DANIEL APPLING
Daniel Appling a sterling patriot and gallant soldier, was born in Columbia county, August 29, 1787. Another authority gives the date of his birth as August 25. His father, John Appling, was a native of Virginia, and on coming to Georgia settled in what was at that time Richmond, now Columbia county. His mother, Rebecca (Carter) Appling, was a daughter of Gen. Langdon Carter, a prominent citizen of Virginia, who became one of the pioneer settlers in Tennessee. John Appling was intimately connected with the Cobbs, Crawfords, Fews, Candlers, Lamars and Hamiltons, whose descendants have so nobly illustrated Georgia in every period of her history. With these men, he soon became prominent in State and county affairs, and was chosen a member of the Convention which met at Louisville, then the capital, in 1795, to amend the constitution of the State. He was also conspicuous in his opposition to the Yazoo Fraud.

Daniel Appling was educated in private schools of Columbia county, which at that time were said to be the best in the State. He finished his education under that eminent, distinguished and eccentric teacher, Dr. Bush, (whose real name was Bushnell), said to be the most classic and scientific teacher of his day, in Georgia. Young Appling received not only a good English education, but obtained a fair knowledge of Greek and Latin.

In 1805, at the age of eighteen, he enlisted in the regular army of the United States and was commissioned lieutenant. For a little while he was a recruiting officer and was then stationed at Fort Hawkins, a fort on the Ocmulgee River opposite the present city of Macon. His commanding officer was Capt. (later General) Thomas A. Smith. In the Indian troubles then prevalent, young Appling distinguished himself. From Fort Hawkins his command was ordered to Point Peter on the St. Mary's River on the southern border. Here on several occasions he proved himself an efficient officer and daring soldier. His military fame, however, was firmly established by his exploits in the War of 1812, first at the battle of Sandy Creek, near Sackett's Harbor, on Lake Erie, in 1814. History records no exploit that is surpassed by the brilliant achievements of that occasion. Captain Woolsey left the port of Oswego the 28th of May, with eighteen boats loaded with naval stores designed for Sackett's Harbor. He was accompanied by Major Appling, with one hundred and thirty of the Rifle Regiment, and about the same number of friendly Indians. They reached Sandy Creek on the next day, where they were discovered by the British gunboats, and in consequence entered the creek. The riflemen were immediately landed and posted in an ambuscade. The enemy ascended the creek and landed a party, which endeavored to ascend the bank. The rifleman arose from their concealment, pouring a fire upon them, so that in less than ten minutes the British surrendered, officers and all. Major Appling lost only one man. As spoils he gained three gunboats and several small vessels, fully equipped. For his conduct in this affair, Appling was brevetted lieutenant-colonel, and when Colonel Forsyth was killed, he was transferred to the command of his regiment.

In the attack on Plattsburg, Colonel Appling with his riflemen and Indians rendered a most important service. The British General Prevost, with 14,000 men marched into New York to attack Plattsburg while an English squadron was to attack the American squadron on the lake. Fighting was commenced on the lake, the Americans achieving quite a victory. In the meantime, the small land forces held the 14.000 English veterans in check. Prevost, hearing of the naval victory, when the Americans headed by Appling made a determined charge, hastily retired, leaving his sick, wounded, and military stores, and hastened into Canada to prevent his own capture. "Though the panegyric of general orders is sometimes liable to suspicion" said a brave comrade of his, "those who know Colonel Appling well see in the commendation bestowed on him only a just tribute to the merit of a most gallant soldier and honorable man."

When the war ended Appling returned to Georgia, receiving the congratulations of his countrymen. On October 22, 1814, the Georgia Legislature in session passed the following resolution: "While the Legislature of Georgia views with a lively sensation the glorious achievements of the American arms generally, they can not but felicitate themselves particularly on the recollection of the heroic exploits of the brave and gallant Lieut.Col. Daniel Appling, whom the State is proud to acknowledge her native son, and as a tribute of applause from the State which gave him birth, a tribute due to the luster of his actions, be it unanimously resolved that his Excellency, the Governor, be, and he is hereby requested to have purchased and presented to him an elegant sword suitable for an officer of his grade."

Before the resolution was carried into effect Colonel Appling died on March 18, 1818. The next legislature resolved, however, to have the sword purchased and deposited in the Executive Chamber, there to be preserved and exhibited as a lasting memorial of Colonel Appling's fame. For more than fifty years' this sword was kept in the Executive Office, first at Milledgeville, and later at Atlanta. In 1880, under Governor McDaniel's administration, the Georgia Legislature by resolution, made the Georgia Historical Society of Savannah the permanent custodian of the sword. It hangs on the wall of the society library.

