USA > Georgia > Dodge County > History of Dodge County > Part 8
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23
Executor: W. J. Harrell.
Date: January 20, 1896.
JORDAN BROWN.
Wife: Jane A. Witnesses: W. J. Baker, A. J. Hargrove, L. L. Hargrove. Executor: Jane A. Brown. Date: January 20, 1896.
72
HISTORY OF DODGE COUNTY
STEPHEN D. EASON.
Wife: E. I. Eason.
Nephews: Chas. A. L., Anderson, Stephen Jonah Anderson.
Sisters: Mrs. Mary Anderson, Mrs. Ella Johnson.
Witnesses: E. A. Smith, Jno. B. Cadwell, W. M. Clements.
Executor: Uriah Anderson.
Date: February 11, 1898.
E. A. SMITH.
Wife: Julia.
Son: Dudley.
Witnesses : C. W. Atwell, Etna Peacock, Walter M. Clements.
Executor: Mrs. Julia Smith.
Date: April 26, 1897.
REBECCA BOUTWELL.
J. G. Worsham, Henrietta Boutwell, children of Mary Hyman, Winnie Edwards. Witnesses: J. C. Rawlins, J. S. Curry, W. T. Collins, L. M. Peacock. Executor: L. M. Peacock.
Date: September 10, 1898.
OLIVER P. WADE.
Sons: Jesse Wade, Henry Wade.
Daughters: Levina Ann, Elizabeth.
Grandsons: William Wade, Morgan, Charlie, Willis Wade.
Granddaughters: Mattie Eddins, Trudy Coody. Annie Coody, Ida Coody.
Witnesses: B. R. Calhoun, W. F. Slater, T. M. Bennett.
Executor: D. M. Buchan.
Date: January 5, 1898.
WILLIAM J. HARRELL.
Wife: Lizzie.
Children mentioned, but no names given.
Witnesses: B. R. Calhoun, J. A. Hargrove, Andy Cadwell.
Executor: John J. Harrell.
Date: January 22, 1901.
EASTMAN LODGE NO. 279, FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS.
EASTMAN MASONIC LODGE No. 279, F. & A. M., was organized on July the 27th, A. D. 1872, with the following charter members:
Ira R. Foster, Reuben A. Harrell, Arthur C. Page, Charles Burch, John McCranie, C. D. Parkerson, James Bishop, John A. Harrell. Harlow Clark, Jordan Brown, Levi Evans, B. A. Herndon, William H. Harrell, Matthew Clark, Thomas L. Taylor, I. H. Russell.
73
EASTMAN LODGE No. 279
The following is from the minutes of the first meeting held by this lodge:
"Eastman Lodge, U. D.
"Eastman, Georgia, July 27th, A.D., 1872.
"A dispensation having been issued by Samuel Lawrence, Grand Master of Masons in Georgia to Brothers Ira R. Foster, James Bishop, B. A. Herndon, Reuben A. Harrell, John A. Harrell, William H. Harrell, Arthur C. Page, Harlow Clark, Matthew Clark, Charles Burch, Jordan Brown, Thomas L. Tay- lor, John McCranie, Levi Evans, I. H. Russell and C. D. Parkerson, to open and hold a Lodge of Master Masons by first nominating and appointing Brother Ira R. Foster as Worshipful Master, Brother James Bishop as Senior Warden and Brother B. H. Herndon as Junior Warden, authorizing and empowering them to open and hold a Lodge of Entered Apprentice Masons, a Lodge of Fellow Craft Masons, and a Lodge of Master Masons for the conferring of the several degrees named, and the transaction of such other business as may be done under the power and authority of the said dispensation as issued by the said Worshipful Grand Master.
"Whereupon the said Brothers assembled at the court house in the town of Eastman on Saturday, July the 27th, A.D., 1872, A. L. 5872, at three o'clock, P. M., and opened a Master Masons' Lodge in due form with the following officers:
"Brothers Ira R. Foster, W. Master; James Bishop, S. Warden; B. A. Hern- don, J. Warden; Matthew Clark, Treasurer; John A. Harrell, Secretary ; Reuben A. Harrell, S. Deacon; Arthur C. Page, J. Deacon; Charles Burch, Steward; Harlow Clark, Steward; Jordan Brown, Tyler.
