USA > Georgia > Dodge County > History of Dodge County > Part 19
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He was also appointed first City Court Judge, without his knowl- edge or solicitation. A strong co-incidence during his term was the fact that he was never reversed in his decisions by a higher court.
He was also appointed by the State Bar Association delegate to the National Bar Association convened at Washington, D. C.
He was leading and general counsel for the Southern Railroad as long as he lived, as well as being advisory counsel for the immense landed estate of the Dodges' interests in many south Georgia coun- ties. All of these were given to him without solicitation on his part. His great reserve and timidity were outstanding in his nature. When
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local option and the wets were holding on in the county and he was mayor of Eastman, his courage and convictions would mount above every obstacle, even going so far as to arrest the violaters himself when the odds were against him and the temerity of others weakened, as the antagonistic element became too strong.
He was for a long time a member and steward in his church, the Methodist, but several years before his death became wholly conse- crated and dedicated to the church work; especially notable was his deep interest in, and development of, the laymen's movement, which afterward became a part of the church work.
The Bowen Family.
Enoch Bowen was an early settler in Dodge County. He married Easter Davis, and they were the parents of: George, Jerry, Ike and Peter.
George, son of Enoch, mar- ried Nancy Pope, and they were the parents of: E. P., I. W., Ike, Lee.
Jerry, son of Enoch, married Margaret Maloy Studstill, and they were the parents of: Stephen D., who married Nan Humphreys; M. E., who mar- ried Leah McDaniel; Isabel, who married John W. Harrell; Susan Jane, who married John Rawlins; Maggie, who married Norman Willcox.
JEREMIAH BOWEN, Father of S. D. Bowen. Pioneer settler of Dodge County.
I. N., son of Enoch, married Mary Jane Law, and they were the parents of: Willie J., who married Sallie Coffee; J. M., who married Ada Pace; S. L., who married a Miss Miller; Enoch, who married a Miss Ross; I. N .; L. H .; W. M .; Mary, who married J. P. Coffee; Lillie, who married, first, John Thompson, and second, J. Y. Willcox; Annie, who married A. C. Pace.
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Peter, son of Enoch, married Beckie Ann Ryals, and they were the parents of: Babe, who married a Taylor; Laura; Annie; Dick; Ike; John; Pete; Mell.
S. D., son of Jerry, married Nan Humphreys, and they were par- ents of: Susie Rebecca, who married Willie Frank Harrell; Wm. A., who died in childhood; Lydia Pearl, who married Luther M. Bach- elor; Georgia, who died at age of six; Margaret, who married Cheney A. Brantley; Mamie Patricia, who married J. H. Pickett; Stephen D., Jr .; Orlie Cornelia, who married Paul K. Pickering; Mattie Grace, who married Elbert Lawrence Johnson; Lois Kath- leen.
The Brown Family.
There were three different sets of Browns who were early settlers in this county. The subject of this sketch was Jordan Brown, who was reared in Bibb County in the Rutland district. He helped to build the Macon and Brunswick Railroad through this section and settled here. He was the first sheriff of Dodge County, and held this office from 1871 till 1877. He married Jane Hargrove, daughter of A. J. Hargrove and his wife, Nancy Hendley Hargrove. Their children were: Mollie, who married J. H. Bazemore, of Bibb County; Morgan J., who married Lizzie Forest; Fannie, who mar- ried J. T. Brown, of Columbus; Charles K., who married Rosa Day, daughter of H. J. Day.
Three Brown brothers settled in this county, and are not related to the Browns of the Younker section. These three brothers were Lovard, Henry and Asa L.
Lovard married a Miss Mullis, sister of Alfred Mullis. They were the parents of: Henry; a daughter who married J. D. Taylor; and a daughter who married Henry Peacock.
Henry, the pioneer, married Kizzie Yawn, and they were the parents of: Jim; Reuben; Jess; Calvin; Love; Perry; Lucy, who married John Yancey.
Asa L., the pioneer, married Katherine Watson, and they were the parents of: Bart; Love; Kizzie, who married Marshall Edwards; one daughter who married Bill Barclay.
