USA > Georgia > Dodge County > History of Dodge County > Part 18
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190
HISTORY OF DODGE COUNTY
members of this church were Peter Bowen and family, Ike Bowen and family, Wright Harrell and family, the Studstill family, the Lowery family, the Law family, George Willcox and family, J. Y. Willcox and family, Norman Willcox and family, and Chas. Har- rell, the father of M. W. Harrell.
A BAPTIZING AT DANIEL'S MILL POND NEAR THE OCMULGEE RIVER.
VILULA MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH.
THE VILULA MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH was constituted in 1874 under the supervision of Rev. W. M. Miles, who was employed by the New Ebenezer Association.
It was organized with the following who came from Hopewell Church: John McLeod, Allie McLeod, Dr. William Burch, Seaborn Burch, Philip Reaves, Josiah Reaves; and John McCranie from Par- kerson Church.
The first church was a log house and was built by John H. Burch, Peter A. Bowen, and John Barron. There were only about twenty-five or thirty members at first and these were scattered over an area from the home of Mr. R. F. Burch, Sr., about six miles
191
VILULA MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH
from Eastman, to Spires Town in Telfair County and from the Southern Railroad to the Ocmulgee River, it being the only church within this radius. This church is situated about (?) miles from Eastman in the Vilula Militia District of the county.
This church has prospered under the management of different pastors and has increased its membership from the twenty-five or thirty when it was organized to one hundred and ninety-four mem- bers at present.
The first pastor was the Rev. W. M. Miles, who served through 1874 and 1875. The following is the list of pastors and clerks who have served since its organization :
1874-W. M. Miles Pastor Billie Hamilton
Clerk
1875-W. M. Miles
Pastor Billie Hamilton
Clerk
1876-Philip Reaves
Pastor W. T. Howard
Clerk
1877-Philip Reaves
Pastor W. T. Howard Clerk
Clerk
1878-John Greene Pastor W. T. Howard
1879-Jerry Kinchen
Pastor J. W. Cadwell
Clerk
1880-C. C. Horne
Pastor J. W. Cadwell
Clerk
1882-Alph Reaves
Pastor
B. M. Burch
Clerk
1883-Alph Reaves .
Pastor B. M. Burch
Clerk
1884-Alph Reaves
Pastor B. M. Burch
Clerk
1885-Alph Reaves
Pastor B. M. Burch
Clerk
1886-W. H. Coleman
Pastor B. M. Burch
Clerk
1887-W. H. Coleman
Pastor
B. M. Burch
Clerk
1888-Alph Reaves
Pastor
B. M. Burch
Clerk
1889-Alph Reaves
Pastor B. M. Burch
Clerk
1890-Alph Reaves
Pastor B. M. Burch
Clerk
1891-Alph Reaves
Pastor B. M. Burch
Clerk
1892-Alph Reaves
Pastor B. M. Burch
Clerk
1893-Alph Reaves 1894-Alph Reaves
Pastor
B. M. Burch
Clerk
1895-B. A. Bacon
Pastor
B. M. Burch
Clerk
1896-B. A. Bacon
Pastor B. M. Burch
Clerk
1897-B. A. Bacon
Pastor
B. M. Burch
Clerk
1898-B. A. Bacon
Pastor B. M. Burch
Clerk
1899-J. W. Witherton
Pastor B. M. Burch
Clerk
1900-S. A. Sheffield
Pastor B. M. Burch
Clerk
1901-S. A. Sheffield
Pastor
J. L. McCranie
Clerk
1903-S. A. Sheffield
Pastor J. L. Sheffield
Clerk
1904-E. F. Dye .
Pastor J. L. Sheffield
Clerk
1906-E. F. Dye .
Pastor J. L. Sheffield
Clerk
1907-W. M. Williamson
Pastor J. L. Sheffield
Clerk
Pastor
B. M. Burch
Clerk
Pastor J. L. McCranie
Clerk
1902-S. A. Sheffield
1881-Philip Reaves Pastor B. M. Burch Clerk
192
HISTORY OF DODGE COUNTY
1908-W. M. Williamson . Pastor J. L. Sheffield
Clerk
1909-W. M. Williamson .
