USA > Georgia > Wilkinson County > History of Wilkinson County > Part 37
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Isaac F. had one child, Louise, by his first marriage. He was married second to Emma Clifford Hartley in 1907 youngest sister of Fannie G. Hartley. They have nine children, namely: Dorothy Jacqualin, Isaac Felix, Helen Winona, James Richmond, Martha Elizabeth, John Hiram, Marion Adams, Edythe Lorraine, and Carolyn Dolores.
Mr. Billue is justly proud of his ancestors and among his highly prized possessions is a letter from Stephen Billue, Jr., son of Stephen Billue, Sr., from Walkerville, N. C., written at the age of 82 years to the widow of James Richmond, his brother's wife. (Prepared by Miss Dorothy Billue.)
JOHN PINK BLOODWORTH
Of all the families of Wilkinson County none exceeds in numer- ous descendants and family connections of the Bloodworth family. And of such a family which has produced so many notable men of the county, none has excelled John Pink Bloodworth in sterling character and integrity.
His grandfather, Henry Bloodworth, for whom Bloodworth District was named, a pioneer settler of the county, came from North Carolina with his two brothers, Timothy and William, neither of whom ever married. Henry married first a Miss Tem- ples. Their children were James and Miles Bloodworth. Henry's second wife was a Miss Philips. Their children were: John, born 1827, Chesley, Thomas and William.
John married Louie Nalos, born 1831, whose mother was Mary McClary Fountain who first married Nalos, and after his death married James Webb.
John Pink Bloodworth, the son of John and Louie, was born May 17, 1855, near Ivey in Wilkinson County. The war coming on his father enlisted in the Confederate army. After the war was over his father gave him the best education the schools of the county afforded, and under the tutelage of Dr. E. Z. F. Golden, he was prepared to enter Mercer University. However, he decided to
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enter the timber business and farming. In this he was a success. In : 885 he was married to Miss Alice Pauline Whitehurst, born 1859, the daughter of Thomas C. and Rebecca (Walters) Whitehurst. She was educated at Monroe Female College, now Bessie Tift. To them were born three sons : Julian F., John Fleming, T. Edwin (See sketches of Whitehurst family and of J. Fleming Bloodworth) .
In 1886 Mr. Bloodworth was elected Tax Collector of the county serving one term, but declined to stand for re-election. In 1892 during the heated Democratic-Populist Campaign at the insistence of his friends he announced for the legislature on the Democratic ticket. So well was he known and respected by the people of the whole county that he was overwhelmingly elected, not only getting the Democratic vote but a vast number of the Populist votes. Two years later he was again elected to the same office, but after that he retired from active politics.
In 1890 Mr. Bloodworth acquired and moved to the Thomas C. Whitehurst ante-bellum home which he rebuilt into a modern resi- dence. He was a faithful member of the Gordon Methodist Church ; served for years as Worshipful Master of the Gordon Masonic Lodge.
Not only did he give his own children every educational advantage but he encouraged his neighbors likewise to educate theirs.
It might be well said of him to his memory Wilkinson County can never do too much honor.
JOHN FLEMING BLOODWORTH
John Fleming Bloodworth was born on the 27th day of March, 1893, at the old homestead near Lewiston, the son of John Pink Bloodworth and Alice Pauline ( Whitehurst) Bloodworth. On his mother's side he descended from Thomas C. and Rebecca (Walters) Whitehurst, a family of the ante-bellum aristocracy of Wilkinson for generations unexcelled in culture and refinement. (See White- hurst Sketch.)
On his father's side he sprang from a long line of worthy for- bears, who for more than a century held high place in the affections of the people, from the day his great-grandfather for whom Blood- worth District was named, arrived as a pioneer settler on down to date. (See sketch of John Pink Bloodworth.)
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Though small in stature, frail of body, yet Fleming Bloodworth's iron will and ambition might well be an inspiration to those more favorably endowed.
