USA > Georgia > Wilkinson County > History of Wilkinson County > Part 45
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IN RELIGION the Hatchers of Virginia were Episcopalians and so was John Hatcher when he came to Georgia but this being a pioneer country there were no churches of his faith, so he and his wife connected themselves with Mount Nebo Primitive Baptist Church which has now passed out of existence. The old church book now in possession of Mr. Reddick McCook records the dates of his
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reception and also the dates of his death and those of his wife and several children.
The children who lived were Jane Elizabeth, who married Thorpe; Willie Elizabeth, married Mitchell; Susan, married Mc- Michael; John, who moved to Dooly County; Robert, who moved to Randolph County ; and William Greene (named for General Na- thaniel Greene and Colonel William Candler) the youngest, mar . ried Elizabeth Webb of Hancock County and lived for a time in Wilkinson County where they were members of Myrtle Springs Baptist Church, afterward moving to Crawford County about 1832. William Greene Hatcher was accidentally killed by a runa- way horse in 1839. He had five children: Jerry B , Cicero R., John, Sara Jane, and Sidney William. Of Cicero R. Hatcher's children there is one now living in Macon, Georgia, George E., who married Kathleen Ayer and who have four children: Thomas Ayer, married Madge Kennon, George Edwin, Jr., Milford Burous, Hal Baskin.
Although all four of the sons of William Greene Hatcher served in the War Between the States, yet the war service in Wilkinson County of the youngest, Sidney William, is of especial interest to the people of the county.
First, while serving in Johnston's army, he was detailed for spe- cial duty in Mississippi returning to his command just after the Battle of Missionary Ridge. Being granted a furlough just before the Battle of Jonesboro, he was unable to rejoin his company but joined Prudden's Battery of State Militia at Milledgeville being given command of a piece of artillery. Upon Sherman's approach, the Battery, loading its ordnance upon flat cars, took the train by way of Gordon, and was there when J. R. Kelly paid his profane respects to General Wayne commanding the forces.
Upon their arrival at Oconee Bridge where a stand had been de- termined upon, to Hatcher's gun was given the most dangerous position of all, and the one which commanded the approach to the bridge. A barricade was hastily constructed by using a car of lumber which concealed the presence of the masked cannon.
Late in the afternoon the Federals advance guard appeared and firing became general with the exception of Hatcher's gun which remained silent. Upon the arrival of reinforcements the Yankees intent upon capturing the bridge charged down the track yelling as they came. It was then that Hatcher's gun unlimbered, pouring into
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the blue clad masses a hail of grape and canister with telling effect. Unable to advance in the face of it, the charge was abandoned and the attackers took refuge in the underbrush on either side of the railroad and now began pouring a hot fire upon the barricade where the gun was hidden, their sharpshooters picking off those manning the gun, at every opportunity.
For two or three days the intermittent fighting continued and even now there are many yet living in Wilkinson who remember hearing the booming of Hatcher's gun as he, within a few miles of Major John Hatcher's grave, when the cowardly convicts who had been liberated to serve in the army were deserting in a body, faced by overwhelming numbers, threatened by attack in the rear by de- tachments crossing at Balls Ferry, still stuck to his post of duty in a manner as would have been most pleasing to his grandfather, "The Fire-eater of Wilkinson."
Finally, as their retreat was about to be cut off, orders came to fall back to Savannah.
Sidney William Hatcher married Mary Lou Weathersby, of Jasper County, November 15th, 1865. They had seven children : Martha Louise, Albert Sidney, who married Susie May Rumph and his children are as follows: Albert Sidney, Jr .; Virginia, mar- ried Charles Haslam; Mary, married Grafton Smith; and Doro- thy, married Thomas Fontaine. Martha Louise, unmarried, a daugh- ter of Sidney William also lives in Macon, Georgia, as does Sidney William, Jr., who married Olive McWilliams. Cecil Greenway lives near Macon on the old plantation, formerly the home of his father, and is unmarried. Mary Lucile married Ralph Northcutt and lives at Marietta, Georgia. She has served as President of Marietta's Woman's Club ; State Chairman of Library Extension for Georgia Federation of Women's Clubs; State Chairman of Legislation for Georgia Parent-Teachers Association and was a delegate to the Na- tional Democratic Convention in New York in 1924. They have three children : Jane Weathersby, Helen Winters, and Mary Lucile Hatcher.
