father's farm, and first married Miss Miriam Morgan, daughter of Martin Z. Morgan, of this county, and after her death married Miss Mary McCullers, daughter of John A. McCullers, of this county. He has five children. In 1906 he announced for tax collector of Clinch County and was elected over strong opposition. He served one term. He lives on his farn near DuPont.
RODGERS, JOSEPH O., was born and reared in Clinch County. He received his early education in the common and high schools of his native county, and graduated at The Geor- gia Normal College and Business Institute in 1906, later at- tending school at the University of Georgia. He made a per- manent certificate as a teacher in 1911 and engaged in his favorite profession, teaching school, up till his election as county school superintendent in the spring of 1916. He will
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take charge of this office January Ist, 1917. Mr. Rodgers' carly ancestors were emigrants from Ireland and Wales to the Carolinas, thence to Appling County. His great-grand- father, Joseph L. Rodgers, was the first coroner of Clinch County ; his grandfather, William Rodgers, born 1826, mar- ried Martha, daughter of George Harnage, of this county; his father, George Quarterman Rodgers, now lives in Echols County, at Walker, Georgia. Mr. Rodgers' mother was Sallie, the fifth daughter of Wesley Johnson, deceased, late of Clinch County.
SESSOMS, ALEX. K., was born at Graham, Georgia, in Appling County, Sept. 2Ist, 1882, the son of Alexander Ses- soms, of Cumberland County, N. C., and his wife Lou W. Sessoms, of Sampson County, N. C. He lived at Graham until 1890, when the elder Sessoms removed to Sessoms, Georgia, where he engaged in the turpentine business, for two years, when they removed to Waycross. From 1895 to 1900 the younger Sessoms went to school at Davis Military School, Winston, N. C., Gordon Institute at Barnesville, and the Georgia Technological School at Atlanta. In 1900 he went to Europe for three months and returning home he went to work in a door, sash and blind factory at Waycross, as a laborer at 75 cents per day. He worked there for three months. On January Ist, 1901 he went to Jacksonville, Fla., as a shipping clerk in a wholesale grocery business and worked there six months. Returning to Waycross he was employed as shipping clerk for J. M. Cox Company, where he worked until the fall of 1903. He then went to Andalusia, Alabama, where he organized the Sessoms Grocery Company, a $75,000 corporation. In 1908 he gave up the management of this company and went to Mexico, where he organized and took the management of a ranch of half million acres. In the fall of 1908 Mr. Sessoms was called to Waycross to take charge of his father's extensive business on account of his failing health. His father died September 15th, 1909.
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In 1911 Mr. Sessoms, in connection with Hon. F. B. Sirmans, and other incorporators, began the construction of the Way- cross & Western Railroad from Waycross westward, and in 1914 it was completed to Milltown, a distance of forty-five miles. Mr. Sessoms was elected president of the railroad, and gave his personal attention to the building of the road. On February 28th, 1913, he married Miss Edna Sirmans, daugh- ter of Senator F. B. Sirmans, of this county, and went to live at Waycross. In 1914 The Sessoms Land & Securities Com- pany was organized to take over the Sessoms estate lands, and in order to develop these lands into farms, Mr. Sessoms moved to Cogdell in this county, where he now lives. Since moving into the county, the companies he represents have spent $20,000 each year in building and opening farms. They con- template spending that much or more for the next several years. They have one of the largest and best farms in the State. Mr. Sessoms' companies pay ten per cent. of the total taxes of the county, an evidence of their importance to Clinch County industries. In 1915 Mr. Sessoms was appointed on the Board of County Commissioners, by Legislative Act, hav- ing been a resident of the county just about a year. Mr. Ses- soms is a most progressive man and all his ideas tend to- wards the upbuilding and developing of Clinch County and her resources.
