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Pike County, Georgia
Biographies


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.

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 Graddick;
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),
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 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.)


Charles Redding Gwyn.

Cashier of the Bank of Zebulon since its organization, Mr. Gwyn has not only been an individual factor of prominence in commercial affairs in Pike County, but is related to families which have been prominent in this section of Georgia from the early days. Mr. Gwyn is a grandson of Dr. Charles Frederick Redding, who was born in Monroe County, Georgia, August 27, 1825, but spent many years in Zebulon, where he died in 1899, and was a man of such character and influence as to deserve special mention in a history of Georgia. His parents were John and Martha (Dozier) Redding, of Monroe County, Georgia. Doctor Redding secured a common school education and afterwards attended medical college at Augusta. He was one of the first if not a charter member of the Georgia State Medical Association. After gaining his education he removed from Monroe County to Pike County in 1846, and spent many years of useful service not only in his profession but in public affairs, and died in the fullness of years and honors at his home in Zebulon. April 17, 1899. As a democrat he served as clerk of the Superior Court of Pike County from 1862 to 1872 and was active in early military affairs, being adjutant in Company G of the Twenty-seventh Georgia Regiment. One of his important interests throughout life was his relations with the Methodist Church, and he was also a member of the Masonic order. On October 29, 1848, at Zebulon, Doctor Redding married Mary Jane Temperance Mangham.
 Mr. Gwyn through the marriage of his grandfather, Doctor Redding, to Miss Mangham, is also a great-grandson of Wiliy Eppison Mangham, who was likewise a prominent and honored citizen of Pike County and held important offices in the county and lived an exemplary and useful career. Widely known throughout this section of the state and affectionately known as "Uncle Wiliy" he was born in Putnam County, Georgia, January 9, 1805, a son of Willis Austin and Temperance (Brewer) Mangham. He grew up during the first quarter of the nineteenth century, gained a common school education, but equipped himself for work as a teacher, which he followed a number of years. Later he was a merchant and farmer. As one of the pioneers of Pike County, he settled there about 1822, and lived at or near Zebulon until the date of his death in 1891. He was a democrat, and served as Ordinary of Pike County from 1844 to 1854. He was a very loyal and consistent member of the Baptist Church, and was one of its deacons. In Pike County, December 20, 1827, Wiliy E. Mangham married Malinda Mira Holmes, daughter of James C. and Rebecca (Pope) Holmes of Wilkes County, Georgia. Their only daughter, Mary Jane Temperance, married Dr. C. F. Redding as above stated, and she is now living at Zebulon, a venerable and lovable woman of eighty-four years. Doctor and Mrs. Redding had two children: Wiliy M. Redding, who died in 1897, and Rebecca Dozier (Redding) Gwyn, the latter the mother of Charles Redding Gwyn.
 Charles Redding Gwyn was born at Zebulon, Georgia, April 2, 1874, a son of William 0. and Rebecca D. (Redding) Gwyn. His father served throughout the Civil war and was a lieutenant in Company A of the Thirteenth Georgia Regiment, and subsequently became prominent in public affairs. He was a native of Georgia, was a farmer by occupation, and served ten years as sheriff of Pike County. He was killed while performing his duties in that office by members of the notorious Delk gang on April 2, 1896.
 Mr. Gwyn grew up in Pike County, and acquired a liberal education, having graduated from Emory College in 1897. In April of the following year he was admitted to the bar, and forthwith took up active practice at Zebulon. For three years he served as court solicitor, and has also been clerk and treasurer of the city. For the past ten years, however, he has devoted his principal time and attention to the Bank of Zebulon, which was organized in 1905, with a capital stock of $15,000. Its first officers were: C. H. Humphrey, president; W. J. Franklin, vice president; and C. R. Gwyn, cashier. This is now one of the strongest banks of Pike County and in 1914 has a capital stock of $25,000 and surplus and undivided profits of $12,500, and deposits of about $65,000. At this time the president is W. J. Franklin, the vice president P. M. Sullivan, and the cashier Mr. Gwyn, who has thus consecutively served in the office of cashier for ten years. The bank owns its own home, a substantial one-story brick building 20x50 feet.
 Mr. Gwyn is serving as deacon and treasurer of the Zebulon Baptist Church. He was married November 26, 1902, to Miss Bessie Floyd of Monroe County, Georgia, daughter of Walter B. Floyd, a farmer in that locality. Their three children are named Caroline, Charles Redding, Jr., and William Floyd. Mr. Gwyn takes much interest in fraternal affairs, is a past master of the Blue Lodge of Masons, a member of the Royal Arch Chapter, and is past chancellor of the Knights of Pythias. At the present time he is a trustee of the public schools. His principal diversion is found in farming, and he owns and operates an excellent place of 200 acres in Pike County. Besides his business as a banker he is local representative at Zebulon for several of the leading fire insurance companies.
 

