CHAPTER IV TOWNS Pinder Town and The Old Stage Coach Road After the Indian land cession at Indian Springs in 1821, the white settlers bought the village of Pinder Town from the Indians. It became a town of considerable importance. For a long time it was the only postoffice between the Ocmulgee and Flint Rivers, south of Macon. This postoffice was established in 1825. It was the postoffice for Albany until 1836. Below is a list of postmasters of Pinder Town, Dooly County, Ga., from 1825 to 1856, furnished by the Post Office Department at Washington, D. C. "Pinder Town, Dooly County, John B. Coleman, June 13, 1825. Pinder Town put into Lee County, no date given. M. G. Lefoy, Aug. 19, 1833. Simeon L. Holiday, Mar. 8, 1834. Win. J. Ford, March 5, 1839. Andrew I. Tison, Jan. 13, 1840. Jackson J. Williams, Oct. 14, 1840. Andrew I. Tison, Feb. 9, 1841. Jackson J. Williams, Apr. 23, 1842. John A. Graham, Nov. 25, 1842. Name changed to Hollidaysville, Oct. 23, 1844 with Abner Holliday as postmaster. Benomi O. Pearson, Feb. 21, 1848. J. J. Williams, July 5, 1849. Discontinued Apr. 17, 1856. These postmasters show some of the first settlers, but to these should be added many more. When Newton and Palmyra arose it was for years a recognized rival of these towns. Pinder Town was at the head of navigation on the Flint. This gave it fine prospects. The white settlements were made in and around this place. The late Mrs. Elizabeth (Vines, Kemp, Westfall), Fore-hand, the mother of Mr. John H. Kemp: near Isabella, 'said her father, Hiram W. Vines, moved to Pinder Town when she was about five years old or about 1839. She said, as they were moving into that section, he asked someone how far it was to Pinder Town. The reply was, "You are in Pinder Town now. She said for about ten miles up and clown the river was called Pinder Town, or as far as the white settlements extend-ed. Her father brought slaves and stock. He bought the Ford Mill. The school she attended was a log house with dirt floor, puncheon seats, a shelf around the room for the books, and on which the advanced pupils learned to write. She was considered too young to learn to write. Because she was so anxious to learn to write her father secured a teacher from Albany that came about once a week to give her writing lessons. The Stage Coach Road from Milledegville to Tallahassee went through Pinder Town. The following is copied from "Sherwood's Georgia Gazetter, "third edition, Washington, 1837. "Schedule of Stage Coach from Milledgeville to Tallahassee. Milledgeville to Hartford (near Hawkinsville). Hartford to Slade's. Slade's to Gay's. Gay's to Tison's (Pinder Town). Pinder Town to Bainbridge. Bainbridge to Tallahassee. This is a stage road over which the stage passes once a week. Fare $25.00. Leaves Milledgeville on Wednesdays. The third day reaches Pinder Town, on the east bank of the Flint River, nine miles below Fort Early. Fare to Pinder Town $12.00. The next three days reaches Tallahassee, fare $13.00." This, stage road passed a few miles east of Albany, where it was met by an intersecting road from Albany, and mail and passengers to and from Albany were exchanged. This old stage road is still traveled as. a highway. It passes through Oakfied and Warwick and ' is the highway to Cordee. Mr. John Clements, who lived in the western part of the county a few miles below Acree, said his ancestor was one of the stage coach drivers, and the land he lived on was a draw. It has never been owned by any other family but his. The Pinder Town Cemetery is thought to be one of the oldest in the country. Below we give inscriptions on tombstones found there today : John Jackson Ford, died 1836. Nancy Graham Ford, wife of John Jackson Ford, died 1836. In memory of Gary Green Ford, Sr., born Aug. 4th, 1805, died Sept. 11, 1859. In memory of Silvia Eason Ford, wife of Gary Green Ford, born July 10, 1818, died Feb. 20, 1863. Robert Graham Ford, born Aug. 21st, 1834, died Aug. 6th, 1875. Rebecca Ford, daughter of Gary Green and Silvia Eason Ford, born March 1st, 1847, died Sept. 20th, 1864. Elzy Jones Ford, son of Gary Green and Silvia E. Ford, born July 9th, 1853, died Jan. 26th, 1885. With the coming of the railroad to Albany, Pinder Town began to decline and there is nothing to mark the spot where the white civilization in this section had its beginning except the large beautiful spring, still called the Indian Spring. The old site is on land lots 200 and 185. It is owned by Atlanta Trust Company. It is a waste spot absolutely useless in an agricultural way. It is only a few hundred yards from the Albany and Cordele Highway. NOTE-The Postoffice Department spelled this `finder Town;' The State Archives spells it `Pindar Town;' The old residents spell it `Pindertown.' Bureau of Ethnology says of it :"Pinder Town is possibly identical with Fulemmy's Town. It was inhabited by Chiaha