Reginald Weathersby Hatcher married. Lucy Wright, of Ports- mouth, Virginia, and lives at Milledgeville, Georgia, in an old co- lonial home with extensive grounds which he calls "Lockerley" af- ter the ancestral home of the Hatchers in England. He has four children : Lucy Wright, Mary Weathersby, Reginald Weathersby,
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Jr., and Lois Wright. He is a past President of the National Retail Hardware Association; Past President of the Southeastern Hard- ware Association and of the Georgia Retail Hardware Association ; Past Exalted Ruler of Milledgeville Lodge Benevolent and Protec- tive Order of Elks ; and is at present Vice-President of the Georgia Anti-Tuberculosis Association ; Vice-President Catholic Laymen's Association of Georgia; and President of John Milledge Chapter Sons of the American Revolution at Milledgeville.
THE HICKS FAMILY
John Hodgers Hicks was born Feb. 16, 1792, in S. C .. After his marriage to Rebecca Smith came to Wilkinson County, Ga., where he lived to the age of 94 years. They were the parents of William, Daniel, John, James, Caroline, Sarah Ann and Jane. All four of the sons served in the Confederate Army. William and Daniel being killed in service. John married Millie Fleetwood, lived in Irwinton a number of years. The girls married Gettes, Smith, Grandberrie, respectively.
James Charles Hicks, the youngest, while in school at Cuthbert married Susan Wesley Shepherd, 1860, the daughter of Henry Shepherd of Randolph county. They came to Wilkinson settling just off Ridge Road midway between Gordon and McIntyre.
In May, 1861, he enlisted in Confederate army. After the war with exception of a few years they lived the remainder of their lives in Wilkinson rearing a family of four. Namely, Laura Cor- nelia, born Feb. 7, 1862, married D. P. Hollomon of McIntyre ; William Oscar, born 1866, married Leila Lewis and moved to Sa- vannah. Their one child is Madge Hicks Sisterheimn of Savannah.
Mary Emma, born 1868, married Edward Jackson Helton of Wilkinson. Their living family, Dr. J. B. Helton of Gordon ; W. L. Helton, Danville; Ernest Helton, Savannah; Cora Helton, Lillie Helton Holland, both of McIntyre; Eula Helton Kingery, St. Petersburg, Fla.
Willie Olive, born 1870, married Pleman Shepherd of Wilkin- son and moved to Fla. Their children, James Shepherd, Effie Shep- herd Murphey, Alice Shepherd Blaine, Susan Shepherd Griner, all of St. Petersburg.
James Charles Hicks, born Oct. 12, 1835, died Jan. 13, 1920, at
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the age of 84 years. Mrs. Hicks died only 112 mo. later at age of 80 yrs. He enlisted as a private in Co. I of the 3rd Ga. Regiment. He was corporal and later color bearer, seeing service in both Ist and 2nd Manasas and the terrible battle at Gettysburg. He car- ried the flag from Barnesville's retirement Feb. 6, 1865, to the sur- render at Appomattox Court House, Va., April 9, 1865. He was the 5th color bearer of the 3rd Regiment of the Ga. Volunteer In- fantry of the Confederate army. His flag is now in the Capitol at Atlanta. After a faithful 4 yr. service at war he came home a farmer and a grand example of the man who lived in the house by the side of the road and was a friend to man. He was buried near his home in the family cemetery.
(By a Member of the Family. )
HOLLOMON (HOLLIMAN) FAMILY
David Hollomon, Sr., grandfather of James Hollomon, came from Maryland to Putnam County, Ga., shortly after the Revolu- tionary war. (See old manuscript in hands of E. J. Holliman, Mc- Intyre, Ga.)
David, Jr., father of John, James, Virgil, Frank, Joseph, Mary Ann, Jane, Thomas and Andrew Hollomon, was born in Putnam county in 1804 and was married to Sarah Branan of said county in 1822. He then moved to Wilkinson county near Red Level Church where he died in 1858.
All seven of the above brothers were soldiers in the War Be- tween the States, Virgil being killed in service. John moved to Ran- dolph county, Ga. James visiting him, met and married Ann Caro- line, daughter of Edward P. Thompson, on Dec. 4, 1851.
Edward Thompson, before his marriage to Eliza Butler, studied medicine. After moving from South Carolina to Ga., later to Ala- bama and finally settling in south Ga., gave up his practice of medi- cine and lived a tiller of the soil. He reared a family of four girls and five boys. The boys all served in the Confederate army, two of whom were killed in service.
In 1856 James Hollomon and family came to Wilkinson county from Randolph in covered wagons and settled near Red Level Church below Irwinton. From there he went into service 1861 to 1865 the end of the war.
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After the war James Hollomon and family settled at what is now the Old Hollomon Homestead four miles northwest of Mc- Intyre. It was there the family lived a quiet, honorable, honest, peace loving, busy life of a farmer.