Marvin Monroe Head, M. D.

Through father and son a wide community around Zebulon in Pike County has had the benefit of the capable medical services of Doctors Head for more than thirty years. Not only professional success but influential activity as citizens have marked the careers of these well known physicians.
 Dr. James Monroe Head, the father, was born in Monroe County, Georgia, December 26, 1853, a son of George W. and Lavinia (Clay) Head, the latter a member of the same family made conspicuous by the great Henry Clay. The family for many years lived in Virginia, whence they came into Georgia. James M. Head acquired his early education under private instructors, attended the medical department of the University of Georgia, graduating M. D. in 1877, and has been continuously in practice in Pike County since that year. He is a member of the Georgia State and American Medical associations, is affiliated with the Knights of Honor, is an elder in the Presbyterian Church, and for several years served as mayor of Zebulon. In 1912 he purchased the Times-Journal at Zebulon, and has since been its editor and publisher. On November 19, 1879, he married Miss Lutie Pope, a daughter of Cadesman and Lucy Pope, farming people of Pike County. Five children were born: Marvin Monroe, Perrin Boylston, Horace W., Lucy Pope, and Douglas Lamar.
 Few physicians in this part of the state have accomplished more or gained higher recognition in the profession than Dr. M. M. Head, though he is still but a young man and has the promise of many years of beneficent activities before him. He was born in Merriweather County, Georgia, October 19, 1880, was educated in the Gordon Institute at Barnesville, Georgia, from which he graduated in 1899, and soon afterwards entered the Atlanta. College of Physicians and Surgeons, from which he was graduated M. D. in 1902. He at once located at Zebulon, and has now been in continuous practice for thirteen years. Some of the distinctions wdiich indicate his standing in the profession should be mentioned. He is president of the Pike County Medical Society, being also a member of the Georgia State and American Medical associations, is a member of the visiting board of the Georgia Academy for the Blind, is local surgeon for the Southern Railroad and a member of the Association of Southern Railroad Surgeons. He was also mayor of Zebulon for five years, and through these mediums he has made himself an effective factor in the life of his community.
 Doctor Head is also interested in Masonry, being a member of several of the York Rite bodies including the council, and is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias and the Woodmen of the World. He is a steward in the Methodist Church. Outside of his profession he looks after the management of a large farm of 1,100 acres in Pike County. On April 27, 1905, he married Miss Susie Anna DuPree, daughter of Judge Elijah F. DuPree, one of the old and prominent lawyers of Pike County. They have one child, Marvin Nicholson.


William J. Mathews, M. D.

For a period of more than twenty years Doctor Mathews has had a position among the most reliable physicians and surgeons of Elbert County. His life has been one of earnest purpose and effective endeavor, and he entered the medical profession after a thorough preparation and an education which was gained largely as the result of his diligent application and individual earnings.
 The birthplace of Doctor Mathews was Concord, Pike County, where he was born January 9, 1868. His parents were Dr. J. B. and Elizabeth (Brooks) Mathews. The Mathews family came into Georgia from Virginia, and was founded by Ewell Mathews, a prominent Baptist minister of the early days, who located at Lexington in Oglethorpe County. The maternal ancestry was South Carolina people, the maternal grandfather having been William Brooks, a planter and slave holder of the early days. Dr. J. B. Mathews was born at Lexington, Georgia, and his wife in Pike County. They were reared and educated and married in Pike County. During the early part of his career the father was a practicing physician, but gave up that vocation to take up educational work, and taught in the schools of Pike
(Barnett) Fall, born in Mecklenburg, North Carolina, July 19, 1780. Their marriage took place on October 27, 1812. Dr. John Strader Fall lived for a great many years at Decatur, Georgia, died May 3, 1863, and is buried at Fayetteville, Georgia. Martha Barnett Fall died February 19, 1851, and is buried at Decatur, Georgia. Apparently the Fall family were of Scottish origin, Dunbar, Scotland, according to the best information, being the central point of the family in the old country. The Stroud line appears to be purely English, the family records indicating that the earliest settlers in America of that name came to this country shortly after the great civil conflict which grew out of the struggle between Charles I and the Parliament, and were either descended from or closely related to William Stroud, of the English House of Commons, who with Hampden, Pym, Holies, and Heselrig constituted the celebrated "Five Members" who led the anti-royalist forces in resisting the encroachments of the Crown. Sarah Battle Stroud, who became the wife of Dr. Calvin J. Fall, was a daughter of William Stroud, who was born in North Carolina and reared in Hancock County, Georgia, and of his wife Serena Ragan Battle, who was a daughter of William Sumner Battle, of Hancock County, Georgia, but who was originally from North Carolina. William Stroud was a son of Mark Stroud and Martha (Strother) Stroud, of Orange County, North Carolina, and Mark Stroud was a son of John Stroud and Sarah (Connelly) Stroud. The Strouds, Strothers and Battles came to North Carolina from Virginia and were all of Revolutionary stock. William Sumner Battle was a member of the noted family of that name, which appears to have been originally of Norman-French origin and which in both England and America claims among its numbers a numerous and distinguished array of scholars, ministers, lawyers and statesmen. At the present time the family is most numerous in Virginia, North Carolina and Georgia, but various branches of it have achieved distinction in numerous other states North as well as South. Eight generations of that family are buried in Hancock County, Georgia