SIRMANS, BENJAMIN, was born in Emanuel County, February 6th, 1792, the son of Josiah Sirmans and his wife, Artie Hardeman. He was one of the first settlers of what is now Clinch County, having settled here according to his de- scendants, December 22d, 1822, on the place now owned by J. B. Strickland in the Mud Creek district. He lived there until his death. Mr. Sirmans became very wealthy, owning many slaves and much other property. He married Martha Johnson, a sister of Gen. David Johnson; she died December 24th, 1856. To them were born ten children (see Sirmans family history). He represented Lowndes County in the leg-
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islature through the sessions of 1828-29, 1838-39 and 1840- 41. He was State Senator from Clinch County in the session of 1853-54. According to reports, he defeated George W. Newbern by thirteen votes in the race for senator, also Rowan Pafford by thirteen votes, and R. Y. Stanford by seven votes. When Clinch County was organized in 1850 Mr. Sirmans was appointed one of the commissioners to organize the county. When the call for delegates to the secession conven- tion at Milledgeville was made in January, 1861, Mr. Sir- mans was elected one of the delegates, voting for secession. His death occurred May Ist, 1863, and his remains were buried at the Fender cemetery. He was one of the leading men of the county of his time, and is represented by numer- ous descendants in the county to-day.
SIRMANS, DAVID J., was born in Emanuel County, March Ist, 1819, the son of Benjamin Sirmans, Sr. His father moved first to Appling and afterwards to Lowndes, now Clinch County, when David J. Sirmans was quite young. Mr. Sirmans served as a volunteer under Capt. John J. Johnson, Col. Brown's regiment, in the Seminole Indian war. In 1845 he was elected tax receiver and collector of Lowndes County, and held this office one term. In 1859 he was elected State senator from Clinch County, serving one term. Mr. Sirmans was married in 1840 to Miss Eliza Wilkerson, daughter of John Wilkerson, of South Carolina. She died in 1886. By her he had several children. After his first wife's death, Mr. Sirmans married Lucinda, daughter of W. S. Roberts, of Echols County. He served as ex-officio justice of the peace of the 1280th district 1876-1880. For about fifty years prior to his death, Mr. Sirmans lived on a lot of land about five miles north of DuPont, which he granted from the State in 1843. He bought up other land surrounding, and was engaged in the turpentine business for several years prior to his death, but sold out shortly before his death. He died March 24th, 1905, of heart failure, and was buried at the
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Fender graveyard on the Allapaha River. He was a member of the Primitive Baptist Church.
SIRMANS, EZEKIEL J., was born in Irwin, now Clinch County, February 28th, 1824, being the first white child born on what is now Clinch County soil. In 1847 he was elected tax collector of Lowndes County, and when Clinch was cre- ated he was chosen its first tax collector. He was first com- missioned April 12, 1850, but did not take up his commis- sion on account of holding the same office in Lowndes County. He was again elected and commissioned January 16th, 1851, and served one year. March 7th, 1853, he was commissioned justice of the peace of the 970th district and served a year. During the Civil War Mr. Sirmans was first lieutenant of Co. "I" 4th Georgia Cavalry. During his lifetime Mr. Sir- mans accumulated much wealth, which was inherited at his death by his children, Franklin B., Manasseh and Caroline Sirmans. He died April 28th, 1900, and was buried at the Fender cemetery.
SIRMANS, FRANKLIN B., was born in Clinch County, September 22d, 1853, the son of Ezekiel J. Sirmans. He was raised on the farm and educated in the common schools, and when grown he engaged in farming, stock-raising and mer- chandising. In this he was very successful. He married Feb- ruary 28th, 1878, Miss Amanda Strickland, daughter of Charles Strickland, by whom he had two children, Chandler (died) and Edna, who married A. K. Sessoms. He was first elected State senator in 1886, and served through the session of 1886-1887. In 1892 he was again elected, defeating the Populist candidate by over 2,000 plurality. In 1898 he was defeated by R. G. Dickerson. In 1904 he was again elected, defeating S. L. Drawdy. In 1910 he was defeated by W. T. Dickerson. Mr. Sirmans was appointed notary public and ex-officio justice of the peace of the 586th district, to which he was commissioned October 15th, 1880. He also was a County Commissioner for three years, 1890-1893. He was a
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member of the Jury Commissioners for about ten years. Mr. Sirmans' first wife having died, he was married April 27th, 1905, to Mrs. Fannie L. Williams, daughter of A. Gill, of Jasper, Fla. There were no children by this marriage. For several years Mr. Sirmans was a turpentine operator, besides farming and stock-raising. He became very wealthy, due to his own business acumen, inheritance from his father's estate and his first wife's inheritance from her father. At his death Mr. Sirmans was about the largest property owner in the county. He died March 12th, 1915, at his home near the town of Sirmans, in the Mud Creek district. Mr. Sirmans was very instrumental in the building of the Waycross & Western Railroad through the county. At his death he was its vice-president. He was also the founder of the town of Sirmans on the new railroad. His remains were buried at Fender graveyard with Masonic ceremonies.