They were the parents of Derril P. Hollomon, born Sept. 21, 1852 (died May 15, 1926) who married Laura Cornelia Hicks of Wilkinson county May 12, 1882, whose children are as follows : J. E., I. P., and O. D. Hollomon of McIntyre ; J. H. Hollomon of Toomsboro; Dr. D. P. Hollomon of Unadilla; one daughter An- nie H. Trapnell of McIntyre; Miss Alice Hollomon, born 1854 (died 1915) ; Edward Japeth, born Dec., 1855, married Allie Branan of Wilkinson County. They have no children ; Etta Hollo- mon, born April, 1867, who married Fountain, has one living child, Robert.
The Confederate soldier, James H. Hollomon, born July 2Ist, 1828, enlisted as a private in Company I, 57 Regiment of the Ga. Volunteers under Captain G. W. Bishop in 1861. He served the greater part of his time in the Western Division of the Confederate army. He was in battles fought in the states of Mississippi, Ten- nessee and north Georgia. He served faithfully to the end of the war. Died at the age of seventy-one years, July, 1899.
(Note) The correct spelling of the name is Hollomon not Holli- man as the younger generation is now using.
(By a member of the family.)
CHARLES HOOKS'
Throughout the history of Wilkinson County the Hooks family has held a prominent place and the County History would be in- complete without mention of Charles Hooks.
His father, John Hooks, was one of the earliest settlers of Wil- kinson and was one of those hardy pioneers who found here a wil- derness and wrought out of that wilderness a glorious land of pros- perity and happiness of ante-bellum days.
John Hooks' ancestors were of English descent and they settled first in Duplin County, North Carolina. Later, about the time of the Revolution, they migrated to Georgia. John's wife was Katie Sum- merford, of Creek Indian descent and traces of the Indian features may occasionally be seen in members of the family.
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Charles, one of seven children, was born in Wilkinson County in 1823 and received a plain English education during the inter- vals of labor at farming. Prior to the War he was rapidly winning for himself a reputation for ability among the people of the county. During these years he was a Whig in politics. Among the things he advocated, which at the time seemed visionary to most people, but which have since been adopted, though he never lived to see them so, were a Compulsory Education Law and a Prohibition Law. In fact he was one of the original prohibitionists of Wilkinson and favored it when it was very unpopular to do so.
When the vote on Secession came up in 1860 he was strongly opposed to it and helped carry the county against seceding from the Union. Two of his sons promptly enlisted in the 3rd Georgia Regiment, one of whom, John, was killed at Spottsylvania Court- house.
On the passage of the Reconstruction Laws by Congress he advocated their acceptance as the best policy and was chosen a delegate to the State Constitutional Convention of 1867-'8 and took part in the framing of the Constitution by that body. In 1868 he announced for the Legislature as an advocate of the Recon- struction Laws and was elected. In 1870, Joel Coney opposed him in the race on the Democratic ticket but he was again elected, this time with a three hundred majority. After this term was over he retired from active participation in politics. Those who yet re- member Charles Hooks speak of that ever present courtesy, which characterized his every contact with his fellowman. In his declining years he bore about him that gentility and refinement so often seen in the gentry of the old South.
He was married three times, first to Miss Honeycutt ; second, to Ardilsia Taylor; third, to Epsy Beck. His children were :
John; Augustus, m. Kate Thomas; James, m. Sarah Methvin ; Fannie, m. William Bozeman; Emma, m. Thomas G. Porter ; Ella, m. Ist John Clark, 2nd W. Quinley; Marietta, m. D. Franklin Sanders; Charles M., m. Missouri Sanders; Thomas H., m. Ist Electa Todd, 2nd Eva Wolf; William G., m. Lucy Palmer; Lada E., m. Ist J. L. Freeman, 2nd B. Asbell. Of these only two, Charles M. and Mrs. Asbell, are residents of the county.
J. W. HOOKS
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HISTORY OF WILKINSON COUNTY
JOHN WESLEY HOOKS
The only son of John Wesley and Irene (Ridley) Hooks, who were married in Wilkinson County, August 19, 1845, but later moved to Dooly County, was born in the latter county August 10, 1860. Reared at a time when education was more expensive than the southern planter could well provide, he received only a common school education and at the age of eighteen, left home to make his way in the world. His first work was clerking for a mercantile firm in the city of Macon. On September 10, 1880, he entered the em- ploy of the Central Railroad, and continued in the service of the same company as a locomotive engineer forty-seven years. On June 25, 1889, in the Gordon Methodist Church, he was married to Miss Minnie Sanders, daughter of King and Bethany (Leslie) Sanders, pioneer citizens of Gordon. They first made their home in Macon then Augusta and later Savannah, as Mr. Hooks received promo- tion in his capacity as a locomotive engineer. During these years he had the distinction of pulling the famous "Nancy Hanks" the crack flyer of that day between Atlanta and Savannah. On the morning of September 10, 1904, while running passenger train No. 4 from Macon to Savannah, the engine ran into an open switch at Rocky Ford, and turned over, from which he received a personal injury that incapacitated him for regular service. Being granted a leave of absence by the railroad company in 1906, Mr. and Mrs. Hooks moved to Gordon and built a home of "Colonial" architecture, giv - ing it an Indian name "Sowania" which means strictly Southern, and has been the scene of many brilliant social functions. Later Mr. Hooks erected a modern store building, stocked and operated for ten years one of Gordon's most up-to-date mercantile establishments.