William B. Baker.

When the poet Pope, out of the wealth of weary experience that shattered health and lost opportunities had brought to him, wrote that one immortal phrase of his masterpiece, "Know Thyself," he gave to the world a bit of advice of inestimable benefit that has doubtless aroused and awakened the ambition in the life of many walking, as it were, blindfolded, that has led on to success. Self knowledge points the way the path should lead, it inspires effort and confidence follows and it is often the only needed fulcrum for achievement. These thoughts come in considering the interesting story, largely as the result of his own remarks along the same line, of one of Atlanta's steadfast men, William B. Baker, president of the Atlanta Ice and Coal Corporation, who is also a member of the American Association of Economics and probably one of the best known expert auditors in the State of Georgia.
William B. Baker was born August 12, 1868, in Pike County, Georgia, and is a son of Dr. William Battle and Annie M. (Jackson) Baker, the latter of whom survives and resides with her son, William B., at Atlanta. Mr. Baker's family history leads far back to an English ancestor and all along the line have appeared military heroes. As early as 1656 Jasper Baker is on record as witnessing a deed in Virginia. He was, perhaps, one of three brothers of the name, who appear to have subsequently moved to Warren County, Georgia, and it is certain that his sons participated in the Revolutionary war.
 Edwin Baker, the grandfather of William B. Baker, was born in Virginia in 1782, and in Warren County, Georgia, married Nancy Darden. He befame a man of affairs and represented Warren County in the Legislature, for twenty-five consecutive years. His sons were men of brilliant military record during the war between the states, all serving the Confederate cause with marked gallantry. John Harris Baker was a member of the Thirteenth Georgia Volunteers, in 1862 being major of this regiment, later lieutenantcolonel and still later was commissioned colonel.
 This regiment served in 1861 in West Virginia; in December of that year was sent to Gen. R. E. Lee, then commanding at Charleston; in the spring of 1862 served on the Georgia coast with distinction on Whitemarch Island, and was sent back to Virginia with Lawton's Brigade in time to take part in the seven days' battles. From that time it served in the army of Northern Virginia until the close of the war. Upon the death of Colonel Ector early in 1862, Marcellus Douglas was appointed colonel. He was killed at Sharpsburg while gallantly leading his regiment and was succeeded by James M. Smith. John Harris Baker, at that time major of the regiment, was promoted to lieutenant-colonel and afterwards was commissioned colonel.
 The name of Alfred Baker is indissolubly associated with the splendid Confederate military service of the Baker Volunteers, and Caswell's Georgia Battalion of Sharpshooters, as will appear by this sketch of his special devotion to the brave boys of that command and his general warm support of the Confederate cause. He lived several years after the war ended, enjoying the honor in which he was held by Confederate soldiers, and remaining true to their memories and proud of their fame to the last. Alfred Baker was born in Warren County, Georgia, February 8, 1811, and died June 16, 1896, in Summerville, Richmond County, near Augusta, Georgia. He was son of Edwin Baker, who was born in Virginia in 1782. His grandfather was John Baker, an Englishman, one of three brothers, who came to America some timq before that date and fought with distinction in the Revolutionary war. This grandfather married Miss Patty Harris, of Virginia. The family then moved to Warren County, Georgia, and there Edwin Baker married in 1809, Miss Nancy Darden, of Georgia, and represented Warren County in the Legislature for twenty-five years consecutively. He was a very popular and prominent man and highly educated for that time.
 William Battle Baker, father of William B. Baker of Atlanta, died when his son was but one month old. He was a prominent physician in Pike County, Georgia. During the Civil war he had served as captain of a company in the Fifty-third Georgia Volunteers, this regiment being a part of the splendid brigade of General Semmes in Virginia. Captain Baker served under the above gallant officer until his death at Gettysburg, then under General Bryan during the Chattanooga and Knoxville campaign of Longstreet, with whom he returned to Virginia and served in the overland campaign and around Richmond. At all times he was a brave and efficient officer.
 Too young to realize the loss he had sustained in the death of his father, William B. Baker had, necessarily, through boyhood and early youth, fewer opportunities than would otherwise have been the case, but he attended school and, after numerous experiences, drifted into mercantile life. It takes a long time for a country to recover from the ravages of war and years passed over fair Georgia after the end of hostilities before business adjustments came and prosperity once more encouraged and repaid industry. It was a period when other men beside Mr. Baker found it difficult to find the proper niche, the equal balance that undoubtedly was necessary in order to make plans effective and results satisfactory. This problem he solved in his own way and it can be told no better than in his own words.
 "I was a failure up to the time that I was thirty years old. I always seemed to try to carry more than I could comfortably'pack up to that period of my life, but from the time the thirtieth milestone was passed, fortune seemed to smile on me more benignly. I attribute my success, such as it has been, to a closer study of life and economics. When I found that I needed expansion and a wider viewpoint, I took advantage of what extra hours that could be found, and read and studied to the end that I might grasp the more intimate affairs of life and conquer my mercantile problems."
 The Atlantic Ice and Coal Corporation, of which Mr. Baker is president and with which business he has been identified for more than twelve years, was organized at Atlanta, Georgia, and at present operates large establishments in sixteen Southern cities and affords employment to from 2,000 to 3,000 men. The concern is worked on the co-operative plan, which has proved a success as a business system and has proven also most satisfying in other directions. Mr. Baker is a thoughtful, well read man and is a large contributor to the school of economics at the University of Georgia, and has presented several valuable sets of works on modern economics to the institution, besides delivering lectures during the school term to the student body, on the subject of accounting. He is, in large measure, responsible for the recent passage of the certified accountant law in Georgia, and has, for years, been a leader along the lines of expert auditing.
 Mr. Baker was married March 22, 1892, to Miss Perla Pope, who-is a daughter of Judge J. S. Pope, of Pike County, and they have two sons: William Pope Baker and Ernest Battle Baker, both at present being students in the University of Georgia, the elder a senior in the medical department. The entire family belongs to St. Mark's Methodist Episcopal Church, Atlanta. Mr. Baker belongs to the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce and is a life member of the Capital City Club
Source: A standard history of Georgia and Georgians, Volume 4 By Lucian Lamar Knight