Indians. In 1817 it was on the Suwannee River." These Indians moved, probably. But it is a peculiar coincidence that just across the Flint River from Pinder Town in this county there was an Indian village called Fulemmy Town, and later when the Indians moved it became a white village of some importance and the spelling was sometimes Fulemny and later Philemma and now it is a railroad station on the railroad from Albany to Cordele on the west bank of the Flint River and is spelled Philema. Pindartown to Irwinville Mail Route Resolution 1840 A resolution approved by the Legislature, December 24, 1840, provided that Senators and Representatives in Congress be requested and earnestly solicited to procure the establishment of a mail route from Irwinville, in the County of Irvin, to Pindartown in Lee County (Pindartown for a while was put into Lee, but was later put back into Dooly, hick in time became Worth). This route extended to Troupville, in Lowndes County. This mail to be carried on horseback or otherwise, as may suit the convenience of contractors, at least once a week from each one of the aforementioned places to the other. Resolution 1859 A Resolution approved December 17. 1859, requested Representatives in Congress to use their influence to have snail routes through Worth, Irwin and Wilcox counties, changed so as to facilitate the transmission of mail, as the condition of mail routes through said counties are in a wretched condition. SAN BARNARD FIRST COUNTY SITE OF WORTH By act of the State Legislature, after the organization of the County of Worth, San Barnard was made the county site until the public site should be located by the Inferior Court, and the elections of the county, generally, and all public business should be clone at San Barnard. It was located almost on the spot where the Isabella Cemetery now is. San Barnard was a summer resort for Albany. It was in a most healthful location. Albany, before the deep wells, was very sickly. The people would come out and spend several months. Mr. Gordon Sumner, father of the late Mr. George Sumner, grandfather of Dr. Gordon Sumner, of Poulan, and of Mr. Gordon Paul, of Isabella, kept the inn at this place for a good many years. It was a great camping and hunting ground. Mr. George Sumner said the first school in this section of the county was in a horse stable at San Barnard. His father, Gordon Sumner, had it cleaned out, sand put on the floor, with a table in the center. He hired a young lady from Albany to teach and boarded her. Mr. Sumner thinks it was first a camping ground of the Indians. There was a fine spring of water at this place, and some clearing when his father settled there. He felt sure it was a camping ground on the Barnard Trail through this county. Mr. Joseph S. Davis writes an article published in the Albany Herald of San Barnard as follows : "Groups of men in Albany, who loved the chase by experience, found the best hunting ground in Worth at a camp known as San Barnard. It occupied a little eminence in a most healthful location and was the center of a splendid territory for game. "Here, men like D. A. Vason, John A. Davis, George Collier, Paul Tarver, and others of like ilk, would assemble on vacation times and enjoy to the fullest the social pleasures and sports that such occasions afforded. "We remember to have heard one of that party of sportsmen tell of one July morning in the 50's when the cronies met and went out to San Barnard. The hunters, under the direction of Mr. Hampton, hastened to surround a "ty ty" pond not far distant. "Mr. Hampton was the driver and into the pond he went with his best trained clogs. The huntsmen surrounded the pond. The deer began to run, shots were heard on every side, and six deer were killed and collected in wagons as the result of a two-hour drive. San Barnard was not abandoned until the Civil War broke out. It was one of the most famous hunting camps ever established in Georgia." This hunting probably continued until the enactment of a law by the Legislature, which reads as follows : "Be it there-fore enacted, that from and after the first day of March, 1856, it shall not be lawful for any non-resident of the county of Worth, to camp out and hunt deer or any other species of game within the limits of said County." When Isabella was chosen as the county site, just across the branch to the east of it, San Barnard was deserted. "OLD SANGUINARD" By John L. Herring in Saturday Night Sketches Sounds romantic, doesn't it? Better than that, it is the Cracker name for Georgia's first summer resort. We know the place from childhood days, but we would, perhaps never have known its real name and origin had it not been for Miss Emma Sutton and her delightful little publication, "The Azilian." From the March issue we quote: Not many people now living remember San Barnard. It was about eighteen miles from Albany, in