Lamar County, Georgia Genealogy and History - Presented by Genealogy Trails History Group

Gideon Barnes

Gideon Barnes was born in Southampton County, Virginia, Dec. 2, 1791. In his young manhood he moved to Jones County, Georgia, where he married Miss Sarah Crawford Raiford. In 1326, he came to the new county, Pike (now Lamar), and made his home in an unsettled locality still frequented by Indians and wild beasts. A white man by the name of Jenks had acquired a tract of land on which Mr. Barnes desired to settle, so he bought the land from Jenks with money obtained by the sale of a horse. With all the energy and adaptability of a pioneer, he built a double log house with a floor of hewn logs.

Whether the young wife accompanied him on his first trip into the wilderness is not known. It is probable that he came alone and returned for her after the house was built. In recalling the experiences of this period of his life in after years, he said when he arrived at the site of Barnesville his only possession in the way of furnishings were a tin cup, two pewter plates, one blanket and a cow hide. His house was built at the intersection of two Indian trails, and by trading with the passing red men he soon established a thriving business.

He made a journey to his old home in Virginia and brought back with him three mules and two slaves, Bob and Sallie. He also brought the first chickens into this section and a young apple tree, which he planted in front of his house. He built a log store across the road from his residence and established a stage line between his place of business and the town of Columbus, on the Chattahoochee river; While the slave man, Bob, drove the stage coach, his wife, Sallie, became famous for the gingercakes which she baked and sold to the Indians and passing pioneers.

Willis J. Milner, Josiah Holmes, John Wellmaker and others bought land in the vicinity. Farms were opened; travel and trade increased; the little settlement in the woods became a real community. Additions to the first residence of Gideon Barnes converted it into "Tavern," around which a village grew and began to be called Barnesville.

To Gideon Barnes and Sarah Raiford Barnes five childien were born. The three daughters were Mrs. Maria Louisa Barnes Sneed, Mrs. Millicent W. Barnes Graddick, and Mrs. Virginia Barnes Keifer. The two sons were Frederick N. Barnes and Augustus G. Barnes. Millicent Barnes was married to Reddick Graddick at his early age of twelve years. With the exception of a period of service in the Indian wars, Gideon Barnes spent the remainder of his life in the town which bears his name.

With the building of the Macon and Western (now Central of Georgia) Railroad through the town in 1836, the population increased and the influence of the town broadened. Mr. Barnes then built a substantial hotel with the front about where the police booth is today, in which for years he was the genial and popular landlord. This building, with improvements made from time to time, was destroyed by fire in 1884.

Mrs. Sarah Barnes died in 1861. She was buried in an old cemetery near the Methodist church, from which some bodies were removed to Greenwood cemetery. She lies in her first resting place, which is now beneath the new Lamar county court house. She was a woman of culture and deep piety. Her home contained a "prophet's chamber," which was occupied by traveling ministers of all the denominations. Rev. Benjamin Rush, a Methodist minister sent by the Carolina Conference to carry Methodism into the newly settled regions of Alabama, said that he fcund the hospitality of Sister Barnes very welcome on his long journey.

In 1852 Gideon Barnes married Mrs. J. L. Aldridge, of Perry. Georgia, who survived him nine years. They had no children. In their last years he became "Uncle Giddy" and she "Aunt Giddy" to the young people of the community. Sallie, the faithful servant, died in Barnesville before the War Between the States. Bob and many others of Gideon Barnes' large number of slaves livel to be free. He died in Augusta, Georgia, while trying to make his way back to his old home in Virginia.

Gideon Barnes was small in stature, quick in movement and ready in speech. He was a member of the Methodist Church and was honored for his fine Christian character. He was a good business man, capable and honest in all his dealings. At his death, his estate was valued at $36,000. When he died, May 10, 1871, all-schools and business enterprises in the community closed that the entire population might march in the procession which accompanied his remains to the Methodist church, where tribute was paid to him as the Founder of Barnesville. He and his last wife rest side by side in Greenwood Cemetery in a lot enclosed by an iron fence with a marble shaft over each grave.

The inscriptions are as follows:

GIDEON BARNES

Born in Southampton County, Virginia, December 2, 1791.

Removed in early life to Jones County, Georgia.

Settled in Pike County, Georgia, in 1826.

In honor of him the town of Barnesville took its name.

Died May 10, 1871.

Aged 79 years, 5 months, 8 days. His end was peace. He enjoyed the full assurance cf a blissful immortality.

HULDAH ANN

Wife of Gideon Barnes.

Born September 2, 1807.