Mr. Hooks, although a staunch Democrat has never entered deeply into politics but was twice elected alderman and served two terms as mayor of Gordon and during his administration inaugu- rated the first sanitary department, using the primitive ox and cart, which has later developed into a modern auto truck. As a mark of appreciation of his value to Gordon one of the streets is named in his honor. Progressive in thought, he is always ready to do everything for the advancement of the people of the town and county. He has spent his time, talent and money for the betterment of this section and has aided materially in pushing forward the wheels of progress
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in Gordon, having been largely responsible for the Pyne Tree Pa- per Mill being located here.
But after all the greatest measure of value to Gordon of John Wesley Hooks as a citizen is not his material achievements for the community. Rather it is the life of the man himself. Quiet, unas- suming, gentle in manner, he goes the even tenor of his way and like Thomas Jefferson he believes in covering people's faults with the broad mantle of Christian charity.
He is a prince among men and as Mr. Darden Asbury, passenger agent of the Southern Pacific Railroad said of him in an introduc- tory letter to a friend "He is a regular Chesterfield." In Wilkinson County's galaxy of great names his is a star of the first magnitude. But just lovable "Uncle John" to all the young folks and to the writer of this sketch, John Wesley Hooks deserves the title of first citizen of Gordon, where he is now living in retirement, having been granted a life pension by his beloved Central of Georgia Rail- road.
( MRS. GERTRUDE SANDERS GILLESPIE. )
MRS. JOHN WESLEY HOOKS
Mrs. Minnie Sanders Hooks was born in Gordon, Ga., Nov. II, 1870, daughter of King and Bethany (Leslie) Sanders. Mrs. Hooks' father in her own words, was "an honest man," her mother "a very great lady, unknown to fame." Mrs. Hooks' grandfather, Malachi Sanders, was a veteran of the War of 1812, and on her mother's side, she is descended from the Tysons of the Revolution- ary War. Her eldest brother died in Virginia, while serving in the War Between the States. Mrs. Hooks joined the Gordon Methodist Church, August 1887, and was married in the same church June 25, 1889, to John Wesley Hooks, going immediately thereafter to Macon to make her home. No children have blessed this union, but the devotion existing between Mr. and Mrs. Hooks is fully realized by their friends and acquaintances.
Since early womanhood Mrs. Hooks has interested herself in woman's affairs. While living in Macon she was a member of the King's Daughters and was an active member of the Auxiliary to the Y. M. C. A. She was also a charter member of the Auxiliary to the B. of L. E. of which she was the third president and a rep- resentative to the St. Louis, Mo. convention.
MRS. J. W. HOOKS
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The love for the old home being so strong in the breast of Mrs. Hooks, in March 1906, she with her husband returned to Gordon to live where she has ever since been closely identified with civic movements and benevolent organizations of many sorts and has sought at all times to align herself intelligently and consistently with the affairs of her home, community and environments.
She was a charter member of the Gordon Eastern Star and served one term as Worthy Matron. To her belongs the honor of organizing the Wimodausis Club, now the Woman's Club and was the first President. In Nov. 1927, she was elected President of the Tenth District of the Georgia Federation of Woman's Clubs and was Trustee two years of the Tallulah Falls School owned and operated by the Club Women of Georgia. Mrs. Hooks has represented the Club as a delegate to the General Federation con- ventions in New York, Hot Springs, Ark., Chautauqua, N. Y., Los Angeles, Cal., and San Antonio, Texas, and several State Con- ventions. She organized and was elected the first President of the Wilkinson County Chapter, U. D. C.