what is now Worth County, and was said to be the highest point in South Georgia. There were no Artesian wells at that time, and Southwest Georgia, in the immediate vicinity of Flint River, was sup-posed to be the unhealthiest piece of land that white people ever inhabited. So the people who could afford summer homes, proceeded to build cottages at San Barnard, marking the corners of each lot with plum trees. A few years ago, maybe now, these plum trees were still in good condition. The name? No, it was not given by the Spaniards, who came this way in 1665. Sounds like it, but General Brisbane was the sponsor. He was a devout Roman Catholic, and it was his intention to build a Monastery there. The ground was consecrated. and part of it is occupied by an old graveyard, but this plan, like the railroad he hoped to build, cave to naught. General Brisbane spent all his money in South Georgia, and, for several years, his widow taught a private school in Albany. So the name is San Barnard. It came to us localized into "Sanguinard." Half a mile west of old Isabella, the former County seat, of Worth County, is the site of this, Georgia's first summer resort, now the center of a cultivated field. Forty years ago, the ruins of the cottages built by Col. Brisbane and the wealthy citizens of Dougherty County, were still in evidence, surrounded by a growth of young pines, plum and fruit trees, among those best remembered, a haw tree. The cottages had been built of logs, and half a century left a portion of them standing. But it was a deserted looking, rather ghostly place. San Barnard was admirably chosen. It lay on the crest of a range of hills, marking the apex of a dividing ridge be- tween the Ocmulgee and Flint rivers, one a tributary of the Atlantic Ocean and the other of the Gulf of Mexico. One of the highest points in South Georgia above sea level, surrounded by many miles of almost trackless pine forest, carpeted with velvety wiregrass ; in a region unexcelled for hunting and fishing-those who selected it for a summer resort used rare judgment. In those days the valley of the Flint was almost a death valley (luring the hot clays of summer. Yellow fever was prevalent, and usually fatal. Underneath the surface soil is a strata of porous limestone, and those who drank surface water, invited fever in its worst form. Artesian water has wiped all this out, but in those clays it was in self defense that Colonel Brisbane and his associates searched out a place to find health and pleasure. Later when the county of Worth was laid out and the county site chosen, the range of hills immediately east of San Barnard, where the public roads from Drayton to Thomasville and from Irwinville to Albany intersected, was chosen. Had Mr. Brisbane's railroad been completed, both Isabella and San Barnard would tell a different tale today. "Sanguinard" breathes to us of a summer eve at sunset. Sunday eve, and Youth in a dress of lawn, seated on a log from a ruined cottage. On the ground at her feet a callow lad and on a handkerchief between them a collection of haws -shaken from the tree, and jointly gathered a few moments before. Great yellow globules, those haws were, tinged with red, as her lips. An odor appetizing, and in the mouth they melted as juicy and delicious as a peach. But had they been bitter as wormwood and sour as a crabapple the lad would not have known the difference. While he looked at her nothing else mattered, for he was not conscious of it. "Old Sanguinard" with its ruins, is gone. In the cemetery near by She sleeps ; the blue of her eyes has long since been born again in the violets of spring; the pink of her cheeks has its re-incarnation in the first rose of summer ; the perfume of her breathes from the for-get-me-nots when first the dusk of evening falls. Otherwise, like old "Sanguinard" she is a memory. ISABELLA (By J. H. Tipton) By the Act creating Worth County it was provided that San Bernard (a settlement located on the next hill west of the present town of Isabella) should be the temporary site for the transaction of the public business of the county until the Justices of the Inferior Court (the authority then having jurisdiction of the county affairs) should select and locate a site for the public buildings of the county-(Acts 1853-4, pages 308-9, Sections IV and V). By this Act the Justices of the Inferior Court were "to purchase a tract of land for the location of the county site, to divide the same into lots and sell the lots at public sale, for the benefit of said county, or to make such other arrangements or contracts concerning the county site, or location of the public buildings as they may think proper." Under the authority of said Act the Justices of the Inferior Court obtained deed from Gordon Sumner to fifty acres of land in a square, located near the center of lot number 424 in the 7th district of the