His education was mainly obtained at the Gordon High School where he graduated in 1911.
During his boyhood and young manhood, there was awakened in him the worthy ambition to enter the political arena and to take his place among those who were guiding the affairs of State. From his earliest boyhood he would often assert that he would become a lawyer and that he would go to the Legislature as his father had gone before him.
He had no sooner graduated in High School than he began making plans to enter the Mercer Law Class. For two years he pursued his studies there, finishing in the class of 1918 with the B.L. degree.
Unlike many to whose eyes the far off pastures appear greener, Fleming's ambition led him to return to his native home. He had caught the vision of the needs of his home county, and he felt that his mission in life called him back to labor for its uplift.
From his boyhood he took a most active part in the politics of the county and his aid was eagerly sought by candidates. Whenever a campaign was on he was accustomed not only to espouse the cause of his favorite candidates but to labor earnestly for their election. Especially was he strongly partisan in the political cam- paigns of his father's friend, Judge John S. Davis.
Appointed in 1917 to succeed Judge Davis as Solicitor of the County Court he held that office and also the office of County At- torney until 1925, part of which time serving as Clerk for the County Commissioners.
The summer of 1924 found him at the insistence of his friends entering the first political contest where he himself was a candidate. Two other candidates were offering for the Legislature but he was elected. In 1926 he offered for re-election with two candidates op- posing him and again he was successful.
At the same time his friend, Geo. H. Carswell, was running for Governor. At the mass meeting held at Irwinton in June, 1926, for the purpose of organizing Wilkinson county as a whole for Cars- well as the gubernatorial candidate, it was decided to open a Home Headquarters at Irwinton in addition to the Atlanta Headquarters.
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Although in the midst of his own campaign, yet at the request of his friends he took active charge as Manager of the Home Head- quarters keeping a corps of assistants busy circularizing the State, raising funds, and in every way possible arousing enthusiasm for Wilkinson's candidate. Though with failing health his iron will kept him going.
His record in the Legislature was a most creditable one. He was given prominent place on Committee assignments and at all times. was found at his post of duty until disease prevented his further at- tendance.
He had planned to offer for the State Senate upon the expiration of his second term in the Legislature and would doubtless have been elected.
After the declaration of war in 1917, the attorneys were asked to aid in filling out the questionaires of all men within the draft age. Fleming Bloodworth responded to the call and day after day from morning until night he gave his services in this work, and without charge.
Later as those who were drafted were sent to the camps he did all in his power to cheer them, provided entertainment, etc. And while in camp and on European fields, the men from Wilkinson were often reminded by the letters from him that the folks back home had not forgotten them. Likewise, when the war was ended, it was truthfully said of him that many a Wilkinson County man got his discharge and returned home earlier by his intercession through the Congressmen and Senators. To the day of his death among his staunchest friends he numbered these World War veterans in whose behalf he had so ardently exerted himself.
When the call was sounded to America to unite behind the Red Cross, Fleming Bloodworth was chosen Chairman for Wilkinson County. No better selection could have been made. Day and night he unselfishly gave his time and attention to this duty and so well did he succeed that few counties excelled Wilkinson in the amount of funds paid in.
In 1919, he with his friend, Lamar Tigner, purchased the Irwin- ton Bulletin and as associate editor he contributed editorials and articles as long as he was physically able. The association and friend- ship with his friend "Tig" as he called his partner was most ex- traordinary. For years they roomed together, and when Fleming
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bought his home in Irwinton, it was to call on Tigner to share it with him. Their intimate association in business and in the home only the more closely cemented their friendship.
In the operation of this paper his attention was called to the advertising possibilities of small weekly newspapers and he de- veloped a syndicated plan of advertising which he copyrighted and sold, a plan which is now adopted and used throughout the United States.
No one in the county realized the mining possibilities of Wilkin- son more than he or did more to interest outsiders in the clay re- sources. He had posters in prominent places telling of the great wealth lying underfoot in this county and he advertised these de- posits in every state in the Union without any compensation.