Reuben, son of Henry, the pioneer, married Charlotta Harrell, and their children were: Henry; Mollie, who married a Simmons; Bill;
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John; Annie, who married Hiram Nixon; Lizzie; Ben; Reuben; Gertrude, who married H. E. McCranie.
Jim, son of Henry, the pioneer, married Treecy English. Their children were: Will; Lizzie, who married John English; Jess; Lucy, who married Charlie Coleman.
Jess, son of Henry, the pioneer, married Mary Ann Yancey. They were the parents of: Wade; Henry; John; Bill; Bartow; Jess; Sudie.
Calvin, son of Henry, the pioneer, married Edith Ryals. Their children were: Henry; Sallie, who married W. D. McCranie, the present County Commissioner; Lucy, who married Harry Dukes; John M .; Lola, who married S. J. Walker; Willie Rosella, who mar- ried Willie Cravey.
Love, son of Henry, the pioneer, married Susan English. They were the parents of: Charles.
Perry, son of Henry, the pioneer, married Lizzie Moore. They were the parents of: W. J .; Lilla, who married George Evans; Henry; Lucy, who married Irvin Peacock; Ed; Maidee, who mar- ried Wilmer Rogers; Sidney; Hobson; Clara, who married Willie Hamilton; Ernest; Joe Brown; Essie, who married John Thomas; Max.
The head of the Browns in the Younker section was Jesse Brown, who came to this section from Alabama. He was the son of Bob Brown. Jesse Brown married Elizabeth Jane Hall, daughter of James Hall, of Montgomery County, Georgia. Their children were: J. H .; H. C .; W. R .; G. M .; S. M .; C. N .; and Rachel, who married D. B. Horsford.
H. C., son of Jesse, married Susan C. Lister; W. R. married Minnie Davis; G. M. married Mattie Lister; C. N. married Alice Bateman; S. M. married Texas Tripp.
The children of H. C. are: Charles C., who married Thelma Mullis; and Effie, who married J. J. Floyd.
The children of G. M. are: Alma, who married W. M. Livings- ton; and Gladys.
The Burch Family.
The Burch family is one of the largest families in this section, being scattered over the counties of Dodge, Telfair and Laurens.
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This family is descended from Joseph Burch, who came from Eng- land and settled first in Richmond County, near Augusta, later moving to Montgomery County, thence to Telfair County, which was Wilkinson at that time. He settled at China Hill, near the Ocmulgee River. The Indians occupied the land across the river. Mr. Burch often went across the river and mingled with the Indians, being on friendly terms with them. It was on one of these occa- sions that he met his death at the hands of the Indians. He and a son, Littleton, had gone across the river and were erecting a camp house at the spot where Bowen's Mill is now located. On the night of March 3, 1818, they were fired upon by a band of Indians, Mr. Burch being killed instantly. The son, Littleton, was wounded, and the Indians scalped him, leaving him for dead. He revived, however, and swam across the river, going to the home of Mr. John Willcox, near Temperance, where he was cared for until he was able to get to his home. It was this brutal act of the Indians that precipitated a skirmish between the whites and Indians. On March 9, 1818, 36 citizens of Telfair County assembled and crossed over the river to seek redress. Some distance from the river they discovered a party of 50 or 60 Indians advancing within gunshot. Firing commenced by each party and was warmly kept up three- fourths of an hour. A part of the detachment effected their retreat, bringing off one badly wounded. Four white men were killed, among them being Major Cathron, who was in command of the Telfair Militia. Four Indians were killed.
Joseph Burch married a Miss Hargrove, of Richmond County, first, and after her death married a Miss Gillie. He was the father of twelve children, but the writer was not able to learn which wife was the mother of the children, neither were we able to obtain the names of all the children. Hence we give only the names of the ancestors of the families who came to this county. They are: Al- fred; Reuben F .; Benjamin.
THE M. L. BURCH FAMILY.