On December 15 following Colonel Appling's death in March, 1818, a new county was created in South Georgia and named Appling in his honor. When in 1826 the county seat of his native county was incorporated, it was also called Appling in memory of his distinguished services. There is some uncertainty as to the exact date of Colonel Appling's death, the accepted authority being the date given above, and another who wrote in 1829, stating that he died on March 5, 1817. Whatever the correct date, it is certain that he was cut off at about the age of thirty, leaving behind him a brilliant reputation as a soldier and a patriot of the strongest character.
Source: "Men of Mark in Georgia: a complete and elaborate history..." Volume 2 By William J. Northern - Submitted by Barb Ziegenmeyer

Hershel Joseph Parker
Parker, Hershel Joseph, a successful merchant of Baxley and incumbent of the office of school commissioner of Appling county, was born on the homestead plantation in Laurens county, Ga., Nov. 2, 1878, and is a son of Jasper and Mary A. (Jones) Parker, both born in that county. At the inception of the Civil war the father went forth in the defense of the cause of the Confederacy, enlisting in a Georgia regiment and continuing in the ranks until the close of the great internecine conflict between the states. Thereafter he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, becoming one of the successful planters of Laurens county, where he died in the year 1878, his wife coming to Appling county in 1881. The subject of this review passed his boyhood and early youth on the home farm, and after duly availing himself of the advantages of the public schools of Appling, including the high school at Baxley, he entered, in 1896, Tifton institute, at Tifton, Tift county, where he took a general course. In the meanwhile, in 1894, he had become a teacher in the public schools of his native county, meeting with distinctive success in the pedagogic profession, to which he continued to give his attention until 1904, when he was compelled to abandon the work by reason of his impaired health. In that year he was granted a state teacher's license, by W. B. Merritt, state school commissioner, the examination having been held in Baxley. In 1905 Mr. Parker engaged in the general merchandise business in Baxley, where he has a well appointed establishment and has built up a very prosperous enterprise. He is a stanch adherent of the Democratic party and takes a loyal interest in its cause. His interest in educational affairs continues unabating, and on Dec. 30, 1905, the board of education of Appling county showed marked appreciation of his eligibility by appointing him to the office of county school commissioner, in which position he is according most excellent service. He and his wife are zealous members of the Methodist Episcopal church South, and he is affiliated with the following named organizations: Holmesville Lodge, No. 195, Free and Accepted Masons; Appling County Lodge, No. 216, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; and Baxley Lodge, No. 48, Knights of Pythias. On Jan. 3, 1906, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Parker to Miss Frankie Bennett, daughter of Henry A. and Isabel (Leggett) Bennett, well known residents of Appling county.
Source: Cyclopedia of Georgia Transcribed by Friends for Free Genealogy

Milikin, Benjamin, editor and publisher of the Jesup Sentinel, is recognized as one of the leading business men and influential citizens of Wayne county. He was born in Appling county, Ga., Dec. 13, 1842, and is a son of Frederick S. and Malvina (Leggett) Milikin, the former of whom was born in Scarborough, Me., and the latter in Georgia. The father was a farmer and mechanic and both he and his wife passed the closing years of their lives in Appling county. Benjamin Millikin has been the architect of his own fortunes and has also been largely self-educated, being a man of strong intellectuality and forceful individuality. He attended the common schools of Appling and Liberty counties as opportunity afforded and was actively identified with agricultural pursuits at the time when the dark cloud of Civil war spread its grewsome pall over a divided nation. He loyally responded to the first call of the Confederacy, enlisting on Aug. 2T, 1861, as a private in Company I, Twenty-seventh Georgia volunteer infantry, and serving with this command until February, 1863, when he was honorably discharged, on account of wounds received in battle. In April, 1864, though he had been pronounced permanently disabled, he again entered the service, becoming captain of Company E, Symons' regiment, Sixth Georgia reserves. He was captured by Sherman's forces at the capitulation of Savannah and was finally taken to the Federal prison at Fort Delaware, where he was confined until June, 1865, when he was liberated, having stubbornly refused to secure freedom by taking the oath of allegiance prior to that time. His abiding interest in his old comrades is signified by his membership in and enthusiastic appreciation of the United Confederate Veterans, having been president of the Wayne county association of the same from the time of its organization to the present, also being the first and only commandant of Camp Harrison, No. 1125, of this noble order. In his youth Captain Milikin was for a time engaged in teaching school, having inaugurated his pedagogic efforts before he had attained to the age of twelve years and having been very successful. After the war he again turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, with which he has since been identified, being the owner of a valuable landed estate, in Wayne and Appling counties. Since 1889 he has been editor and publisher of the Jesup Sentinel, which is the accredited organ of Wayne county and an excellent exponent of local interests. He is also associated with his son in the fertilizer, fencing and agricultural implement business, in Jesup, and they also handle carriages, buggies, wagons, etc. The captain served as judge of the inferior court of Appling county and was one of the first county commissioners of that county, where he also served as county school commissioner, having ever maintained a deep interest in educational affairs. He was president of the board of education of Wayne county, was the first president of the school board of Jesup, and at the present time is representing his county in the state legislature, having been elected in 1904, for a term of two years. He has served as a member of the board of aldermen of Jesup and has ever shown a loyal interest in all that touches the general welfare of the town and county. He was several times chairman of the Democratic executive committee of Wayne county and was later chairman of the Populist executive committee, having been the nominee of this party for representative of his district in Congress in 1896, and for comptroller general in 1898. He is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity and served ten years as worshipful master of Holmesville Lodge, No. 195, Free and Accepted Masons. On June 24, 1868, Captain Milikin was united in marriage to Miss Martha Hopps, daughter of Hon. Daniel G. and Frances (Bennett) Hopps, of Appling county, and of the fifteen children of this union eight are living.
[Source: Georgia Comprising Sketches of Counties, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons,  Vol 2, Publ 1906. Transcribed by Tracy McAllister]

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