county, which was platted and laid off into blocks for the town site, the public square (one acre) being located in the center of this tract, with streets on all four sides, the plan providing for business lots around the public square and residence lots back of those, streets radiating from this square and conforming thereto. The public sale of lots was conducted and a large number of the lots sold then, and from time to time all of them; and in this way a large portion of the money used to erect the courthouse on the said square reserved therefor was raised. At the time, Gordon Sumner lived on the hill northwest of the new county site-several hundred yards away-at what was later known as the Martha Cox place, and he was postmaster and kept the post office, San Bernard, then the only post office between Albany and Irwinville, at his home. The new county site town was named Isabella, and the new post office by that name was established and superseded San Bernard. The new county was organized on April 7th, 1854, with the following officers: William A. Johnson, clerk superior court; James N. Ford, ordinary ; James G. Brown, sheriff ; Jeremiah Spring, tax-receiver; W. B. Mattox, tax-collector; Thomas B. Arline, surveyor; James A. Oliver, coroner. Marion Simmons was the first representative and William A. Harris the first senator to go from Worth County to the Georgia Legislature_ The new county was attached to the Macon circuit, of which Abner W. Powers was judge and William K. de Graffenreid solicitor-general, but we find no record as to when the first court was held. The new town of Isabella grew rapidly for a few years-Gordon Sumner built a new home and took up his residence on the corner northeast of the public square, and he and Rachel Sumner, his wife, ran the inn or hotel. James Cox and his wife, Martha, took the place vacated by Gordon Sumner, and also ran a boarding house, entertaining visitors and those attending the courts. James N. Ford established his home on the east side of the Warwick public road north of town. A few hundred yards east of the James N. Ford house Gary Green Ford, the first, built a new home, where he lived for a few years, and was. succeeded in this home by Daniel Henderson. Between the G. G. Ford place and the Irwinville road, which ran east from the public square, William A. Johnson, William Whiddon and one or two others built residences. Further east were the places of James W. Rouse and William Henderson. On the eastern side of this lot of land, No. 424, and south of the Irwinville road, was built the schoolhouse, where William A. Johnson taught school until the Civil War came on, when he joined and went with the Yancey Independents, as. first lieutenant, this being the company of which William A. Harris was captain. Johnson was succeeded as teacher by Harry Kirkendall, who came from Mississippi, and taught at this place during the war. Later teachers were James Jessup and Thomas G. Westfall. A new school house was built a few years after the war on a site about two hundred yards west of the William A. Harris residence. John A. Ford established his. home on the hill southeast of the town, where he lived for a. few years, and later married the widow of Luke S. Thompson, who lived on the hill across the branch south of town, and they later moved to a new place about two miles southwest of town. on the Thomasville road. William Paul acquired the John A_ Ford place, and was succeeded by his son, Andrew Jackson Paul. Daniel Henderson came in from his farm near where the town of Sycamore now stands and built and occupied a, home a few hundred yards southwest of the public square on the Thomasville road, and, after he moved to the G. G. Ford place, this became the home of Royal Robert Jenkins. Across. the branch on the west side of town there stood the homes of Marion Simmons and Mrs. Mary Vick, and Further south in a position southwest of the town stood several log huts, which had been built by parties residing at Albany, for use as hunting camps. There were others who came into the new country town during this period, but those named are among those who became leaders in the public affairs and development of the new county. In the mean time the business section had developed. The court house in the center of the public square was a large frame two-story building, the lower floor being divided into four commodious corner offices by two wide halls crossing through the center; and the upstairs carried the court room, and the jury rooms. Some four or five substantial store-houses had been built on the corners northwest of the square. James N. Ford and Daniel Henderson, under the firm name of Ford & Henderson, ran a general store on the corner north-west of the street (or road) crossing. Stephen Pearce and Edward Barber, and later R. R. Jenkins, had stores east of the road crossing and north