"The By-laws of Mount Hope Lodge No. 9 were adopted for the government of the lodge for the present. Brothers James Bishop, B. A. Herndon and Reuben A. Harrell were appointed a committee to draft a code of by-laws for the rule and government of the lodge.
"A resolution was adopted that the regular or stated communications of this lodge be held on the first and third Saturdays in each month at three o'clock, P. M.
"On motion a resolution was passed that the petitioners for the dispensa- tion pay each two dollars for the expenses of the same and that the amount so paid be returned to each brother at some future day and that the amount due for the dispensation be forwarded at once to the Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge at Macon.
"The following brothers contributed: Brother Ira R. Foster, $2.00; Brother James Bishop, $2.00; Brother B. A. Herndon, $2.00; Brother Matthew Clark. $2.00; Brother Harlow Clark, $2.00; Brother Reuben A. Harrell, $2.00; Brother John A. Harrell, $2.00; Brother Jordan Brown, $2.00; Brother William $2.00; Brother Charles Burch, $2.00. Total, $20.00.
"There being no further business the lodge was closed in due and ancient form.
"John A. Harrell, Secretary."
74
HISTORY OF DODGE COUNTY
The lodge continued to work under dispensation until October 31, 1872, at which time a charter was issued to the lodge, and the following are the minutes of the first meeting held after the grant- ing of the charter:
"Eastman, Ga., Friday,
Nov. 22, A.D. 1872, A. L. 5872, 3 o'clock, P. M.
"Arrangements having been made for the purpose of constituting a lodge at this place under a charter granted by the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons in the State of Georgia under the name and form of Eastman Lodge, No. 279, the officers and brethren assembled and opened a Lodge of Master Masons in due and ancient form with the respective officers as follows:
"Brother Joseph E. Wells, Past Master of Macon Lodge, No. 5 as Worship- ful Master; Brother James Bishop, Senior Warden; Brother B. A. Herndon, Junior Warden; Brother Ruben A. Harrell, Senior Deacon; Brother Arthur C. Page, Junior Deacon; Brother Matthew Clark, Treasurer; Brother John A. Harrell, Secretary; Brother Isaac Herrman, Steward; Brother Charles B. Mur- rell, Steward; Jordan Brown, Tyler.
"The Worshipful Master appointed Brother Charles R. Armstrong of Macon Lodge No. 5, Acting Grand Marshal and proceeded to constitute the new lodge after the examination of the records and the reading of the charter by the Acting Grand Marshal, by the installation and induction of the following named brethren into their respective stations and places as follows:
"Brother Ira R. Foster, Worshipful Master; Brother James Bishop, Senior Warden; Brother B. A. Herndon, Junior Warden; Brother Matthew Clark, Treasurer; Brother John A. Harrell, Secretary; Brother Ruben A. Murrell, Senior Deacon; Brother Arthur C. Page, Junior Deacon; Brother Harlow Clark, Steward; Brother Charles Burch. Steward; Brother Jordan Brown, Tyler.
"After which the Acting Grand Marshal proclaimed the new lodge as fol- lows:
"'Hear Ye! Hear Ye! Hear Ye!
" 'By command of the most Worshipful Grand Master through the Past Mas- ter acting as Worshipful Master, in the name of the Grand Lodge of the State of Georgia, I proclaim this new lodge by the name of Eastman Lodge No. 279 to be legally constituted and consecrated, and the officers thereof to be duly installed in their respective offices.'
"There being no further business the Lodge of Master Masons was closed in due and ancient form.
"John A. Harrell, Secretary."
The lodge continued to hold its meetings at the court house until the erection of its two-story brick building located on the corner of Fifth Avenue and West Railroad Avenue. The cornerstone of
75
EASTMAN LODGE No. 279
the building bears the following inscription: "Eastman Lodge No. 279, F. & A. M. Erected June the 22nd, A. D. 5883. C. T. Latimer, W. M .; Harlow Clark, S. W .; J. F. DeLacy, J. W. C. B. Murrell, J. T. Colcord, W. B. Whiddon, Building Committee."
The lower floor and basement of this building are rented out for commercial purposes, while the upper floor is used exclusively for a lodge room, and it is said to be one of the nicest lodge halls in the State.