Pastor J. L. Sheffield
Clerk
1910-W. M. Williamson. Pastor J. L. Sheffield
Clerk
1911-W. M. Williamson . Pastor J. L. Sheffield
Clerk
1912-C. E. Hight Pastor J. L. Sheffield
Clerk
1913-C. E. Hight
Pastor J. L. Sheffield
Clerk
1914-C. E. Hight
Pastor J. L. Sheffield
Clerk
1915-C. E. Hight
Pastor J. L. Sheffield
Clerk
1916-C. E. Hight
Pastor J. L. Sheffield
Clerk
1917-F. A. Bone
Pastor J. L. Sheffield
Clerk
1918-W. M. Williamson
Pastor J. L. Sheffield
Clerk
1919-W. M. Williamson .
Pastor J. L. Sheffield
Clerk
1920-W. M. Williamson . Pastor J. L. Sheffield
Clerk
1921-W. M. Williamson .
Pastor J. L. Sheffield
Clerk
1922-W. M. Williamson
Pastor J. L. Sheffield
Clerk
1923-W. M. Williamson .
Pastor J. L. Sheffield
Clerk
1924-W. M. Williamson .
Pastor J. L. Sheffield
Clerk
1925-J. B. Evans
Pastor J. L. Sheffield
Clerk
1926-J. B. Evans
Pastor J. L. Sheffield
Clerk
1927-J. B. Evans
Pastor J. L. Sheffield
Clerk
1928-J. B. Evans
Pastor J. L. Sheffield
Clerk
1929-G. W. Williamson
Pastor J. L. Sheffield
Clerk
1930-G. W. Williamson
Pastor J. L. Sheffield
Clerk
1931-Jeff Williamson
Pastor J. L. Sheffield
Clerk
1932-Jeff Williamson .
Pastor J. L. Sheffield
Clerk
The first deacons were:
W. T. Womble, B. M. Burch, John Cadwell. W. W. Stapleton, Johnnie Mc- Cranie, P. A. Reaves, W. T. Howard. W. G. Burch, G. W. McCranie, H. G. Sheffield.
The first Sunday school was organized by Seaborn Burch in 1875. Among the Superintendents who have served during the years since its organization are B. M. Burch, A. C. Ross, P. A. Reaves, and G. W. McCranie. Mr. Reaves served for fifteen years, and the others served for a great number of years each.
OLD ALLSTON METHODIST CHURCH.
OLD ALLSTON METHODIST CHURCH was built by old man Billy All- ston, a Methodist preacher, who gave it to the congregation. The church was built about two miles from Rhine at a siding now known as Copeland, and was one of the first churches built after the In- dians left this side of the Ocmulgee. A stairway led to an upper story of the church and this was used as a Masonic Lodge. This
193
OLD ALLSTON METHODIST CHURCH
building was used until the Seaboard Airline Railway came through that section about 1887, when the town of Rhine sprang up and the church was moved there and is today the Rhine Methodist Church.
Among the first members of old Allston were Gen. Mark Willcox and his family, Peter Coffee and family, John W. Coffee and family, Daniel Campbell and family, Bob Campbell and family, Joe Brown and family, Daniel McCranie and family, John Frazier and family, John Cravey and family, James Bishop and family, Mrs. A. W. Dean, Mrs. Y. Griffin, Miss Lizzie McCoy who became the mother of Moses W. Harrell.
HOPEWELL BAPTIST CHURCH.
HOPEWELL BAPTIST CHURCH is another old landmark of the county. We are unable to ascertain in what year it was built, but it was one of the first churches in this section. Some claim that it is the oldest church in the county, but we have been unable to verify the claim as there seem to be no available records.
