Judge S. A. Roddenbery, of Thomasville, sitting Member of Congress from the Second District, now filling his second term, is a young man of forty-one, who has filled many public positions with credit, and is continually adding to his reputation. He was born on January 12, 1870, on his father's farm in Decatur county.

His father, Dr. Seaborn Roddenbery, was a physician, a merchant, and a farmer and unusually successful in these widely different lines.

Reared on the farm, young Koddeubery grew up devoted to outdoor life; his leisure hours were spent in camp, hunting, fishing and other outdoor pursuits, which notwithstanding the smallness of his stature gave him unusual strength and vigor. His father, a wise man, required him to do regular work upon the farm, at proper seasons, and paid him stipulated wages, in order to teach him the value and use of money in this way the lad was taught frugality and prepared for a life of selfreliance.

Dr. Roddenbery settled in Cairo, of which town he became Mayor, and young Roddenbery had the advantages afforded by the public schools in prosecuting his studies. From these schools he went to Mercer University, at Macon, with a view to taking a full college course, but owing to the failure of his father's health he withdrew from college at the age of eighteen and began teaching in a country school.

In 1891, being then just past twenty-one, he was elected to the Lower House of the General Assembly, and served two sessions. From 189-1 to 1896 he served as United States Commissioner. He had, in the meantime, read law, and in 1897 he was appointed by Governor Atkinson Judge of the County Court of Thomas county. He also served as Mayor of Thomasville for two successive terms. All these years he had been making character; he had gained the reputation of a man of strong convictions, who would never compromise. A strenuous believer in the abolition of the liquor traffic, he had been one of the most active factors in the work of securing the passage of the present Prohibition Law of the State. He has served as Chairman of the Board of Education of his county, for which position he was especially well qualified.

Of a social temperament, he easily made friends. At college he had become a member of the Alpha Tan Omega college fraternity; a little later he had been made a Mason, and had affiliated with the Knights of Pythias, the Odd Fellows, and the Elks. He served in the Masonic fraternity as Worshipful Master, and takes high rank in all the other organizations of which he is a member. His philosophy of life has been, not to see how much he can get out of the institutions with which he is connected, but how much he can put in.

His position upon the liquor question is thoroughly logical and consistent. Early in life he had noted the downfall of men and boys who came under the influence of the saloon (as he himself puts it), and he determined not only to save himself but to do his utmost to save others. He believes that ultimately we can secure national legislation along this line.

Upon the death of Judge James M. Griggs, who had for long years represented the Second District in Congress, Judge Roddenbery announced his candidacy for the vacant position. To the surprise of those who did not know him he won easily, but it was not surprising to those who knew the man. He was reelected without difficulty, and is now serving his second term.

Judge Roddenbery was married on November 5, 1891, when but little past twenty-one, to Miss Johnnie Butler. They have five children.
 A. B. CALDWELL.
Source: Men of Mark in Geogia

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McCaskill, John Calvin, a prominent business man of Bainbridge, was born at Camden, Kershaw county, S. C., April 13, 1862.  His parents, Allen and Margaret Caroline (McFarland) McCaskill, were both natives of the Old Palmetto State, the former having been born at Camden in 1832 and the latter at Cheraw in 1837.  The grandparents of J. C McCaskill were all natives of the Isle of Skye, County Inverness, Scotland.  They left their native land about the year 1817 and came to America.  For generations the family have been members of the Presbyterian church, many of the male representatives having held the offices of deacon, elder, etc., and nearly all have been farmers by occupation.  Allen McCaskill was a valiant soldier in the Confederate army during the Civil war.  He enlisted on Nov. 14, 1861, in Company A, Seventh South Carolina battalion , Haygood’s brigade, Hoke’s division, and in 1862 was made  first lieutenant upon the occasion of the first vacancy in that office in the company.  His command was engaged around the forts at Charleston, S. C., during the bombardment and was in numerous skirmishes until April, 1864, when it was ordered to Petersburg, Va.  Here it was under heavy fire until May 16, when it participated in the battle of Drewry’s Bluff, one of the hottest engagements of the war.  On June 3, 186, Captain Lucas lost an arm and Lieutenant McCaskill was made captain of the company, continuing in command until the end of the war, surrendering with Gen. J. E. Johnston at Greensboro, N. C.  John D. McCaskill, a younger brother of Allen, was also a soldier in the Confederate service, enlisting when he ws not quite sixteen years of age.  He was severely wounded at Petersburg, a minie ball passing through his right breast, though he recovered from the effects of the injury and is still living.  John C. McCaskill received his education by attending the district schools a few months each winter from 1868 to 1871.  At the age of eight years he began to make a regular “plow hand,” and remained on his father’s farm until he attained to his majority. He then engaged in the naval stores business as an operator and has been connected with this line of industry ever since.  He is a director in the Decatur county bank; president of the Bainbridge Hardwood Company; president of the Cliett Hardware Company, of Bainbridge; president of the Bainbridge Live Stock Insurance Company, and is regarded as a successful man of affairs-one whose counsel is to be sought and advice heeded in matters of an important business nature.  Mr. McCaskill is a Democrat in his political affiliations and in religious matters follows the faith of his ancestors, being a member of the Presbyterian church.  He is a prominent figure in fraternal circles, being a member of Orion Lodge No. 8, Free and Accepted Masons; Austin Chapter, No. 18, Royal Arch Masons; Ivanhoe Commandery, No. 10, Knights Templars; Alee Temple, ancient and Accepted Order, Nobles of the mystic Shrine; Bainbridge Lodge, No. 32, Knights of Pythias, and Lodge No. 986, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.  On Jan. 13, 1887, Mr. McCaskill was united in marriage to Miss Emma, daughter of Robert and Mary (Mauk) Powell, of Garland, Ala.  This union has been blessed with the following children:  Lewis, aged eighteen; (1906) Allen, fifteen; Harry, thirteen; John C., Jr., ten; Charles, five; and Ralph, two.
[Source: Georgia Comprising Sketches of Counties, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons,  Vol 2, Publ 1906. Transcribed by Renae Donaldson]