The following officers have served the lodge as Worshipful Master and Secretary from its organization to the present date:
1872-Ira R. Foster Worshipful Master
John A. Harrell . Secretary William A. Morgan, Secretary
1873-James Bishop . Worshipful Master 1874-Ruben A. Harrell, Worshipful Master
Isaac Herrman . Secretary
1875-C. R. Armstrong .
Worshipful Master
Isaac Herrman . Secretary
1876-C. R. Armstrong
Worshipful Master
John A. Harrell Secretary
1877-C. R. Armstrong .
Worshipful Master
John A. Harrell Secretary
1878-C. R. Armstrong . Worshipful Master
Johnson W. Noles Secretary
1879-C. R. Armstrong .
Worshipful Master
James M. Sapp . Secretary
1880-C. R. Armstrong . Worshipful Master
James M. Sapp
Secretary
1881-C. R. Armstrong
1882-John A. Harrell .
1883-Clement T. Latimer, Worshipful Master
1884-Harlow Clark .
Worshipful Master
1885-C. T. Latimer
Worshipful Master
Sol Herrman
Secretary Secretary
1886-D. M. Roberts
Worshipful Master Worshipful Master
James M. Sapp Secretary
1887-J. T. Colcord
Worshipful Master
J. E. Dean
1889-J. T. Colcord
Worshipful Master J. E. Dean
Secretary
1890 J. T. Colcord
1891- J. T. Colcord
J. E. Dean
1892-J. H. Buchannan,
Worshipful Master Worshipful Master Worshipful Master Worshipful Master
W. F. Harrell
Secretary
1893 J. T. Colcord
W. F. Harrell
Secretary
1894-J. T. Colcord
1895-J. F. DeLacey .
Worshipful Master
W. F. Harrell
. Secretary
1897-E. J. Peacock .
J. C. Rawlins
. Secretary Secretary
1899-J. D. Herrman 1900-Harlow Clark
Worshipful Master Worshipful Master Worshipful Master Worshipful Master
J. C. Rawlins John Willcox
Secretary . Secretary Secretary
1901-J. T. Taylor
Worshipful Master
C. B. Murrell C. B. Murrell
. Secretary
1903-W. J. Williams
Worshipful Master Worshipful Master
C. B. Murrell C. B. Murrell
. Secretary
1904-J. B. Clark
. Secretary
1905-J. B. Clark
Worshipful Master
C. B. Murrell
. Secretary
1906-J. B. Clark
Worshipful Master
C. B. Murrell C. B. Murrell C. B. Murrell
Secretary
1909-J. B. Clark
Worshipful Master
C. B. Murrell
Secretary
1910-J. D. Taylor
Worshipful Master
C. B. Murrell
. Secretary
1911-C. B. Murrell
Worshipful Master
John A. Harrell
Secretary
1912-W. P. Cobb
Worshipful Master
John A. Harrell . Secretary
. Secretary
1907-J. B. Clark
.
Secretary
1908-J. B. Clark
Worshipful Master Worshipful Master
James M. Sapp . Secretary Secretary
1896-J. F. DeLacey .
Worshipful Master
J. T. Rawlins
1898-J. D. Taylor
J. C. Rawlins
1902-J. T. Taylor
Worshipful Master
E. B. Milner . Secretary Secretary
1888-J. T. Colcord
Worshipful Master Samuel T. Rawlins, Secretary Worshipful Master Benjamin T. Burch, Secretary William B. Whiddon, Secretary Sol Herrman
Worshipful Master J. E. Dean Secretary Secretary
76
HISTORY OF DODGE COUNTY
1913-W. P. Cobb Worshipful Master
John A. Harrell . Secretary
1914-C. C. Clark
Worshipful Master John A. Harrell . Secretary
1915-J. H. Milner
Worshipful Master John A. Harrell
Secretary
1916-J. H. Milner
Worshipful Master John A. Harrell
1917-J. H. Milner Worshipful Master
John A. Harrell John A. Harrell
1919-H. M. O'Callaghan, Worshipful Master
John A. Harrell
1920-J. H. Milner
Worshipful Master John A. Harrell
1921-C. G. Horn .