Jordan, William A.,

Jordan, William A., judge of the city court of Blakely, Early county, ex-mayor of the city, and one of the representative lawyers of that section of the state, was born in Pike county, Ga., May 20, 1856, a son of Willis Pope Jordan and Mary R. (Bethnell) Jordan, both natives of Georgia. The father was a lawyer by profession and served for a number of years as ordinary of Quitman county. William A. Jordan secured his preliminary education in the schools of Quitman county, after which he attended the University of Georgia. He read law under the preceptorship of his father and in 1877, at the age of twenty-one years, was admitted to the bar of his native state. He began the practice of his profession in Georgetown, Ga., and succeeded his father as ordinary of Quitman county, having been elected in 1881 and remained the incumbent of the office for a period of four years. In 1886 he located in Blakely, where he engaged in the practice of his profession and has ever since maintained his home, prominent in his profession and in the public affairs of the city and county. He was made solicitor of the county court in 188T and in 1889 he was made Judge of the county court and served on the bench until this court was abolished by act of the legislature. In 1890 he was appointed judge of the city court, and has since remained in tenure of this office, where he has gained a high reputation for the effective discharge of his judicial duties. He served two terms as mayor of Blakely; has been alderman of the city several terms, and has always shown a public-spirited interest in local affairs. He is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias, and both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church South. His political allegiance is given to the Democratic party. In 1887 Judge Jordan was united in marriage to Miss Jennie Buchanan, daughter of James Buchanan, an honored and prominent citizen of Blakely, and at one time treasurer of the county. He served in the Seminole Indian war, in which he was wounded. Judge and Mrs. Jordan have three children—Maud, William, and Walker. Joseph's Town.—Among the earliest settlements in Georgia was one about three miles below the mouth of Abercorn creek, opposite to Onslow and Argyle islands. Two Scotchmen opened plantations there and thirty servants were employed in cultivating the lands. The name of Joseph's Town was given to the place and for a time it promised to become an important settlement. Then malarial fever attacked the inhabitants; several of the servants died, the rest moved away, and the plantations lapsed into neglect.
(Source: Georgia Sketches of Counties, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, VOL II, by Candler & Evans, Publ. 1906. Transcribed by Tracy McAllister)



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