The land upon which the church was built was given for the pur- pose by Gen. Mark Willcox, a member of Allston Methodist Church. Hopewell was situated about 21/2 miles south of Rhine on the old River Road that leads from Hartford to Jacksonville. The church was founded by Dr. William Burch who married Susan Willcox and Seaborn Burch who married Ann Willcox, daughters of Gen. Mark Willcox. Among the founders and first members were Phillip Reaves and his family, Josiah Reaves and family, John Reaves and family, Alfred Burnham and family, John McLeod and family, Allen McLeod and family, the Roundtree family and the Hendley family. The old log house has long since given way to a modern frame structure and is still one of the most progressive churches in the county. Many of the best citizens of the lower side of the county are members of this famous old church. It is located in a beautiful grove of ancient trees, moss covered, that stand as druids of old to mark the shrine of the old time aristocracy of this section.
MT. AIRY FREEWILL BAPTIST CHURCH.
MT. AIRY FREEWILL BAPTIST CHURCH, which is located about twelve miles from Eastman, and four miles from Milan, was constituted in 1885 by the Rev. Mr. Miles. The members assisting in the or-
194
HISTORY OF DODGE COUNTY
ganization were: Wilson Dean, Elbert Peacock, Sr., Morning Peacock, Susie Ann Peacock, C. C. Horne, John H. Burch, Mrs. Wilson Dean, Mrs. Nancy Horne, John R. Peacock and wife, M. M. McCranie, Mary McCranie, and Elizabeth Cadwell.
The pastors serving this church from 1885 until 1899 were the Rev. Mr. Miles, Rev. Wilson Dean, Rev. C. C. Horne, and the Rev. Mr. Thompson. B. F. Horne was pastor from 1899 to 1917. Rev. Newt Powell served from 1917 to 1919. Rev. L. S. Yates served from 1920 to 1923. Rev. B. F. Horne again became pastor in 1924 and has served from that date to the present, 1931.
The members of this church are:
I. H. McCranie, Wess Cadwell and wife. Jeanet Horne, W. L. Peacock and wife, Monroe Peacock and wife, Jin Peacock and wife, Elbert Peacock. Jr., and wife, J. H. Peacock and wife, Warren Peacock John Peacock, Lilla Pea- cock, B. I. Peacock and wife, Leila Peacock, Pearl Graham. Omie Cannon. Alice Turner, Cliff Peacock. Curtis Peacock, Willie Peacock. Jr., Stevens Pea- cock, Allen Peacock, Jr., William Peacock the third, Bobbie Peacock Charlie Peacock. John Peacock, the third; Harold Peacock, Blanche Peacock, Margaret Peacock. W. M. Martin, Sallie Martin. John W. Martin. H. G. Martin. George E. Martin, Bertha Martin. Mollie Darsey, Nonie Wrye Joe Wrye. John D. Wrye, Mollie Wrye, Franklin Carr, Mrs. Frank Carr, Ira Wrye, Mrs. Jra Wrye, John Ross Rogers, Mrs. John Ross Rogers. W. M. Sheppard, Lilla Sheppard. Furman Sheppard and wife, Ben Sheppard, Pearl Odum, John M. Howard and wife, Allen Howard, Charlie Howard, Jess Howard, Melcina Burch. J. J. Jones. Sadie Jones. J. H. Yawn and wife, Julius Draffin. Mrs. Julius Draffin. Dave Moore and wife. P. L. Moore and wife. W. H. Moore and wife Bart Moore and wife. Bertha Perry, Sallie Yancey, Charlton Horne and wife. Ben Horne and wife. Bob Jones and wife, J. O. Wiggins and wife, Mrs. J. W. Hendrix. DeLacey Cadwell and wife, Mrs. Besise Faulk, Will Tyner and wife. Mack Tyner and wife, L. S. Yates and wife and Charlie Harvey and wife.
The first Sunday school was organized in November, 1895. W. B. Harrell was elected superintendent. W. L. Peacock was elected teacher of the senior class. Georgia McCranie was elected to teach the intermediate grade, and Margaret Phillips was elected to teach the primary grade.