M. L. Burch was a son of Alfred Burch. Alfred was a son of Joseph, and married a Miss Parrish. They were the parents of five sons, viz .: Henry; M. L .; John; Berry; Benjamin. Alfred's second wife was a widow Mclendon, she having been formerly a Miss
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McRae. Their only child was a son, Daniel W. Alfred's son. M. L., married Augusta Dasher, and they were the parents of : Alice, who married Dr. W. W. Evans; Nettie, who married Ben L. Harrell; Marilu; Dr. John; M. H., who married Mary Lou Harrell; Gussie, who married the Rev. R. W. Sellman. Mr. Burch was a pioneer citizen of this county, coming here from Laurens soon after the creation of the county, and became one of its most progressive citizens. He was Ordinary of the county for a number of years, and was also County School Superintendent for a great number of years, having been a public officer almost the entire time of his life in Dodge.
THE B. T. BURCH FAMILY.
Benjamin T. Burch, a resident of this city, was a son of Benjamin, who was a son of Benjamin. His father, Benjamin, married Lydia Sanders, and they were the parents of: Benjamin T .; D. A .; and Charlton O.
Benjamin T. married Mary Joyce, and they were the parents of : Dora, who married E. E. Edwards; Vienna, who married L. E. McVey; Minnie, who married J. M. Steward; Maribel, who married E. A. Chandler.
Mr. Burch moved to Eastman soon after the town and county were created, and has been one of the outstanding business men of the community.
Cynthia Burch, daughter of Benjamin, who was a son of Joseph. married Dr. Calphrey Clark and they were the parents of Matthew, Benjamin, Hamilton and Harlow.
THE D. A. BURCH FAMILY.
D. A. Burch, a son of Benjamin, who was a son of Benjamin, married, first, Vandilla Gay, and they were the parents of: Lydia. who married W. D. Lister; Effie, who married R. L. Willcox; Nan, who married J. A. Hall; Mattie Lou, who married I. J. Jessup; Nettie, who married Ben F. Curry; Mary, who married Dr. W. F. Massey; Perry M., who married Nona Byrd; Ottis L., who married Ruth Tyler; Christine, who married W. H. Floyd; Ben, who married Roberta Veal; Harlow; Jack. Mr. Burch married, second, Miss Joe Rowland.
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Mr. Burch came to this county from Laurens and settled in the northern part of the county near Chester. He has been a successful farmer and business man, having engaged in the banking business for a number of years.
THE R. F. BURCH FAMILY.
Reuben F. Burch was a son of Reuben F. Burch, who was a son of Joseph Burch, the pioneer. His father, Reuben F., married Lottie Cadwell, and they were the parents of the following large family: Joseph, who married Jane Taylor; John, who married Edna Hinson; Lem, who married Wilanta Cadwell; Charles, who married, first, a Miss Yawn, and second, Ellen Haralson; Reuben F., who married Millie Ann Harrell; Ann, who married Tom Ryals; Amy, who mar- ried W. J. Buchannan; Piety, who married Reuben Purvis.
Reuben F., who was the son of Reuben F., married Millie Ann Harrell, and they were the parents of: Charlotte, who married John B. Coffee; M. D., who married Barbara Harrell; Christopher C., who married Louise Ray; W. A., who married Eva Roebuck; Mathias A., who married Maggie Cameron; Marilu, who married Charles Smallwood; Reuben F., who married Belle Moore; Annie Maude, who married the Rev. E. R. Denney; John G., who married Elizabeth Travis.
Mr. Burch was a pioneer settler in this county. He is a Confed- erate veteran, being one of the three surviving veterans in this county at present. He was a member of Co. I, 4th Georgia Cavalry. He resides about seven miles from Eastman on his large country estate.
THE CHARLES BURCH FAMILY.
Charles Burch, son of Reuben F., who was a son of Joseph, the pioneer, settled in the eastern part of the county known as Clark's Militia District. Charles married a Miss Yawn, and they were the parents of: Charles, who married Vida Dunn; Ephraim, who mar- ried a Miss Coleman; Lottie, who married John Coleman; Flora, who married E. H. Bullard; another daughter who married Andy Coleman; and still another daughter who married a Brown; and a son, Henry Clay, who never married.
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THE JOHN H. BURCH FAMILY.