In 1922 he saw the need of a Federal Farm Loan Association for the County and although the advent of this plan of financing meant a loss to his loan business yet he urged the farmers to take advantage of this opportunity to borrow funds at cheaper rates than he could offer. Mainly through his activities the organization was perfected.
Of all his many diverse activities perhaps none equalled the in- terest he had in his corporation, the Fleming Bloodworth Loan Co. He started this business in 1918 with a small beginning but the care and attention he gave the enterprise it grew by leaps and bounds until he was obliged to associate E. R. Pierce with him. In this business of investing the money of others on real estate loans he had the utmost confidence of his clients, many of whom were widows with meager funds to lend and the loss by a bad invest- ment, would have meant ruin. The care he used in placing these funds won for him the deserved praise of all his clients. In one case rather than let one of these clients suffer a loss by the failure of a borrower whom he had recommended he assumed the obligations. And when no longer he was able to look after this business, and it was apparent that he would be compelled to go away for treatment, one of his greatest regrets was he would have to relinquish the duty of seeing that his clients received back the funds he had invested for them.
It can be truthfully said of Fleming Bloodworth that no friend of his fell sick that he did not visit and speak words of encourage- ment, carry small gifts of fruit, or other things that would be pleas-
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ing. None went away to hospitals for treatment that he did not visit or write or send magazines and books. Many a sick room was made brighter, many a life cheered by the fact he had lived. And thus it was with him even after he himself was stricken. While mak- ing his plans to leave his business in the hands of others, and in a few weeks go to Asheville for treatment although this would be a drain upon his resources, considerably diminished by his inability to practice his profession, as it required, yet no one asked him for aid in vain. The writer knows personally of an instance where a distant relative of Fleming's was suffering from the same malady as he himself was and for lack of funds could not go away for treatment. Searching him out Fleming placed him on the train, and provided out of his own funds what was necessary. Innumerable instances of similar acts of helping those who needed help could be mentioned.
One of the dreams of Fleming Bloodworth's was to see a good highway connecting Irwinton, Gordon and Macon. A dream he never lived to see completed. For years he had been agitating the building of this road, but, lack of funds prevented. Largely through his efforts it was made a part of the State Highway System and in 1926 it became known that State and Federal funds had been pro- vided for the co-operation with the county in the building of the road. At the time he was serving as Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners and County Attorney and the duty of getting a right of way for the proposed road devolved upon him. Although realizing that his disease was closing down its hold upon him, in- stead of going to the mountains to combat it, as he was urged to do by his friends, he unselfishly devoted himself to the great task of getting the large number of landowners wherever they would, to give the right of way, and the others to sell to the county as reas- onable as possible, a task that meant much effort and which doubt- less did much to hasten the end. Could he have lived only a short time longer he would have known that so far as Wilkinson County was concerned, the road would be completed and his dream realized.
He became a member of the Gordon Methodist Church in his early manhood later moving his membership to Irwinton upon his removal here. As a steward of the Irwinton Methodist Church contributed freely to the needs of the cause, took an active interest
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in advancing every uplifting movement, and at all times could be counted on to do anything asked him by his pastor.
He joined the Irwinton Masonic Lodge during the latter part of 1919 and the early part of 1920. The beauties of the Masonic order so appealed to him that he proceeded through the Scottish Rite and in June of 1920 took the Shrine degree in the Al Sihah Temple at Macon.
In his family life never was there a deeper love than that which existed between him and his father and brothers, Julian F. and Edwin. Seldom a week passed after he moved to Irwinton but that he made several visits home to be with them, and it was a rule for him to spend every Sunday with them.
During the summer of 1928 he was gradually growing weaker until the early part of August when the end came. His funeral and interment, with Masonic honors by the Irwinton and Gordon Lodges, was held at Snow Hill cemetery, where his ancestors for the past century have been sleeping.