MOUNT HOREB PRIMITIVE BAPTIST CHURCH.
MOUNT HOREB PRIMITIVE BAPTIST CHURCH is perhaps one of the very oldest churches in the county. It was constituted on October 15, 1809, by the following members: Simon Barden, Celia Barden. Isaac Burkhalter, William Burnham, Levi Bush, Nathan Bush. San-
195
MOUNT HOREB PRIMITIVE BAPTIST CHURCH
ders Colson, Elizabeth Roache, Martha Roebuck, Mary Barber, Nancy Bush, Sarah Mason, Richard Davis, Frederick Barber, James Smith. The first pastor was Elder Levi Bush.
The first church was built above Cochran, where Evergreen Church now stands, and was then located in Pulaski County. After a period of several years another church was built on Jordan's Creek, south- west of Cochran. After Empire was settled and the membership drifted in that direction, another church was built about a mile south of Empire on land that was donated to them for that purpose by Mr. A. T. Bowers. This church is located just across the railroad from the Eastman and Cochran highway.
The following pastors have served this church since its organiza- tion in 1809 to the present date:
Elder Levi Bush from 1809 to 1813.
Elder Micajah Fulghum from 1813 to 1821.
Elder Eden Taylor
from 1821 to 1826.
Elder John McKinsey from 1826 to 1849.
Elder L. B. Porter from 1849 to 1851.
Elder John Evers
from 1851 to 1852.
Elder I. G. Davis
from 1852 to 1858.
Elder John Evers from 1858 to 1865.
Elder John M. Field from 1865 to 1867.
Elder M. McCormick from 1867 to 1869.
Elder J. Churchwell from 1869 to 1873.
Elder A. Harris from 1873 to 1883.
Elder J. Nobles
from 1883 to 1884.
Elder A. Harris
from 1884 to 1888.
Elder G. W. Floyd
from 1888 to 1923.
Elder John M. Giddens from 1923 to 1927.
Elder J. H. Chance from 1927 to 1931.
Following is a list of the oldest living members, together with the other members:
J. E. Floyd, A. J. Fordham, J. D. Davis, G. M. Smith, Peter Hart, B. J. Knight, W. J. Davis, J. C. Davis, Henry Kirkpatrick, Monroe Lamb, L. O. Berryhill, J. W. Hancock, James W. Floyd, Mesdames Allie Sanders, Susan Floyd, Mary Myers, Telitha Moore, Sallie Davis, Willie Davis, Pearl Kimberley, Emma Hodge, B. J. Knight, Jimmie Kirkpatrick, Mattie Davis, Lillian Davis, Monroe Lamb, Viola Berryhill, Millie Murrell, Annie J. Floyd, Juliette Floyd, Annie Floyd, Ruth Richardson, Alice Goodman, J. W. Floyd, Effie Hatfield, Sallie Coody.
196
HISTORY OF DODGE COUNTY
LYNWOOD BAPTIST CHURCH.
THE LYNWOOD BAPTIST CHURCH is located in the western corner of the county, near the line of Pulaski County. It was established many years ago. The first deacons were S. B. Coody, R. O. Lan- caster, M. A. Lancaster, Sr., Bob Hatfield and Reese Coody.
Among the members of this church are R. A. Williamson and family, R. S. Anderson and family, the S. B. Coody family, Mrs. Gertrude Wright and family, Bob Hatfield and family, and Ruth Hatfield and family.
FRIENDSHIP METHODIST CHURCH.
FRIENDSHIP METHODIST CHURCH is in Eddins District, about ten miles from Eastman. It was established February 6th, 1906. D. W. Sapp gave the land for the church building, and was one of its first stewards. D. C. Pierce and J. T. Dunn were among the first stewards.
This church has about one hundred and fifty members, among whom are the family of D. C. Pierce, Mrs. T. O. Sapp and family, N. B. McMullen and family, S. J. Fincher and family, Dock Coody and family, Henry Harrison and family, A. A. Hardy and family, and the family of B. W. Harrell.