SIRMANS, JOSEPH, was born in Emanuel County, May 16th, 1808, the son of Josiah Sirmans, Sr., and a brother to Benjamin Sirmans. When he was yet a lad his father re- moved to Irwin, now Clinch County, where they settled. Joseph Sirmans was married about 1830 to Miss Rebecca Smith, a daughter of Rev. William Smith, by whom he had six children, viz. : Artie, Mary, Matilda, Lucretia, Nancy and John Sirmans. His first wife having died in 1856, Mr. Sir- mans married Mrs. Sarah Howell, a widow, by whom he had one son, Isaac Sirmans. In 1872 he was elected representa- tive from Clinch County, and served through the session of 1873-74. He was also a member of the Jury Commissioners for several years. He died at his home in the Mud Creek district October 7th, 1888, age eighty years. He was buried at the Fender graveyard.
SIRMANS, LYMAN A., was born April Ist, 1838, in what is now Clinch County, the youngest son of Benjamin Sirmans. He was admitted to the bar and practiced law in Homerville several years. He married Miss Mollie Griffin,
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daughter of Rev. W. W. Griffin, and by her had two chil- dren, Noble A. Sirmans and Mrs. Frank A. Smith. Col. Sir- mans enlisted in Co. "A" 20th Georgia Battalion, May 12th, 1862. Later he joined O'Steen's company and was elected second lieutenant. When the County Court was first organ- ized in 1866, Colonel Sirmans was appointed its first solicitor, May 10th, 1866. He served about two years. He removed about 1875 to DeKalb County, but later returned to Clinch County and settled at DuPont. Here he resumed his law practice in 1895. He was a very active member of the Metho- dist Church at Homerville and at DuPont. At the latter place he was Sunday School superintendent a while. He died April 22d, 1910, at his home in DuPont, and was buried at the North cemetery. His widow died in 1914.
SMITH, ALLEN N., originally Allen Smith, was born in what is now Clinch County, Sept. 11th, 1842, the oldest son of James C. Smith. He served in O'Steen's company dur- ing the war, and was in 1864 elected justice of the peace of the 970th district. He served three years and then removed to Homerville and was elected justice of the peace there in 1867. He resigned in 1868 and was appointed treas- urer of Clinch County to succeed Riley Johnson, who had resigned. He was appointed November 28th, 1868, and served until 1871. His books at the court-house are dis- tinguished for their neatness and preciseness. After this, Mr. Smith went to Blackshear, Ga., where he has kept his citizenship since. He married Miss Bettie Strickland, of Blackshear, daughter of Allen C. Strickland, and they had three children, Bessie, Lela V., and Moultrie J. Smith. Mr. Smith was elected Ordinary of Pierce County in 1885, and served eight years. Later he returned to Clinch County and lived a few years on his father's old home place. A daugh- ter married J. B. O'Neal, who is clerk of the Superior Court of Pierce County at present.
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SMITH, CHARLTON H., was born in Ware, now Clinch County, July 8th, 1846, the son of John and Cassie Smith. He attended Mercer University at Penfield, under Prof. S. P. Sanford in 1870. When the Civil War com- menced, Mr. Smith was too young to join, but in May, 1864, joined Co. "I" 4th Georgia cavalry and served until the war closed. In 1869 he was appointed constable of the 586th district. He married Miss Martha Henderson, a daughter of John S. Henderson, September 2Ist, 1875, and by this marriage were born: Wilbur S. Smith, Ezekiel J. Smith, Lillie, who married S. B. Eatman; Nora, who married S. R. Kirton; Nettie, who married E. D. Brinson; Cora, who married S. A. Sweat, and Ivey, who married W. J. Patter- son. In 1878 he purchased a farm near Homerville and settled on it. In 1881 he was elected justice of the peace of the 1224the district and commissioned January 24th, 1881 and served one term. He was elected constable of the 1224th district in 1887 and served four years. In 1892 he was elected county school superintendent, and qualified May 30th, 1892. He was re-elected in 1896, but resigned in 1899. He was commissioned ex-officio justice of the peace of the 1224th district December 5th, 1905, to succeed J. C. Kirkland, deceased; he resigned this office December 19th, 1908, and the same day was commissioned justice of the peace. To this office he was re-elected and commissioned December 21st, 1912 for four years. He was an unsuccess- ful candidate for Ordinary in 1908.