She was appointed by the State Regent, the Organizing Regent of the John Ball Chapter, D. A. R., of which she was the first Reg- ent and with the assistance of the Charter members developed it immediately to high standing among the other chapters. As a mark of the love and esteem of the members of the chapter, in March, 1929, following suitable ceremonies in her honor, a cedrus deodara was planted on the courthouse lawn commemorating the success she had made as Regent of the Chapter. When the Chapter assumed the great undertaking of publishing this History, it was imperative that a leader be chosen to head the publishing committee, one who possessed untiring energy, the ability to inspire enthusiasm, a leader whom the other members would follow, one who would not seek sclf aggrandizement, profit or fame, but who would submerge her own personal interests and throw her whole heart, soul, and being into the accomplishment of the task. This Mrs. Hooks has done. To her the Chapter is indebted for the success of the venture.
During the World War her services for the Red Cross never ceased.
While Mrs. Hooks has never been abroad she has traveled ex- tensively through the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Mrs. Hooks is above all else a devoted wife; her unswerving
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loyalty to her friends and to her ideals, her sense of fairness and justice in all her work and her deep interest in all civic and cul- tural work has made her a valuable citizen of Gordon and Wil- kinson County.
ELI BARTOW HUBBARD
Among the descendants of John Nunn, who fought in the Revo- lutionary War, and who is buried at Nunn and Wheeler Cemetery in Wilkinson County, is Eli Bartow Hubbard. The relationship is traceable as follows: Among the children of John Nunn was one daughter named Susan. This daughter first married a Manderson, and then after her first husband's death she married Neri Wheeler, who is also buried at Nunn and Wheeler Cemetery in Wilkinson County. Susan Wheeler lived to be One Hundred and one years old. She is remembered by Mrs. Martha Elizabeth Grenade of this county, who is now living, and who gave the author this infor- mation. Susan Wheeler had one daughter by the name of Addie- line, who married Robert F. Adams, among her several children was one by the name of Francis. Francis Adams married James Allen Hubbard, who are the parents of Eli Bartow Hubbard.
The Nunns and Wheelers came to Georgia from South Caro- lina prior to the year 1776 and later settled in Bloodworth Dis- trict in Wilkinson County.
Eli Bartow Hubbard was born January 16th, 1882, just across the line of Wilkinson in Baldwin County, Georgia. He attended the public schools of Baldwin until the age of thirteen years, when his father placed him on a farm. He farmed for several years, and at the age of thirty-three years he began the study of law while working on his farm. He was admitted to the Bar on July 19th, 1916, and immediately moved to Wilkinson County, on a farm, which he purchased from the McDaniel estate near Gordon. He married Bessie Williams, the daughter of Edward and Rebecca Williams of this county on Nov. 5th, 1916. Mr. and Mrs. Hub- bard have two children, Frances Rebecca and Josephine Elizabeth, both having been born on the McDaniel farm near Gordon. He continued to reside on this farm until 1921, when he moved to Gordon. During the year 1922, he organized and established at Gordon The Wilkinson County News, a weekly newspaper. He
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edited this paper in connection with his law practice until 1925. He served Wilkinson county as county attorney for the years 1922- '23-'24 and '25, and again from 1928 to the present time. He was elected as Representative of Wilkinson county in the General As- sembly of the State of Georgia for the years 1929-1930. During his service as Representative in the 1929 session of the General As- sembly he introduced and secured a favorable report from the Com- mittee the following bills of general operation throughout the State: A Bill to exempt farm lands from taxation, House Bill No. 130. A Bill to provide for a special lien for laborers, House Bill No. 404. A Bill to place the Public Road from Irwinton to Wrightsville on the State Highway system. House Bill No. 319 and also to eliminate the county site to county site provision from the State Aid Road laws. This last named bill was passed by substitute known as the Traylor-Neal Bill. Among the committees he served on were Appropriations, Judiciary No. 2, State Sanitarium, Engrossing. None of these bills were placed on the calendar for passage for the reason that tax bills were given the preference, and very few bills other than revenue bills of a general nature were placed on the calendar for passage.
(Autobiography )
REV. GREEN BERRY HUGHS INDIAN FIGHTER-BAPTIST PREACHER
William Thomas Hughs, grandfather of Green B. Hughs, emi- grated to Georgia from Ireland about the time of the Revolutionary War, reaching here when he was nine years of age. He later mar- ried Ann, the daughter of Joel and Elizabeth (Hitchcock) Childs, and became one of the early settlers of Wilkinson County. In 1811 we find him Tax Receiver of the County. He and his wife raised a large family of children, among them being, John Hughs, who married Margaret White and settled about eight miles southwest of Irwinton. He became a member of New Providence Baptist Church several miles distant from his home. Recognizing the need for a church in his own community, he induced others to unite with him in organizing Bethel Baptist Church. The newly con- stituted church at once called Mr. Hughs to the pastorate and re- quested New Providence to ordain him as a minister. For eleven
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