BOONE FAMILY
According to records of the "Boone Family Association" of Washington, D. C., William Boone Douglas, President.
The Boones are of Viking descent, from Northern Europe. They settled in Normandy, France, when the Northmen conquered and gave their name to that territory. They crossed the Channel to England with William The Conqueror in 1066. The name at that time being "Bohun." One Bohun being an officer under the Great Conqueror. The Crest of the family in England went in name of "Bohun-Boone Crest," and was in form of a lion couchant, sur- mounted by a human hand grasping three arrows. Evidence per- haps of their side in the Wars of the Trinity. One Mary Boone or Bohun became the wife of King Henry the Fourth. First of name to emigrate to America being a Doctor Lawrence Boone in 1620. Later arrivals settled in Pennsylvania with William Penn and thence emigrated to every new region of North America. Some of the name being pioneers in nearly every state of the Union. George- town, D. C., named after George Boone who once owned the land where the city now stands. Religion : Mainly Quakers and Presby- terians. During the silent and dreadful march of many a fecund
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century, even for all of a thousand recorded years, men of the Boone name and blood have been up and doing, in high endeavor, in every clime of all the world.
In Wilkinson County, Georgia
Tradition is that some of the name emigrated from North Caro- lina and settled in Washington county, Georgia, about 1800 and thence into Wilkinson county about 1802.
Jacob Boone settled near what is now Toomsboro, Ga., about 1802.
Sallie Franklin, wife of Jacob Boone, daughter of George Franklin, a Baptist Preacher. George Franklin was son of Wil- liam Franklin, a Baptist preacher.
Sallie Mercer, wife of William Franklin was a sister of Silas and Jesse Mercer. Jesse Mercer was founder of Mercer University.
Children of Jacob Boone and Sallie Franklin : Daniel Mercer, Joseph Marvin, Ratleth, Edwin R., James, Freeman, John Mitch- ell, William, Henry, Robert, and Sallie, and two other sons, names unknown.
Of the above named children only the descendants of Daniel Mercer Boone and John Mitchell Boone now live in Wilkinson county. All of the other children of Jacob Boone and Sallie Frank- lin emigrated to other states, viz: William and Daniel Mercer to Louisiana, and others to Texas, Florida, Oregon and other places unknown.
John Mitchell Boone, son of Jacob Boone and Sallie Franklin. Died at Toomsboro, Ga., about 1890.
Lucretia Lord, wife of John Mitchell Boone, daughter of John Lord and Nancy Minton.
Children of John Mitchell Boone and Lucretia Lord : Thomas E., James, Frank.
Frank Boone, supra. Tax Collector Wilkinson county about 1880. Died at Indian Springs, Ga., about 1895.
James Boone, supra. Died at Chauncey, Ga., about 1900.
Thomas E. Boone, supra. Died at Toomsboro, Ga., 1929.
Katie Granade, wife of Thomas E. Boone, sister of Adam Granade.
Children of Thomas E. Boone and Katie Granade: James, Sal- lie, Ella.
Sallie Boone, supra. Wife of H. A. Watts.
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Children of H. A. Watts and Sallie Boone: Horace, Ellis, Em- mett and Elna May.
Maudelle Sanders, wife of Ellis Watts, supra.
Elna May Watts, supra, wife of J. B. Burke.
Daniel Mercer Boone, son of Jacob Boone and Sallie Franklin, grandson of William Franklin and Sallie Mercer. Emigrated to Louisiana about 1850.
Amelia Lord, wife of Daniel Mercer Boone, daughter of John Lord and Nancy Minton. Born 1813, died 1883.
John Lord, son of William Lord, father of Amelia Lord, supra. Born 1781.
Nancy Minton, supra. Wife of John Lord, born 1783.
Children of Daniel Mercer Boone and Amelia Lord, supra. : Joshua Minton, John David, Moses West, Jacob, Henry. Jacob and Henry died in youth. John David died 1892. No descendants.
Moses West Boone, supra. Died 1905 at Toomsboro.