The following have served as pastors since 1908: W. H. Strozier, A. E. Brewton, T. I. Smith, J. Lytle Jones, A. B. Wall, Rev. Ket- chum, P. Holloway, W. C. Embry and W. H. Budd.
SAND GROVE BAPTIST CHURCH.
THE SAND GROVE BAPTIST CHURCH is situated in the Conley settle- ment midway between Milan and Rhine near the Telfair County line. It was first operated as a branch of the Milan Baptist Church and the services were held under a brush arbor, Rev. A. Reaves serving as pastor until October 9, 1898, when the church was or- ganized under the name of Sand Grove Baptist Church. The fol- lowing were charter members of the church: J. W. Conley, Mrs. J. W. Conley, Mary Jane Conley, W. C. Carter, Cinda Conley, Fannie Carter. Nancy Carter, Nancy Conley, Sarah Jane Billings, M. D. Billings, Joan E. Conley, W. K. Conley and G. G. Conley. Rev. A. Reaves was elected as the first pastor and W. C. Carter was elected clerk.
197
SAND GROVE BAPTIST CHURCH
They continued to hold services under the brush arbor until 1900, at which time a church building was erected. This building was used until March, 1919, when the present handsome church building was erected. The building committee were W. D. McCranie and H. J. Walker, and through their efforts, assisted by the pastor, Rev. O. A. Grant, the building was completed. It is a beautiful building and one which would be a credit to any county.
The following pastors and clerks have served this church since its organization :
1898-A. Reaves . Pastor W. C. Carter
Clerk
1899-W. H. Dowdy
Pastor W. C. Carter Clerk
1900-W. H. Dowdy
Pastor W. C. Carter Clerk
1901-W. H. Dowdy
Pastor W. C. Carter Clerk
1902-W. H. Dowdy Pastor W. C. Carter Clerk
1903-W. H. Dowdy
Pastor W. C. Carter Clerk
1904-W. H. Dowdy
Pastor W. C. Carter
Clerk
1906-S. A. Sheffield
Pastor W. C. Carter Clerk
1908-S. A. Sheffield
Pastor
W. D. McCranie .
Clerk
1909-J. M. Henderson
Pastor W. D. McCranie
Clerk
1910-J. M. Henderson
Pastor
W. D. McCranie
Clerk
1911-W. H. Dowdy
Pastor W. D. McCranie
Clerk
1912-W. H. Dowdy
Pastor W. D. McCranie
Clerk
1913-W. H. Coleman
Pastor W. D. McCranie
Clerk
1914-W. H. Coleman
Pastor W. D. McCranie
Clerk
1915-O. A. Grant
Pastor W. D. McCranie
Clerk
1916-O. A. Grant
Pastor W. D. McCranie .
Clerk
1917-O. A. Grant
Pastor W. D. McCranie
Clerk
1918-0. A. Grant
Pastor W. D. McCranie
Clerk
1919-0. A. Grant
Pastor W. D. McCranie .
Clerk
1920-0. A. Grant
Pastor W. D. McCranie
Clerk
1921-O. A. Grant 1922-O. A. Grant
Pastor W. D. McCranie
Clerk
1923-O. A. Grant
Pastor W. D. McCranie .
Clerk
1924-O. A. Grant
Pastor W. D. McCranie
Clerk
1925-O. A. Grant
Pastor W. D. McCranie
Clerk
1926-0. A. Grant
Pastor Miss Ola Brown
Clerk
1927-O. A. Grant 1928-0. A. Grant 1929-J. M. Crosby .
Pastor
Miss Ola Brown
Clerk
Pastor Miss Ola Brown
Clerk
1930-J. M. Crosby . Pastor Miss Ola Brown
Clerk
1931-J. M. Crosby Pastor Miss Ola Brown
Clerk
1932-J. M1. Crosby .