of the Albany and Irwinville road. The county jail was built on the west side of the Warwick road some two hundred yards north of the court house square. No churches were built at the new town before the Civil War, the people going out to the several nearby country churches to worship. At frequent intervals church services were held in the court house, and after the Civil War a Sunday School was organized and met in the courthouse, probably the first Sun-day school organized in the county, sponsored by William (Uncle Billy) Clements, a widely known and much loved itinerant Methodist preacher. The war came on, and the growth of the new town was interrupted and little, if any, progress was made during the several devastating years that followed. After the war the community was quick to revive and take on new growth, and soon became a village of some two or three hundred people. In 1872 the Brunswick & Albany (now the Atlantic Coast Line) railroad was put in operation, this railroad passing some three miles of Isabella, and immediately towns began to spring up along the line of railway, and this and other things retarded the growth of the county town, though it continued to be a substantial business and social center, as well as the seat of county government, until the county site was moved to Sylvester in 1904. On January 26th, 1879, the old courthouse was destroyed by fire, and thus the county was without a courthouse for a time, using the schoolhouse for the purpose ; and in the fall of 1879 the schoolhouse was destroyed by fire. Immediately there sprang up strong sentiment in favor of moving the court-house to one of the new and prosperous towns on the railroad. and for several years the town of Sumner, Poulan, and Sylvester waged a bitter, hard fight for the county site, elections being held at different times, but the old site successfully resisted the movement for the time. A new frame courthouse was erected, very similar to the original one that had been burned. This served until August 9th, 1893, when it tnet with the same fate as the previous one. A temporary single story building was put up and used for a few years, when a brick structure (which still stands) was erected, and this served until an election brought on by those favoring removal to Sylvester proved successful, and the county site was removed to Sylvester, the act of the Legislature moving the site being approved July 1st, 1904 (Acts 1904, pages 294-295). Thus it happened that the town of Isabella became, and still remains, a small community center, with modest church and school facilities, two or three small stores, and the small farm homes of a few happy and contented families. In the meantime, throughout the fifty years that Isabella enjoyed the prestige of being the county town, populated by as fine a folk as ever breathed the breath of life, there grew into the fibre of the body politic of the great county of Worth a deep and abiding favor for the old town--its physical and spiritual being-that still lives, and will ever live, vitually. NOTE:-This old court house should be preserved and made into something useful for the County as a monument to Gordon Sumner who donated the grounds and much of the funds. "BIG COURT" IN THE OLDEN TIME By John L. Herring Hark, from the court, the sheriff's call; Jurors attend the cry, Come lawyers now, into the hall-Where you shall shortly lie. The courthouse was a square building, set in a public square that was the nucleus of the town. People were on the square in those clays. It was a two-story building, substan- tially constructed of wood. The lower floor was divided into four sections by two cross halls, east to west-north to south -cool in the summer and preventing congestion when crowds were on hand. Up stairs, all the space was taken by the main courtroom except a room each for the grand and petit juries. Around the square were catalpa trees, and a few hundred yards away, in a hollow, was the jail. Likewise it was a two-story structure, built of hewn pine timbers, the lower floor a dungeon, to be entered only by means of a trap door in the second-floor. Around the square were grouped two or three grocery stores and a number of dwellings, the latter occupied by the county officers, or farmers whose lands were near by. The presiding judge, the solicitor-general and the members of the bar traveled on horseback, for there were no railroads and very few roads then. The first two and the most prominent among the lawyers were veritable circuit-riders, for about three months in the spring and an equal length of time in the fall. The terms of court never lasted longer than one week for each term in a county and there were only two terms a year. Called or special terms were unheard of. The judge, solicitor and members of the bar (except the usual resident lawyer, one to each county seat), usually traveled