Amanda Hooks, wife of Moses West Boone, daughter of John Hooks and Almety Etheridge.
Children of Moses West Boone and Amanda Hooks: Emma, Lula, Ethel, Pearl, Ben L.
Emma Boone, supra. Wife of John W. Smith. Lula, supra. Died 1905.
Ethel Boone, supra, wife of W. Wall.
Pearl Boone, supra. Wife of Henry C. Parker.
Henry Dell Parker, daughter of Pearl Boone and Henry C. Parker.
Ben L. Boone, supra. Son of Moses West Boone and Amanda Hooks.
Lydia Bloodworth, wife of Ben L. Boone, daughter of Timothy Bloodworth and Emma Collins. Bloodworth District No. 328 G. M. named in honor of foreparents of Lydia Bloodworth.
Children of Ben L. Boone and Lydia Bloodworth : Louise, Ben L., Jr., Henry, Edward, Robert, Mitchell, Ray Minton, Richard.
Joshua Minton Boone, son of Danial Mercer Boone and Amelia Lord. Grandson of Jacob Boone and Sallie Franklin. Gr. Gr. of George Franklin, Baptist preacher. Gr. Gr. Gr. of William Frank- lin and Sallie Mercer. Born Oct. 23rd, 1843. Died Oct. 19th, 1908. Confederate veteran. School teacher. Graduate Business College of Baltimore, Md. Farmer. Merchant. Justice of Peace
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330th District (Lord's). Mason. Minister of Christian church, held pastorates at Toomsboro and Butler school house in Wilkin- son county. Held many places of trust but of little profit. Died proud of the fact that he had never tried to amass wealth and that he had paid every debt owed 100 cents in the dollar. Student all of his days.
Lord's District, No. 330 G. M., Wilkinson county, named in honor of maternal gr. gr. grandfather of Joshua Minton Boone, viz : William Lord.
Sarah Elizabeth Ivey, widow of J. M. Davis of Savannah, Ga., wife of Joshua Minton Boone, daughter of James Ivey and Mary Barbee of Baldwin County, Ga. Ivey R. R. Station and Ivey 1505 G. M. District, Wilkinson county, so named in honor of Ivey family. Born 1848, married J. M. Davis, 1864. Married Joshua Minton Boone Oct. 23rd, 1873. Died Feb. 10th, 1887. Beloved.
Mary Barbee, supra. Family from North Carolina.
James Ivey, supra, husband of Mary Barbee, died 1869, of Welsh descent.
Anna Chambers, 2nd wife of Joshua Minton Boone, daughter of William I. Chambers of Irwinton, Ga.
Children born to Joshua Minton Boone and Sarah Elizabeth Ivey Davis Boone : Mamie Elizabeth, Edwin Mortimer, Gertrude, Alexander Stephens, Addie May, James Ivey.
Mamie Elizabeth Boone, supra. Born 1875, died 1887.
James Ivey Boone, supra. Died 1887.
Gertrude Boone, supra. Wife of Gerald Mercer.
Addie May Boone supra, born at Toomsboro, Ga., 1886. Mar- ried 1922 to Thomas MI. McIntosh of Weston, Miss. Member Christian Church.
Edwin Mortimer Boone, supra. Born Feb. 26th, 1877, at Toomsboro, Ga. Attended Elementary and Grammar Schools. At- tended Georgia Military College at Milledgeville, Ga. Member Town Council. Mayor Toomsboro. Merchant. Farmer. Mason. Member Christian Church.
Daisy Thomas, wife of Edwin Mortimer Boone, daughter of Ella Caston and W. F. Thomas. Born in Jackson, Butts County, Ga.
Children of Edwin Mortimer Boone and Daisy Thomas : Thomas, Sarah Elizabeth, Mary.