1922-T. C. Clements
Worshipful Master John A. Harrell . Secretary Worshipful Master John A. Harrell Secretary Worshipful Master John A. Harrell Secretary
1923-W. H. Smith
1924-J. H. Milner
Worshipful Master
John A. Harrell
Secretary
1925-J. H. Milner
Worshipful Master John A. Harrell
Secretary
1926-T. C. Clements Worshipful Master John A. Harrell
Secretary
1927-J. B. Clark Worshipful Master
John A. Harrell . Secretary
1928-J. B. Clark
Worshipful Master
John A. Harrell . Secretary
1929-J. B. Clark
Worshipful Master John A. Harrell . Secretary
1930-J. H. McDonald
Worshipful Master P. M. Burch Secretary
1931-W. P. Cobb
Worshipful Master
P. M. Burch
Secretary
Following is a list of the members of the lodge from its organ- ization to the present who have joined either by initiation or af- filiation :
1872-Ira R. Foster, James Bishop, B. A. Herndon. R. A. Harrell, John A. Harrell, Charles Burch, Jordan Brown, Harlow Clark, Matthew Clark, Levi Evans, John McCranie, Arthur C. Page, William H. Harrell, C. D. Parkerson, J. S. Thompson, John T. Rozar. J. H. Grimsley, Isaac Herr- man. C. B. Murrell, W. A. Morgan, Paleman C. Mills, Lemuel T. Harrell.
1873-Henry Herrman., Henry Coleman, William K. Bussey, B. D. Woodward. Marcus Foster, James M. Arthur, Dempey Sigler, Alfred L. Burch, L. M. Peacock, S. A. Dorsey, Charles A. Armstrong, John H. Ashburn, John T. Hughes.
1874-Thaddeus E. Sumner, J. D. Parkerson, Reuben F. Burch. B. H. Cal- houn, W. W. Ashburn, William Hamilton, Arthur Walker. Andy Cad- well, L. L. Hargrove, William N. Leitch, John M. Clark.
1875-Hamilton Clark, Joseph Graham, William Yawn, James M. Sapp. Wil- liam Taylor.
1876-J. W. Jones, James Harrell. John F. DeLacey, Duncan C. Daniel, Charles H. Peacock, S. B. Coody, Robert S. Burton.
1877-J. W. Noles, D. E. Williams, Mason T. Burbank. C. M. Rozar, Robt. Rozar, H. Mays, Thomas J. Dempsey, Albert Reynolds.
1878-Alex Sessoms.
1879-William Rogers, Samuel T. Rawlins, William Pitt Eastman.
1880-John W. Lovett, John W. Taylor, Charlie J. Jones, Wyatt F. Davis, B. T. Burch, W. G. Burch.
1881-Wade H. Coleman, J. D. Taylor, W. J. Buchannan, N. A. McMullin.
1882-W. B. Whiddon, Ellis W. Bulloch, Reid L. Bush, C. T. Latimer, J. T. Colcord, John W. Rogers.
. Secretary . Secretary . Secretary . Secretary . Secretary
1918-H. M. O'Callaghan, Worshipful Master
77
EASTMAN LODGE No. 279
1883-S. H. Lowther, C. D. Woodward, W. F. Harrell, J. M. Woodward. Levi Harrell, D. T. Daughtry, Sol Herrman, J. D. Herrman, J. W. Phillips, Henry Paris, J. C. Rawlins, A. B. Clayton, J. L. Manning. B. D. Wood- ward.
1884-D. M. Roberts, E. H. Bacon, James D. Knowles, John C. Schofield, J. D. Skelton, E. A. Smith, W. M. Howard, V. G. Gress, H. C. Tanner.
1885-Julius S. Draffin, D. W. Weaver. W. H. Johnson, E. B. Milner.
1886-J. J. Mumford, John T. Wall, S. D. Eason, E. J. Peacock, B. R. Folsom, J. C. Carr, J. E. Dean, L. F. Wooten, P. A. Jessup, W. B. Rogers. 1887-Willard R. Shaw, W. B. Daniel, J. D. Peacock, James Bishop, Jr., S. J. Bruce, M. E. Everett, S. B. Moore, Albert Herrman, A. L. Hobbs, J. R. Sheppard, E. R. Carr, J. D. Stokes, J. S. Stevens, W. A. Butler, J. T. Reynolds, W. H. Cotter, R. D. Harper, J. J. Hinson, A. G. Williamson, B. M. Sandford, W. N. Leitch.