John H. Burch was a son of Alfred, who was a son of Joseph, the pioneer, and married a Clements. They were the parents of: B. M., who married Emma Womble; Sara, who married James W. Wil- liams; Ann Tillie, who married John W. Cadwell.
THE CHARLTON O. BURCH FAMILY.
Charlton O. was a son of Benjamin, who was a son of Benjamin. He married Rebecca L. Cadwell, and they were the parents of : Charlton A .; Matthew; Bealer, who married Nora Lowery. Charl- ton settled in Laurens County, near Cadwell, and was a prosperous farmer.
Harlow Burch was a son of Henry, who was a son of Alfred. He married Emma Scarborough, and they were the parents of: Eva, who married a Shurley; Rachel, who married a Kitchens; Maude; Carrie; Maggie; and two sons. Mr. Burch came to Eastman when the town was in its infancy, living here several years. He was a prominent attorney and served as Court Stenographer for a number of years.
Charles Burch, a brother to Joseph, the pioneer, settled in Rich- mond County, near Augusta. His two sons, Dr. William E. and Seaborn, came to this county after they were grown.
Dr. William E., son of Charles, married Susan Willcox, daughter of Gen. Mark Lee Willcox, and they were the parents of: Mary E., who married Horton McCranie; Emma, who married W. E. Walker; Georgia, who married John Walker; Lena, who married George Bohannon; William E., who married a Miss Cave; Edwin, a min- ister, who became one of the most prominent ministers in the South Georgia Methodist Conference.
Seaborn, son of Charles, and a brother to Dr. William E., married Ann Willcox, daughter of Gen. Mark Lee Willcox, and their chil- dren were: Jack; Everett, the present Sheriff of Montgomery County; and another son whose name we were unable to learn. Seaborn Burch was the first Ordinary of Dodge County, which of- fice he held for a number of years.
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The Burnham Family.
The head of this family in Dodge was Alfred Burnham, who mar- ried Mary Davis. Their children were: Joel C .; Miles A .; Louis C .; Woodson W .; Tom; Sara Jane, who married John Cravey; Susanna, who married Tom Atkinson; James and Jack, who were both Con- federate soldiers and killed in battle; Mary, who married, first, Tom Lancaster, and after his death she married Rev. W. Murrell Wil- liamson.
Miles A., son of Alfred, married Beckie Coffee, and their children were: Betty, who married James Gladden; Mary, who married James Nixon; Jim C., who married Clem Day; Tom, who married Bessie Stuckey; Annie, who married Walter Stuckey; Dolphus, who married Emmie Gautney; Leroy, who married Rosa Foster; Addie, who married Hendley Hargrove; Beauty, who married Homer Stuckey.
Louis C., son of Alfred, married Elizabeth Dowdy, and their chil- dren were: Alfred H., who married Lollie McDaniel; Florence, who married J. C. Whitehead; Tom, who married Nora Stapleton; Missie, who married Clayton Harrell; Bill, who married Hattie Yancey.
Woodson W., son of Alfred, married Dollie Lancaster, and their children were: Lou, who married John Harrell; Mattie, who mar- ried Alec Harrell; Kate, who married George Harrell; Mell. who married Alice Harrell; Guss, who married Carrie O'Neal; Joe. who married Nettie Harrell; Bob, who married Effie Sheffield; Julia Ann, who married Fred Tyler; Dave, who never married.
Tom, son of Alfred, married Millie Ann Harrell, and they were parents of one daughter, Jennie, who married a Dr. Fielder. Mr. Burnham was a Confederate soldier and lost his life in battle. His widow married Cullen Rogers.
The widow of Alfred, the pioneer, married Rev. James William- son.
The Campbell Family.
Daniel Campbell, a native of Scotland, was a pioneer settler in this county, having come to this section from North Carolina when Telfair County was in its infancy. He settled near the Ocmulgee River in that portion of Telfair which later became Dodge. Mr.
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Campbell was eighty-eight years of age at the time of his death, and no man was held in higher esteem by the public in general than he. His first wife was a Miss Morrison, and they were the parents of : Robert, who married Jane Bowen; Caroline, who married John Cravey; Sarah, who married Dave Yancey; a daughter who married Hugh McLean. His second wife was Mary McLean. There were no children of this union.