Pastor Miss Ola Brown
Clerk
Pastor W. C. Carter Clerk
1905-W. H. Dowdy
Pastor W. C. Carter Clerk
1907-S. A. Sheffield
Pastor W. D. McCranie Clerk
Pastor W. D. McCranie Clerk
198
HISTORY OF DODGE COUNTY
The deacons of this church are: W. E. Walker, Eddie Walker, Lee Walker, W. H. McCranie, J. Lester Weaver, J. E. Conley and J. O. Waldrep.
Mr. J. W. Conley served as superintendent of the Sunday school from the organization of the church in 1898 until his death in 1918, since which time J. L. Weaver has served as superintendent until the present, except four years, during which time Mr. J. O. Waldrep served.
SOME PIONEERS AND THEIR DESCENDANTS. The Bishop Family.
THE NAME of "Bishop" is from the ecclesiastical surname. This name is of Saxon origin. Their motto is "Pro Deo et ecclesia," which means "For God and the Church." They have their Coats of Arms.
This branch of the family came from England to this country, settling in the northern states.
Simeon Bishop, being the son of these earliest settlers, was a native of New Jersey and was born in 1799 and died in 1836. He was married to Nancy Johnston Daniel, December 12, 1827, who was the daughter of John Daniel, a Revolutionary soldier, and whose wife was a Miss Rebecca Stevens. They originally came from South Carolina, buying thousands of acres of land up and down both sides of the Ocmulgee River. Nancy Daniel Bishop died in the year 1873. Both she and her husband, Simeon Bishop, and their son, John, are buried in the old and original family burial ground at the home which was later called Englewood. This plot of ground shows that it is to be "forever" set aside and kept sacred for this purpose. The father and mother of Nancy J. Daniel Bishop are also buried at this old graveyard. John Daniel, the Revolutionary soldier, has a marker placed by the Daughters of the American Revolution, with names, etc. Almost all of these old graves have markers or stones over them. These grounds are in the western part of the county, several miles from the Ocmulgee River.
Simeon Bishop graduated with distinction from Yale College. He was a man of the highest culture, speaking fluently seven different languages. Being a man of fine business qualifications, he came South and amassed wealth. He at first settled at Hawkinsville, Georgia, at one time named Old Hartford, engaging in large lumber and mercantile interests, owning his own boats and shipping vast quantities of cotton for coastwise and world ports. He was also interested in the DoBoy lumber mills around Darien. There were born to them two sons. One, whose name was John, died in early youth. The second son, James, was born December 1, 1829, dying June 15, 1920. He married Mary E. Guyton December 1, 1853. She was the daughter of Major Moses Guyton, one of Laurens County's old and most prominent citizens. She was the niece of Judge Peter
200
HISTORY OF DODGE COUNTY
E. Love, who was a member of Congress from the Second Congres- sional District of Georgia when the State seceded from the Union. General Eli Warren also was an uncle of hers. She also belonged to distinguished Revolutionary ancestry. Mrs. Bishop was a woman of rare culture and lovely nature, receiving private instruction from French tutors and governesses, also attending the Charlestown Fe- male Seminary and Art School as well as La Grange Female College, Georgia. She was a fine linguist, mastering and speaking five dif- ferent languages. That which will live always was her Christian character. She was a member of the first Methodist Church ever built in Eastman, organized the first Foreign Missionary Society of the same, also the first Home Missionary Society, meeting with a few women of great piety, sewing, visiting, caring for and praying in the needy homes. This society was called the Dorcas Society. This church, as well as all others, used the Dodge County court house for worship. Her heart's desire was to see a Methodist church building erected. For years she gave music lessons to the more pretentious folk around, dedicating every dollar she received from this source for the erection of this church.
After this church, the first at Eastman, became a reality, it was dedicated by the Bishop, George F. Pierce, whose father, the noted Dr. Lovick Pierce, years before had faithfully promised Mrs. Bishop to send down his son, the Bishop, to dedicate such a structure should it ever be built. This time was one of the greatest religious demon- strations Eastman has ever known. For years the church was also open to all Christian denominations. Even the Hebrew friends con- tributed to this building, which has a significant meaning for the feeling of Christianity prevailing among the first Dodge County settlers.