1888-S. J. Hays, J. H. Wilson, T. J. Buchan, J. H. Buchannan, W. H. Wise. 1889-Wash Harrell, F. B. Stubbs, W. A. Burks, L. S. Evans, Charles A. Arm- strong, F. W. Armstrong, W. C. Sheppard, T. D. Loyal.
1890-N. M. Corder, J. C. Donaldson, James M. Buchan, R. J. Massey. D. M. Buchan, A. J. Mumford, E. W. Millican, A. C. Phillips, S. J. Stubbs, C. S. Mingus, R. L. Judge, W. M. Clements.
1891-W. C. Ferrell, J. F. Rogers, B. F. Daniel, James A. Williams, J. M. Kimbrough, J. D. Daniel.
1892-C. P. Raiford, John S. Livingston, W. S. Vanlandingham, B. S. Paris, W. H. Coleman, J. E. Wooten, B. B. Jackson, Frank Harrell, J. C. Livingston.
1893-E. J. Thompson, C. E. Stucky, J. C. Brewton.
1894- W. A. Denson, J. C. Rogers, Jacob Livingston, John Willcox, R. C. Gignilliat, E. Herrman, A. R. Colcord, John B. Clark.
1895-W. I. Livingston, D. A. Autry, W. S. Waite, J. L. Estes.
1897-James M. Mitchell.
1898-H. L. Scott, W. A. Burch, D. C. Pierce.
1899-J. E. Lowery, J. W. Lee.
1900-C. C. Burch, J. D. Nash, W. P. Harrell.
1901-John W. Jones, John R. Jones, R. F. Jones, F. T. Parkerson.
1902-W. J. Williams, J. D. Lucas, V. T. Bacon, C. A. Hester.
1903-Shep Allen, T. H. Allen, Warren Butler, E. A. Stuckey, O. M. Methvin, J. W. Dawson, M. L. Davis, W. T. Harrell.
1904-J. A. Harrell, Jr., W. H. Godfrey, T. A. Stuckey, John L. Wooten. 1905-Harry F. Hirsh, J. B. Holmes, W. W. Phillips. H. H. Preston, John Cunard, C. G. Horn, W. P. Cobb, Duncan L. Daniel, E. J. Rainey, Charles W. Griffith.
1906-G. E. Martin, G. R. Hendrix, C. L. Burton, W. V. Harrell, W. L. Parker- son, John A. Bond, M. A. Burch, J. L. Conley, C. H. Bond, G. A. Cook.
78
HISTORY OF DODGE COUNTY
1907-M. D. Burch, J. D. Parkerson, Sr., L. C. Harrell, J. B. Parkerson, E. C. Horsford.
1908-B. J. Harrell, Harrell Gatlin, P. C. Rawlins, R. B. Edwards, John W. Pea- cock, E. E. Persons. E. P. Godfrey, D. J. Graham, C. C. Clark.
1909-P. E. Ward, T. P. Glancey, W. H. Smith, S. J. Hargrove, Walter Anthony, O. R. Bennett.
1910-D. D. Smith, J. H. Harrell, J. H. Milner, C. R. Wooten, J. C. Wall.
1911-R. W. Lee, J. H. Williams, W. G. McCart, C. L. Bennett, A. B. Crowe, W. A. Wilkinson, E. C. Calhoun.
1912-C. W. Lancaster, B. I. Brantley, B. R. Stuckey, W. I. Stuckey, R. F. Lowery, M. H. Burch, Lovett S. Harrell. A. Harris, W. C. Embry. A. L. Smith, B. M. Lewis, W. E. Davison, B. Caplan, W. A. Lowery, Leroy Pharr, J. M. Paine, John M. Clark, H. T. Bush, F. H. Herrmann, W. S. Milner, J. F. Broach, W. A. Wooten.
1913-J. M. Schwartz, Lawrence Andrews, Robert T. Casper. John H. Haynes, Hector Cameron.
1914-B. Nitski, James A. Williams, R. L. Stuckey, W. W. Parkerson, W. L. Taylor, M. H. Cannon, H. M. O'Callaghan, T. R. Pennington, Harry Miller, J. D. Cooper, E. S. Moon, S. N. Boyd, J. H. Weldy.
1915-H. F. Nicholson, W. J. Daniel, J. D. Harrell, L. M. Clark, W. H. Lawrence, J. D. Watkins, C. E. Knight, Roy E. Calhoun.