in company, and the rounds of the circuit were enlivened by many anecdotes and amusing experiences. To practice at the bar a man had to be a lawyer in those days. And the judge was necessarily a man of deep learning and wide experience. He had to judge the law, therefore know the law, for there were no elaborate libraries and court reports then at each county seat for reference. The judge usually knew his business, as attested by the fact that there were so few appeals, and when there was, a small number of reversals. "Big Court" was a festal occasion for the county seat village. For weeks preparations were active. The house, always spotless, was thoroughly gone over, from steps to roof ; the floors fresh sanded, the chimney facings blue-clayed, the yards clean-swept, the cedar water-buckets and drinking gourds scoured and sunned. Hogs were killed, a beef butchered, chickens by the dozen penned and fattened ; eggs and butter saved up, ginger-cakes, pound-cakes, turn-overs and potato custards cooked to feed an army. Every house within two miles of the courthouse was a boarding-house, limited only by its capacity to spread mat-tresses in every room, including the dining-room, and on the broad piazzas where the only room each sleeper was entitled to in return for his quarter was as much as he could lie in sardine-wise. The best that could be clone for the judge was two to a bed and he usually shared with the solicitor-general. There was big eating and much coffee-drinking for the week, and the price was only a quarter. Few boarding-houses made money, for the visitor usually regarded the quarter as a tax and tried to get the worth of his money-and succeeded. Not all the attendants on "Big Court" boarded. The jurors usually rode out a few miles at night to the home of an acquaintance, but the great mass of the attendants camped. They came prepared with wagons, rations and bedding, and around the nightly campfires there was much yarn-spinning and merry-making. Those from one section of the county would usually camp together. Many fights, always "fist and skull," enlivened the camp. Not one-third of the attendants at "Big Court" had business in the courthouse. They were the great semi-annual business gatherings. Had a merchant in a neighboring city business with a man, he went to "Big Court" and found him. They were semi-annual clearance weeks, when contracts were made or filled, accounts opened or settled, and after commercial fertilizers came into use, note-taking occasions of spring and note-paying times in the fall. The newspaper men also made their semi-annual visits to the counties then, sat under a convenient shade-tree and wrote receipts for appreciative and prompt-paying subscribers. In these records the horse-swappers must not be forgotten, for horse-swapping and horse trading were going on all the time, so long as court was in session. The busiest men were probably the storekeepers. There were rarely more than three of these, and usually only two. The stores were oblong buildings, a row of shelving along one side containing a miscellaneous stock of dry goods, notions and a few canned goods-the variety was not great then, cove oysters being the great favorite. Across the end was a counter mid-waist high and behind this the bar. Every grocery store had its bar in those days, even though the stock consisted of only a jug each of corn and rye. The most elaborate had only a little more variety with much greater quantity and beer (lager then) was counted only a drink for sick folks, women and preachers-and these not "hardshells." The tiddlers were there in force, as well as the horse-swappers. and from morning to night and far into the night, the violins were going. Seated on the dry-goods counter (the other was busy) with an admirer to beat straws, there was "Hitched my horse to the grocery rack, He got loose, and broke his back! Susie! And what are you about, Susie!" Until tired ears wondered if they never wearied. Inside the big, square building, the legal grind went on. Not monotonous, for there were lightning-like flashes of wit, and speeches that were master-pieces of eloquence, often the most trivial cause bringing out a pyrotechnic-like display. For many of the lawyers of that day were the statesmen of the next, and the veterans in the service, men who carried the scars and laurels of many hundred legal battles. Great men they, of an age that was great. An age when an empire, that of the South, was in the making and whose people were strong because to the pioneer, strength is essential. To, call a roll of the lawyers attending "Big Court" then would be to repeat a list of many men who have made South Georgia great. In themselves disciples of the written law, they were a part of the great scheme of nature : "That very law which moulds a tear, And bids it trickle from its source That law preserves the earth a