Mrs. Bishop was born July 7, 1833, and died December 18, 1888, and is buried in the Bishop lot in Woodlawn Cemetery, Eastman, Georgia.
The life of James Bishop was connected with the best develop- ments of Dodge County and his native State, Georgia. His birth- place was at the ancestral home, once Pulaski but now Dodge County. He descended from true Revolutionary stock. During the War Between the States he belonged to the State Troops, doing active and military duty in many places until the close. His political creed
201
SOME PIONEERS AND THEIR DESCENDANTS
in his early life was an Old Line Whig of the Clay and Webster type. After the war he became a Southern Democrat, never voting any other ticket as long as he lived.
He belonged to the Masonic Order, believing in the brotherhood of man, being a charter member of the Eastman Lodge, and was a Royal Arch Mason, having been made a Master Mason in Mount Hope Lodge No. 9, F. and A. M., Hawkinsville, Georgia, in the twenty-second year of his age, and a few years after he became a member of Constantine Chapter, No. 3, Macon, Georgia.
He was identified with practically every worth-while improvement along educational, literary, civic, and religious development. He was Judge of the County Court, County School Commissioner con- tinuously for twelve years, drew and wrote up the first charter and incorporate papers for the town of Eastman, and was the second mayor. He was the first president of the first real social and liter- ary society, which for a long time drew the attention and literati from distant places because of the highest class of literature and social caste enjoyed through its contact. He having inherited a competency, his mother was alert in giving him in early life the most learned instructors. Later he matriculated in some of the best schools. He chose the profession of law, reading under one of the great jurists of South Carolina.
For years before Georgia had a school system, and when Eastman was only a village, he saw that she enjoyed teachers of the highest learning and mental development, giving each never less than $100 of his own means in order to keep a school in the community up to the highest standard, and at the close of the term supplying the deficit for children whose parents were not able otherwise to send them.
He was steward in the Methodist Church for years, always seeing that the church must keep her debt sheet clear. With the one ex- ception, he was the largest contributor to the building of the first church. He never sought publicity in any way. These facts are only written to let the present generation better understand why Dodge County and their State have so rapidly progressed in the last century.
To James Bishop and his wife were born eight children, three sons and five daughters. The eldest son, Saxon, died in his twentieth
202
HISTORY OF DODGE COUNTY
year; the youngest son, Guyton, when only one year old. The second child and son, James Bishop, Jr., was born March 31, 1857, and died February 20, 1908. He was married to Miss Minnie Douglas, of Talbotton, Georgia, who is deceased. The first daughter and third child, Mary, is still living. She married G. F. Harrison, a native Georgian. For years they lived in Dodge County. He is buried in their family plot in Jacksonville, Florida, which later was their permanent home. The second daughter, Helen, and fourth child, lives in Eastman at the family home, which is historical, having been built for, and occupied by, the founder of Eastman, Hon. William Pitt Eastman. The third daughter, and fifth child, Emma Guyton, is deceased. The fourth daughter, Carolyn, married R. L. Bush, a native of North Carolina.
The youngest daughter, Estelle, married Ellis Way Bullock, a native of North Carolina.
James Bishop also has now living eleven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
James Bishop, Jr., the only one of his sons to reach maturity, matriculated at the State University of Georgia. Upon his gradua- tion he won honors and a speaker's place. He was the first young man from Dodge County to graduate, Dodge being a rather new county. He read law under Attorney-General Clifford Anderson, and became a lawyer of marked ability. He won distinction in one of his first and most difficult cases, being appointed by the court to defend the never-forgotten negro rioters case. The result: the hanging of five from the same scaffold, one being a woman, a life sentence for nine, and a large number of acquittals. In all of his practice afterwards this was the hardest and most trying case.
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