Married in 1862.

Died December 21, 1880.

Her end was peaceful and serene.

"Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord."

Extract from a volume entitled "White's Statistics of Georgia," published about 1850: "Barnesville is a thriving little village, named after Mr. Barnes, who settled there first. It is on the Macon and Western Railroad, 18 miles from Griffin. It is the point from which the Columbus stages depart." The name of Gideon Barnes appears in the list of early settlers of Pike County in "White's Historical Collections of Georgia," and also in "White's Statistics of Georgia." Other histories of Georgia make mention of Gideon Barnes, for whom Barnesville was named.

The children of Gideon and Sarah Raiford Barnes were:
Marie Louisa, m. Dr. A. H. Sneed; Millicent, m. Reddick Grad-dick; Sara Virginia, m. W. H. Keifer; Frederick N. Barnes; Augustus H. Barnes.

The children of Dr. A. H. and Maria Barnes Sneed were:
Carrie, Raiford, Lulu, Roddey, Archie, Latham, Lawrence, William, Johnnie, Clayton and Annie M. (twins), and Etta. Archie m. Willie Wallace; children, Banrie, Wallace, Gordon, Edwin, Archie. Lawrence m. Marie Bradbury. Will m. Estellc Shackelford; children, Virginia, John, Helen.

The children of Reddick and Millicent Barnes Graddick were:
Gideon, m. Mrs. Winnie Mays; Josephine, Esther. Robert Henry, m. Linda Eugenia Middlebrooks; Alexander, Sidney. Charles Crawford, m. Roxie Hammock; Olin H., Laura. Nora, m. David F. Bennett; son, David Frank, m. Irene Kingman.

Children of Robert Henry and Linda M. Graddick:
Sallie Josephine, m. Thomas J. Moore; Charlie H., m. Sallie E. Pentecost; Mamie; Gideon; Robert Henry II, m. Nellie Ingram; Linda Eugenia, m. James A. Matthews.
Children of Charles Crawford and Roxie Hammock Graddick:
Remilla, m. Holton H. Matthews; Louise, Martha, Elizabeth, John Wesley Stewart.

Great-great grandchildren of Gideon Barnes: Frances Linda Moore, m. Tom Chaff in; Effie Josephine, m. Albelt S. Sanders; Esther Mae Moore, m. Frank Fer.uu.son; Thomas F. Moore, m. Vera Pittman; Emmie Elizabeth Moore, m. Earl Markert; Charles P. Graddick, m. Tilly Woolvin; Etta Evans Graddiek, m. Charles McDonald; Ethel Elizabeth Graddick, m. Jim West; Donald Graddick; Henry Graddick; Wallace Graddick; P.)pe Huguley Graddick; Clarence Graddick; Sara Graddick; Ray Edison Matthews, in. Pearl Bland; James Robert Matthews*; Charles Harold Matthews; Mali on Eugene Matthews.

The children of Charles P. and Tilly Woolvin Graddick are:
Charlene, Tilly.

Robert Henry Graddick served four vears in the Confederate Army. He enlisted at sixteen years of age. He was twice left on the battlefield as dead and once, when almost frozen, was carried to a hospital, where he revived and went back to his post.

Laura Graddick, a young girl in the days when women had but few opportunities in the business world, made her way through college and entered the Government service in Washington, where for many years she has filled an office of responsibility and trust.

Laura Graddick

This memorial is her expression of loyalty to her grandfather. Gideon Harries, and his descendants,

Charles P. Graddick

Charles P. Graddick. great-great grandson of Gideon and Maria Louisa Karnes, possesses the courage and initiative of his pioneer ancestors. A leader in the class of 1911 of Gordon Military College, he was splendidly equipped for service in the World War. Mis military training and the experience gained in Mexico with the American forces made a commission possible in the early months of the war. He went overseas as a captain in the Rainbow Division, and served until the armistice was signed. After the war. he was elected captain of the reorganized Barnesville Blues and later as major of the First Battalion. 12lst Infantry, National Guard. He was State Commander of the American Legion 1929-1930. He was postmaster in Barnesville from Sept. 26 1919. until he was promoted to the office of postal inspector in 1930. He is stationed in the New Jersey district with his home in Fdizabethtown. New Jersey. He is an extensive landowner and left a beautiful residence in Barnesville. Georgia, for his northern home.