Robert, son of Daniel Campbell, married Jane Brown, and their children were: Norman; Charles; Lewis; Daniel; Mollie, who married J. C. Ryals; Maggie, who married Mike Conley; Carrie, who married G. F. Futch.
The Clark Family.
Dr. Calphrey Clark, a pioneer of this section, married Cynthia Burch, daughter of Benjamin Burch, and they were the parents of: Matthew; Ben; Hamilton; Harlow.
John, son of Dr. Calphrey, married Rebecca Hall of Appling County, and they were the parents of: Lute; Ben; Sarah.
Matthew, son of Dr. Calphrey, married Mary Hendley, first, and they were the parents of: Lummie, who married C. J. Noles; Mattie; Mollie, who married B. R. Calhoun; Vienna, who married O. R. Bennett; Emma, who married Dock Bennett; Calphrey C., who married Mamie Fish; Callie. His second wife was Miss Dollie Pickren, and they were the parents of: Nita, who married C. L. Persons; Evie, who married Adam Jones; Leslie M., who married Annie Lou Sheppard; Nettie, who married Frank Jones.
Ben, son of Dr. Calphrey, married Frances Rushing, and their only child, Mary, married W. K. Bussey. They were the parents of Will B .; Ben N., who married Marietta Brown; Eva, who married E. B. Smith; Alice, who married W. N. Collum; Minnie Lee, who married W. F. Harrison; Rozzie. Mr. Bussey was the father of a daughter by a former marriage, Leila, who married Walter F. Smith.
Hamilton, son of Dr. Calphrey, married Margaret Miller, and their children were: Fannie, who married Levi Evans; John M., who married Maggie Willcox; Odie, who married Bob Lee Ed- wards; Ilda Mae, who married John Carr; Hattie, who married J. I. Hargrove; William H., who married Elizabeth Daniel.
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Harlow, son of Dr. Calphrey, married Cassie Miller, and they were the parents of: Dr. John B., who married Annie Harwell; Lou, who married Lane Donaldson; Mary Frances, who married J. D. Nash; Hamilton, who died while a student in the law depart- ment of the University of Virginia; Geroma, who married A. B. Hargrove. Mr. Clark married, second, Miss Kate Hall, and they were the parents of Annie Maude, who married William E. Burch.
The Coffee Family.
General John Coffee was among the first settlers in Telfair County. He came to this section from Virginia, and was the son of Peter Coffee, who was a Revolutionary soldier. His mother was Sarah Smith Coffee. Peter Coffee and his wife were the parents of the following children: Elizabeth, who married C. Daniel; Nancy, who married, first, L. Legeon, and second, Abram Heard, and third, Jas. Kennedy; Susan, who married a Randall; General John, who married Ann Penelope Bryan; Joshua, who never married; Sarah, who married William Harris; Mary, who married H. Gibson; Cyn- thia, who married Thomas Stocks; Martha, who married George Heard.
General John, our subject, fought in the War of 1812-1815, and rose to the rank of General. He represented Telfair County in the Legislature, and was also elected three times to Congress. He never lived to serve his third term in Congress, having died on the eve of his third election. News traveled so slowly in those days that it is said that although he died the day before the election, his death was not known, and he was elected to serve the third term after death. This was in 1836. He commanded the State Militia after the Indian War and built a highway through Georgia to facilitate the removal of his troops, and the road is still known as the "Old Coffee Road." He was a close friend of President Andrew Jackson. He married Ann Penelope Bryan, and they were the parents of: John B., who married, first, Rebecca Willcox, and second, a Griffin; Peter Harris, who married, first, Susan Ann Rogers, and second, Martha Ann Sheldon; Andrew Jackson; Hill Bryan, who married Mary E. Church; William; Joshua; Christopher C .; Sarah Ann Elizabeth, who married Gen. Mark Lee Willcox; Susan, who married a Bryan. Coffee County was named in honor of Gen. John Coffee.