1916-M. C. Edwards, R. C. Lewis, A. L. Wilkins, T. D. Hoskins, W. L. Parkerson, Jr.
1917-A. P. Wynne, W. McRae. L. M. Peacock, P. J. Smith, Bob Wynne, H. E. Dickens, S. S. Stevens, W. E. Davison, Jr., A. M. Hargrove, J. G. Wil- liamson. S. H. Goolsby, J. R. Berg.
1918-M. P. Skelton, M. L. Bush, A. L. Thomas, A. D. Cobia, H. G. Skelton, A. J. Law, Jr., L. H. Reynolds, O. T. Sanders, I. J. Parkerson, R. W. Robertson, R. F. Burch, Jr.
1919-Jeter A. Harrell, H. D. Cherry, M. L. Ross, G. M. Parkerson, A. W. Har- ris, R. T. Strickland, F. F. Stuckey, T. C. Clements, Reuben Brown, C. F. Jones, J. N. Gatlin, George T. McRae.
1920-C. M. Methvin, Jr., J. C. Harrell, E. H. Jessup, B. J. Schwartz, L. D. Jessup, R. Z. Sterling, John B. Parkerson, Jr., W. W. Bond, G. L. Eckles, J. A. Burch, W. C. Davis, Jr., Theodore Wooten, John J. Vara.
1921-J. J. Graham, E. R. Taylor, J. Levine, J. A. Lee, Frank Skelton, Fred Andrews, John R. Cobb, Charter B. Edwards, Warren A. Coleman, H. L. Daniel.
1922-W. L. Minix, O. M. Skelton, T. H. T. Moore, Morris Miller, T. S. Felder, L. M. Coffee. Don G. Lennard, W. A. Duncan. T. R. Wynne.
1923-Ed H. Wright.
1924-Roy Wooten, James A. Simmons, Fred Harrell. J. W. Bramblett.
1927-G. C. Rogers, I. N. Norris, H. G. Nixon, B. B. Eckles, W. F. White, J. E. Giddens, M. G. Sapp, Paul S. Smith, E. T. D. West, T. C. Waite.
79
EASTMAN LODGE No. 279
1928-R. W. Southerland, Arthur Thompson, J. B. Evans, W. D. McCranie, H. W. Southerland, L. D. Shipes, E. J. Thompson, A. P. Thompson, H. W. Smith.
1929-M. L. McDaniel, James D. Williams.
1930-Meyer Caplan.
1931-Jack Bates, E. P. Brigman, T. H. Sheffield.
MASONIC LODGE BUILDING, EASTMAN, GA. Erected 1883.
BENCH AND BAR OF DODGE COUNTY.
TO WRITE THE HISTORY of the Bench and Bar of Dodge County is to write of the men who are and who have been prominent in all that looked to the upbuilding of the county.
But before going into the history of our own Bench we will travel back in time one hundred and thirteen years to the time when its parent, the Southern Judicial Circuit of Georgia, was created. On
80
HISTORY OF DODGE COUNTY
December the 19th, 1818, an Act was passed creating the Southern Judicial Circuit.
It included that large territory in southern and southwest Georgia then recently acquired from the Creek Indians and laid off into the counties of Appling, Irwin and Early-a territory greater in size than the state of Massachusetts.
The circuit embraced also, to the north, five older counties: Laurens and Montgomery on the Oconee River, and Telfair, Pulaski and Twiggs on the Ocmulgee, whose combined area exceeded that of Delaware.
In shape the original Southern Circuit may be likened to a vast rectangular edifice seventy miles high, whose foundation, supporting Appling on the east, Early on the west, and Irwin in the middle, was the Florida boundary from the Chattahoochee to the St. Marys River, and crowned by a cupola built of the five river counties, which equalled in height the supporting structure and towered upward into the very center of the State.
It may be observed in passing that notwithstanding the tremen- dous growth of population and resources within the structure be- neath, it was from that lofty almost central eminence that chimed for many a year the pealing note of authority, and during the entire period when elections were made by the Legislature, we find the almost unfailing source of judges and prosecuting attorneys to have been that elevating cluster of river counties whose compact arrange- ment and nearness to the seat of government at Milledgeville greatly facilitated political affiliations.
The Changing Territory.