Great-great-great grandchildren of Gideon Barnes: great-great grandchildren of Reddick and Mellicent Barnes Graddick:
Children of Charles P Graddick: Charlene Graddick, Tilly Graddick.
Children of Tom S. Chaffin: Hubert Chaffin, Eugene Chaffin.
Children of Carle Markert: Frederick Markert, Earlene Markert.
Children of Albert S. Sanders: Albert Sanders, Dorothy Sanders.
Children of Jim West; Jim West Jr., Sara Jeane West.
Children of Charles McDonald: James McDonald, Sallie Lou McDonald.
Children of Tom F. Moore: Frances Moore, Thomas Moore.

(Editors' note: The editorial staff of the History of Lamar County wish to explain that the greater part of the material contained in this chapter was written by persons not members of the staff, the following biographical sketches having been composed principally by members or friends of the families involved. The editors do not assume responsibility for the contents of this chapter.)

Milner Family

Willis J. Milner Willis J. Milner, one of the first three pioneers of Barnesville, was born in Wilkes County, Georgia, February 20, 1797, He was the eldest son of Rev. John Milner and Eunice Callaway. In 1820 the family moved to Jones County, where he was married in 1823 to Elizabeth Turner, daughter of Gainer and Mary Turner, who had a short time previously moved from North Carolina. The following year he made a settlement on some land which his father had purchased in Pike County. This was the first of several lots of land he later owned in the vicinity of the town afterwards called Barnesville. He was one of the early realtors of this section and was quit successful in this as well as his other enterprises. Among the place he settled and later sold were those afterwards owned by Mr. P. F. Matthews, Mr. William Varner and two on the Zebulon road, where Mr. W. H. Willis and Mr. W. H. Parker lived for many years. After engaging in farming and sawmilling, in 1837 he entered a new field—that of railroading. He built a great part of the railroad between Macon and Atlanta. His sons also followed him in this work in Georgia, Alabama and Florida. For some years he and several close relatives in the Milner family lived in Lumpkin County, where they were engaged in gold mining. In 1845, he purchased 6,000 acres of land near where the town of Milner named for him I now stands. After living in that vicinity some years, he moved to Alabama to continue railroad building. Mr. Milner was a soldier in the War of 1812, although but a boy of 16 years of age then. He was present when the civilians refugeed from Darien, which the British were threatening to bombard.

In 1864, he died at his home in Greenville, Alabama, leaving a large family connection worthy of his name.

Benjamin Charles Milner

Benjamin Charles Milner was born in Barnesville, Georgia, in what is now as the Varner house, June 10, 1332. At that time his father owned a large tract of land here, selling it later to Gideon Barnes, after whom Barnesville was named. He was reared in Pike County, spending most of his youth at Milnjr, where his father had interests at that time. At the age of 18 he went to California, where he spent two years. His family now has several pieces of jewelry made of gold which he dug from mines in California. In May, 1052, he returned to his home at Milner, and in the latter part of that year he joined his father in railroad work in Alabama, building the road between West Point, Georgia, and Opelika, Alabama. In 1853 he returned to Pike County and on December 27 married Miss Martha Brown, daughter of Stephen J. Brown. It is interesting to note that Mr. Milner died in the very room in which Mrs. Milner was born, and they were married in the room just across the hall. Following his marriage, he conducted a business in Milner until 1856, when he again took up railroad work, going to Florida to build the road between Flomaton, Alabama and Pensacola, Florida, now a part of the Louisville and Nashville road. He followed railroad work until 1875, when he engaged in coal mining in Jefferson County, Alabama, one of the first mines opened in the now famous Birmingham district.

In 1888, he engaged in sawmilling at McDavid, Florida. After four years there, his health failed and he returned to his old home in Pike County, where he lived a quiet life for the last ten years.

Mr. Milner joined Sardis Baptist Church at Barnesville in 1852, at the age of 19, just after returning from California, where he has ever since been an active and consistent member. He was always interested in the worship of his Master and was liberal in the support of his church and the cause of Christ. In his life he has made great quantities of money but whenever he saw an opportunity for doing good by bestowing it upon others he gave it cheerfully and liberally. His death occurred March 11, 1902.

Rev. John Milner Copied from Barnesville Gazette, March 11, 1902.

Rev. John Milner was born in Wilkes County, Georgia, October 17, 1775. He was the son of John Milner Sr. and Elizabeth Godwin, who came to Georgia from Abingdon, Virginia. The family is of English origin and the name is chronicled in many early documents. His father was a captain in the Revolutionary War, serving with Pickens, Marion and Sumter. He was also a preacher of the Baptist denomination and his wife was a most godly woman. John Milner Jr. joined the Sardis Baptist Church (Wilkes County) in 1812 and was baptized by Rev. Jesse Mercer, the celebrated preacher for whom Mercer University was named. He served his church as clerk and as deacon some years before being ordained as a minister. Mr. Milncr's education was limited to the ordinary branches of English. However, he continued to study "to show himself of God" and his preaching was well received wherever he went. His labors were not confined to his own immediate vicinity but extended into remote regions.