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John B., son of Gen. John, married Rebecca Willcox, and they were the parents of: John W .; Dr. Mark; Rebecca, who married Miles Burnham. His second wife was a Griffin, and they were the parents of: Col. William Coffee; Missouri, who married a Brough- ton; Neenie, who married George Adams.
Peter Harris, son of Gen. John, married Susan Ann Rogers, and they were the parents of: Joshua, who married Mary Daniel; An- drew Jackson, who married a Futch; Christopher C., who married Mary Rogers; Peter, who married a Daniel; John A., who married Rebecca Daniel; Minnie, who married T. W. Weeks; Neppie, who married John T. Lee; Babe, who married Mose Daniel; Susan, who married Tom Pete Willcox. The second wife of Peter Harris was Martha Ann Sheldon and they were the parents of: Willie; Irby; Idella.
John W., son of John B., married a McCoy, and they were the parents of: John B. and Archie. He married, second, Isabel Mc- Crimmon, and they were the parents of: Sidney (Sip.) ; Mitchell, who died in childhood.
Joshua, son of Peter Harris, married Mary Daniel, and they were the parents of: Annie, who married, first, Murdock Bryan, and second, John M. Law; J. P., who married Mary J. Bowen; Margaret Rebecca, who married J. K. Willcox; Sudie, who married F. F. Bohannon; Sallie, who married Willie A. Bowen; Lou Letitia, who married John Wadsworth; Mary Belle, who married Morris Wil- liams.
Andrew Jackson, son of Peter Harris, married a Futch, and they were the parents of: Dr. W. P., who married Bessie Burch; Jen- nings, who married a Cravey; Ruby, who married Warren Harrell; A. J., who married a Gammage.
Andrew Jackson and Bryant, sons of Gen. John, moved to Florida. Bryant's daughter, Elizabeth, married a Sheldon.
The Coleman Family.
W. A. Coleman, a pioneer settler in this county, came from Laurens County. He married Priscilla Wright, and they were the parents of: William C., who married Mary Coleman, daughter of William Coleman; Sabra Caroline, who married Alfred T. Cole- man; Roxie Rebecca, who married John C. Ryals; Mary Eliza, who
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married J. H. Evans; Nancy J., who never married; W. H .. who married, first, Emma V. Thompson, and second, Sudie Walker; B. T., who married Mary C. Taylor; J. A., who married Christian Burch; G. R. L., who married Nancy Evans; Martha J., who mar- ried Dock Sanderson; Joel F., who married Nancy Ann Rogers.
W. H., son of W. A., became a Baptist minister, and has served many churches in the county. He is the father of a number of children, among whom is Dr. Warren A. Coleman, of Eastman. Dr. Coleman married Christine Edwards, daughter of Milton H. Ed- wards and his wife Lena Carr Edwards, and they are the parents of two little girls.
The Cravey Family.
John Cravey, the head of the Cravey family, came from North Carolina and settled in Telfair County, a part of which later became Dodge. He was a Captain in the Confederate army. He married a daughter of Daniel Campbell, and their children were: Dave: Dan C .; Bob; Henry; Locke; John; Susanna, who married Bayers Walker; Mary, who married Bill Pickren; Lizzie, who married John D. Moore. He married, second, Jane Burnham, and their children were: Emma, who married Mark Garrison; Lena, who married Jess Knight. His third wife was Katherine Pickren, and their children were: Ida, who married a Campbell; Ben; Joe; and Tom.
Dan C. Cravey, son of John, married Abbie Pickren, and their children were: John L .; William Marvin; Grover Cleveland; Daniel; Walter R .; Loche; Madie, who married Joe B. Williams; Maggie, who married Jim Studstill; Ruth, who married Jennings Coffee; Essie, who married Eugene Willcox.
John L., son of Dan C., married Mittie Holland; William Marvin. son of Dan C., married Abbie Brown; G. C. married Mary Coody: Walter R. married Mahaley Draffin; Loche married Trellie Steele.
The Daniel Family.
The Daniel family has been prominently identified with the up- building of this county. They are descended from John Daniel, a Revolutionary soldier from South Carolina, who came here soon after this country was settled, probably before the Indians had left.
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