Appling on the east and Early on the west, together with many counties carved out of their original territory, having been attached to other circuits, 1871 found the Southern in the shape of a great irregular tower, one hundred and thirty miles high, with Lowndes, Brooks and Thomas at the bottom, Laurens and Pulaski at the top, and near the middle Irwin with its remnant of original territory. In that year the tower was broken in two by the formation of the Oconee, and into this new circuit to the north went the river counties carrying along with them all that was left of old Irwin.
81
BENCH AND BAR OF DODGE COUNTY
Dodge County was created in October, 1870, from the counties of Pulaski, Montgomery, Laurens and Telfair. The county was named in honor of Wm. E. Dodge, of New York, who was one of the pioneers in the timber industry in this country. As an expression of his appreciation of the honor conferred upon him he built and presented the county with what was considered at that time a hand- some court house costing twenty-five or thirty thousand dollars.
After its creation Dodge County was assigned to the Southern Judicial Circuit, and its first session of court was presided over by Judge John R. Alexander. The court was held in an old commis- sary located where the Merchants and Farmers Bank building now stands. In 1871 the Legislature created the Oconee Circuit, in which Dodge County was given a place.
JUDGE A. C. PATE.
The first duly elected judge was Hon. A. C. Pate, of Hawkinsville, who was highly respected on account of the pureness of his char- acter and the honesty of his dealings with his fellow man. He served for thirteen years, from 1872 until 1885.
JUDGE C. C. KIBBEE.
Judge C. C. Kibbee succeeded Judge Pate in 1885 and served until 1889, a term of four years. He was a man of brilliant legal at- tainments, and made a splendid record on the bench.
JUDGE D. M. ROBERTS.
Succeeding Judge Kibbee was Judge D. M. Roberts, of Eastman, who served his country in the Confederate Army and also repre- sented his county in the Legislature. He was noted for his quaint humor which illuminated many of his utterances from the bench. Those who knew him best love to recall his willingness to hear patiently the grievances of the humblest people who came before him. It is recalled that on one occasion the jury brought in a verdict of guilty against a negro whom the Judge believed to be innocent. When the verdict was read Judge Roberts told the de- fendant to stand, and remarked, "As the jury has seen fit to find you guilty it becomes the duty of this Court to pass sentence upon you. It is the sentence of the Court that you pay a fine of one dollar," and reaching into his pocket said, "and here is the dollar with which to pay the fine." On another occasion a prominent white
82
HISTORY OF DODGE COUNTY
citizen was before the Judge charged with violating the prohibition law. The defendant was convicted, and the Judge in passing sen- tence told the defendant that he would fine him three hundred dollars. At this juncture the defendant remarked, "All right, Judge, I have it right here in my jeans," and the Judge then added "and six months on the county chaingang," asking the defendant at the same time if he had that in his jeans also. Judge Roberts served at this time for four years, from 1889 until 1893.
JUDGE C. C. SMITH.
Judge C. C. Smith succeeded Judge Roberts and served from 1893 until 1901, a period of eight years. Judge Smith was a very hard worker and spent much time in the preparation of his decisions, seeking to make them fit in with the law and the evidence that had been brought out.
JUDGE D. M. ROBERTS.
In 1901 Judge Roberts again came to the bench and served an- other term of four years, retiring in 1905.
JUDGE J. H. MARTIN.
Judge J. H. Martin, of Hawkinsville, succeeded Judge Roberts in 1905 and served until 1913, a period of eight years. Judge Martin was a lawyer of the Old School, a man who was fearless in speech, and who held the confidence of all who knew him. He was known as a just Judge and a good man. He also served his country in the Confederate Army. He wore a uniform of Confederate grey up to the time of his death.
JUDGE ELISHA D. GRAHAM.
Judge E. D. Graham, of McRae, succeeded Judge Martin to the bench in 1913 and served until 1921, a period of eight years. Judge Graham had served as Solicitor-General for a period of eight years before ascending to the bench. He was an unassuming man and yet he had the courage of his convictions. His utterances from the bench were clear-cut and forceful, and no one was ever in doubt as to what he meant when he delivered a charge or an opinion. Before his elevation to the bench he enjoyed the reputation of being one of the best jury lawyers in the circuit. During his eight years on the bench he was never reversed by the higher courts but once
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.