SMITH, CORNELIUS ASHLEY, was born June 30th, 1841, the son of William and Martha Smith. In the Civil War he joined the 3 Ist Georgia Regiment and was wounded at the battle of Fredericksburg. Later he was in the Federal prison in Baltimore for six months but was exchanged. At the time of the surrender he was captain of his company. Following the close of the war he came to Clinch County, and married Miss Nannie Smith, daughter of Peter and Cath-
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erine, November 15th, 1866. To them were born seven children, viz .: William P., Nannie, Tom, E. D., Ashley, Rena and Boynton Smith. He was commissioned ex-officio justice of the peace March 4th, 1869, but resigned Septem- ber 12th, 1870. He was appointed deputy clerk of the Super- ior Court under E. T. Dukes, and in 1876 was elected clerk. In 1878 he was re-elected, and in 1880 was elected State senator. He resigned the office of clerk shortly before his term was out, and took up his duties as senator. In 1882, when the County Court was re-established, Mr. Smith was appointed judge of the same, being commissioned April I Ith, 1882. He held the office two and one-half years. For several years he was railroad and express agent here. About 1885 Mr. Smith, with his family, removed to Texas and settled in Angeline County, where he was elected a county commissioner in 1898. He was a commissioner at the time of his death, which occurred at his home in Lufkin, Texas, July 16th, 1901, age 60 years. The records in the clerk's office at the court- house attest the neat and correct way in which Mr. Smith kept the clerk's office while he was its occupant. His widow is yet living at Nacogdoches, Texas, while two of his sons occupy high positions with the Nacogdoches and Southern- eastern Railroad.
SMITH, JESSE, was born in Appling County, on Red Bluff Creek, August 25th, 1820, the son of William Smith. Here he spent his boyhood days and figured very prominently in the Indian war of 1836-38. He joined a company of "scouts" under Captain Knowles and helped to drive the last Indian from the Okefinokee, the Indians' last stronghold. He was elected a justice of the peace of the 586th district of Ware County, and commissioned January 24th, 1845. He served two years. In 1850 he was elected justice of the peace of the 970th district and commissioned September 2 Ist, 1850. He was re-commissioned in 1853, 1855, 1857, 1859, serving until 1860. In 1861 he was elected sheriff of Clinch County,
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and commissioned January 23d, 1862. He served two years. He was in Co. "I" 4th Georgia Cavalry a short while during the Civil War. In 1864 he was elected representative from Clinch County, serving through the session of 1865-1866. He was married soon after the Indian war to Miss Nancy Tomlinson, daughter of Moses Tomlinson, Sr., and by her had five children, viz .: Sherod, Cicero, John L., Fannie C., who first married Henry C. Moore, and later John C. Jones, and Matilda Smith. He was a member of the Primitive Baptist Church. His home was at Magnolia, where he lived previous to and during the Civil War. He was a charter mem- ber of the Masonic Lodge at Magnolia. Mr. Smith's death occurred in 1884. His wife died in January, 1880. Both are buried at Red Bluff Church.
SMITH, JAMES M., was born in what is now Clinch County about 1840, the son of Peter and Catherine Smith. He was married to Miss Amanda J. Futch, daughter of Mal- colm C. Futch, December 31st, 1874, and by her had ten children. The only office which Mr. Smith held was that of representative from Clinch. He served through the session of 1895-96. After his term was out, Governor Northen ap- pointed him immigration agent for Clinch County. But his death soon followed, October 23d, 1896, following a pro- tracted illness. He was buried at the Peter Smith family burial ground. Mr. Smith was engaged prior to his death in the turpentine business with F. Dickerson.
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