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Alexander Stephens Boone, supra. Born near Toomsboro, Oct. 3rd, 1882. Worked on farm until 20th year. Had but few months schooling. Clerk in store and Express Agent for seven years. Ap- pointed Special Agent for Census Dept. of Washington, D. C., in 1907. Member Town Council of Toomsboro 8 years. Appointed Post Master at Toomsboro on Nov. 20th, 1914. Re-appointed Post Master by President Woodrow Wilson on Feb. 4th, 1920. Nomi- nated for Clerk Superior Court, Feb. 4th, 1920. Nominated for Clerk Superior Court and re-appointed Postmaster on same date. Re-elected Clerk, 1924, Re-elected Clerk, 1928. Stood State Bar Examination June 27th, 1923. Admitted to Bar Ocmulgee Circuit on birthday, Oct. 3rd, 1923. Secretary Wilkinson County Bar As- sociation since 1925. Mason, for three years Worshipful Master Toomsboro Lodge No. 290 F. & A. M. Worshipful Master Wil- kinson County Masonic Association 1929-30. Consul Commander Sweet Gum Camp No. 281 Toomsboro, Ga., Consul Commander Elm Camp No. 510. W. O. W. McIntyre, Ga. Member Christian Church. Married Dec. 26th, 1906 to Opal Marie Meadows of Toomsboro, formerly of Siloam, Green County, Georgia.
Amongst his treasures are letters of commendation from High Government Officials in Washington, D. C., commending him in highest terms for efficient service in carrying out the War Program, in his vicinity, during the World War. Under his leadership it is believed that Toomsboro, Ga., led every town of its population and wealth in the U. S. A., in the celerity shown in getting it and in the amount of money furnished the Government during the World War.
Opal Marie Meadows Boone, supra, born in Greene County, Ga., Aug. 18th, 1889. Daughter of John E. Meadows and Mary Moore of Offerman, Ga., formerly of Greene and Taliaferro Counties. Both parents of Scotch-Irish descent. Served as Assistant Post Master at Toomsboro, Ga., from 1914 to 1920. Deputy Clerk Superior Court Wilkinson county twelve years. Member Christian Church.
Children of Alexander Stephens Boone and Opal Marie Mead- ows: James Minton, Alexander Stephens, Jr., Joseph Wilson, and Edwin Mercer.
James Minton Boone, supra. Born Toomsboro, Ga., Sept. 24th, 1907. Attended Elementary and High School at Toomsboro, Wil-
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kinson County High School at Irwinton. Clerk in Store in Tooms- boro and in Irwinton. Clerk in Post Office at Toomsboro. Clerk in office Clerk Superior Court. Clerk Board Tax Assessors Wilkinson County, 1929-30. Graduate Young Harris College, class 1929-30. Secretary Student Body Government. Member Phi Chi Society.
Alexander Stephens Boone, Jr., supra. Born at Toomsboro, Jan. 23rd, 1910. Attended elementary school at Toomsboro and Wil- kinson County High School at Irwinton. Served as Page State Sen- ate 1922. Clerk in Office Clerk Superior Court. Worked in office County Commissioners, Wilkinson County. Served as assistant to Clerk House of Representatives, 1929 session. Attended Young Harris Academy 1925. Freshman University of Ga., 1926-7. Grad- uate Young Harris College Class 1928-9. Honor student. Inter- collegiate Debater. Member Phi Chi Society. Successfully stood State Bar Examination at Madison, Ga., on Dec. 11th, 1929. Ad- mitted to Bar of Ocmulgee Circuit at Irwinton, April 7th, 1930. License as Attorney issued by father as Clerk of Court. Member Christian Church.
Joseph Wilson Boone, supra. Born at Toomsboro, Aug. 8, 1912. Attended Elementary Schools at Toomsboro. Graduated Wilkin- son County High School at Irwinton, Ga., Class 1929. President of Class and Valedictorian. Worked in Office of Clerk Superior Court. Worked in Office County Commissioners, Wilkinson County. Junior Young Harris College, Class 1929-30. Member Phi Chi Society.
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