His first ministerial work was in Jones County, Georgia, and he followed the custom of the times in preaching once a month to four different churches. Through sunshine and storm, over solitary rough roads and many times at late hours of the night, he made his way to his appointments, cheered by the high consciousness that he labored for eternity.

In 1825, he organized Sardis Baptist Church, now the First church of Barnesville. Chosen as its pastor, he moved to this vicin-ity and served this church as the center of a widening field. His zeal impelled him to press forward and other churches were established to which he ministered. No service was too arduous, no sacrifice too great and his sphere of usefulness continued to enlarge.

While Mr. Milner exerted a good influence in public life, his social and private influence was better. He maintained an altar of family prayer even before he became a church member. As a father, his example and his counsel had a happy effect upon his children, most of them being deeply religious and all of them persons of moral worth.

As his bodily strength declined, his way was "as the path of the just that shineth more and more unto the perfect day." He died January 21, 1841, having filled his regular appointment in his church only a few days previous. His passing was as "a great man fallen in Israel," for no one in the surrounding country was more highly valued in all the relations,of life. In truth, he left his many descendants a goodly heritage.

Children of Rev. John and Eunice Callaway Milner:

Willis Joshua, m. 1 Elizabeth Turner, 2 Mary Turner; Bon eta Callaway, m. 1 W. A. Arnold, 2 E. W. Wells; Sarah Walker, m. 1 John Tucker, 2 Jonah Shivers; Isabel, m. Henry Smith; Pitt Sanders, m. Parmelia Parker; Eunice Elizabeth, m. Charlie Wynn; Benjamin Mosely, m. Margaret Gachet; Liliore Shivers, m. Charles G. Turner; Jonathan John, m. Martha Shivers; Edward Callaway, m. Jane Hill; Miriam Mercer, m. Isaac R. Eskew.

Births

Parents: Benjamin C. Milner I was born June 10, 1832; Mar-tha F. Brown was born Feb. 17, 1838. Children: Tilala Wathen Milner was born, Barnesville, Feb. 28, 1855; Ida Brown Milner was born, Barnesville, March 6, 1857; Joseph Thomas Milner was born, Barnesville, Des. 13, 1858; Benjamin Charles Milner Jr. was born, Barnesville, Nov. 13, 1860; Willis Justus Milner was born, Shelby, Alabama, April 2, 1864; Alef Bonita. Milner was born, Autauga County, Alabama,' July 31, 1865; Enoch Eskew Milner was born, Evergreen, Alabama, Aug. 18, 1867; Lillie Ova Milner was born, Ador Town, Georgia, Feb. 10, 1869; George Crossley Milner was born in Lee County, Alabama, March 12, 1871 ; Jean Shepard Milner was born at Dadeville, Alabama, Sept. 2, 1872; Susana Elizabeth Milner was born at Dadeville, Alabarm, March 25, 1875; Robert Burton Milner was born at New Castle, Alabama, Dec. 22, 1876; John T. Milner was born at New Castle, Alabama, Sept. 26, 1880.

Deaths

Grandfather, mother's side: Stephen Justus Brown Sr. died Jan. 24, 1857, age 58 years.
Grandfather, father's side: Willis Joshua Milner Sr. died March 15, 1864, age 67 years.
Uncle, mother's side: Thomas Morton Brown died Sept. 19, 1863.
All brothers: Joseph Thomas Milner died Aug. 10, 1867, age 8 years, 7 mos., 27 days; Enoch Eskew Milner died Aug. 19, 1867, age 2 days; George Crossley Milner died July 8, 1871, age 4 mos.; John T. Milner died Dec. 15, 1881, age 1 year, 2 mos., 19 days; Jean Shepard Milner died Jan. 25, 1891, age 18 years, 3 mos., 23 days.
Father: Benjamin Charles Milner Sr. died March 11, 1902, age 69 years, 9 mos.
Mother: Martha Brown Milner died Feb. 10, 1910, age 72 years.

(Editors' note: The editorial staff of the History of Lamar County wish to explain that the greater part of the material contained in this chapter was written by persons not members of the staff, the following biographical sketches having been composed principally by members or friends of the families involved. The editors do not assume responsibility for the contents of this chapter.)