sphere And guides the planets in their course." CITY OF SYLVESTER Sylvester, the present county seat and chief trade center of Worth County, has a population of about two thousand. It is located on the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad and the Georgia, Ashburn, Sylvester & Camilla Railway. It has an excellent train service, many of the through trains from the north and west passing through on the Atlantic Coast Line going south, and is therefore easily accessible. It has many modern business houses representing all lines of trade, among them several large department stores, one of the strongest and best conducted banks in South Georgia, an up-to-date moving picture theater, fire department, electric power and water works, sufficient electric power for all purposes being available from the Georgia Power Company's hydro-electric plant on the Flint River near Albany, sanitary sewerage system, and paved streets. STREET SCENE IN SYLVESTER Sylvester is a beautiful little city located at the intersection of two of the main trunk highways from north to south and from west to east, and has many beautiful and attractive homes, with lovely parks and gardens. Its modern churches, Baptist, Methodist and Presbyterian, and schools are among the best in the state-commodious and well equipped in every way. McPhaul Institute, named for W. H. McPhaul (familiarly Legend for cut on page 43. Top row, left to right: W. T. Davis, and N. M. Rhodes. Center: Mayor, C. W. Monk; Second Row. D. B. Gleaton, and J. T. Cochran, Councilmen. Bottom row: Chief Police, John F. Deariso and Fire Chief, W. Hugh Conoly. MAYOR. ANND COUNCIL WITH THE FIRE AND POLICE CHIEF, OF SYLVESCER. (See legend on page 42). known as Uncle Bill, founder of Sylvester) has an enrollment of about six hundred pupils and employs twenty--two teachers. It is an accredited school. The Sylvester Local, one of the best weekly newspapers in the state, is published at Sylvester. The foundation of the present city was laid out in 1893, and -was called "Isabella Station." In 1894 the name was changed to Sylvester, and in 1898 the town of Sylvester was incorporated by an Act of the Legislature. Its name comes from the Latin words "silva" meaning wood, and "wester" meaning your. The first mayor, and one of the earliest settlers, was W. H. McPhaul, andy the first councilmen were C. W. Hillhouse, W. A. Jones, J. G. Polhill and Dr. W. L. Sikes. City Officers of 1933 Mayor, P. M. Lancaster; Councilmen, W. T. Davis, John T. Cochran, N. M. Rhodes, D. B. Gleaton ; Clerk, R. B. Pollard ; City Recorder, Clifford Grubbs ; Electrician, Curtis Ben-nett, Sr.; Chief of Police, John F. Deariso; Chief Fire Department, Hugh Connoly. City Officers Elected to Take Office in 1934 I'Iayor, Judge Chesley W. Monk ; Councilmen, Clerk, Re-corder, Electrician, Chief of Police and other officers the same as in 1933. WORTH COUNTY DOTTED OVER WITH BEAUTIFUL LITTLE TOWNS While Sylvester is the county seat and the largest city in the county, yet the entire county is dotted over its entire area with beautiful villages and towns, all of them having good schools and churches, and all of them having free schools sup-ported by the collection of an ad valorem tax. Among these little cities are Gordy, four miles south west of the county site, with two churches, public schools, and a black smith shop, a splendid mercantile establishment and having a hundred or more population. Parkerville, another little city about nine miles southwest has a church, public school and about a hundred population. tion. Bridgeboro, sixteen miles southwest, has two churches, a fine consolidated public school with large brick school house, several stores and has about three hundred population. Minton is a village ten miles south with two churches, public schools, stores and has about two hundred population. Shingler is the newest city of the county five miles north-east, and though small in number of her citizens, what she lacks in quantity she makes up in quality. She has two churches, a large warehouse, a number of business houses. lots of pluck and ambition. Doles is a beautiful little city about twelve miles north with a sawmill, ginnery, a church and splendid public school. There are about five hundred inhabitants. Oakfield is another one of Worth's little cities. Built on the old Stage coach road-now a highway, eighteen miles north-west. Oakfield has two churches, public schools, a large ginnery, turpentine still, five or six business houses, a warehouse and about five hundred citizens. SUMNER Once the Metropolis of the County With the coming of the railroad in 1870, Sumner, Poulan, and Ty Ty were the stations along the road in the county at first. Sumner was located on land belonging to John C. Sumner, (Jack) the father of the present sheriff of Worth County, John N. Sumner, and it was named for him. The families of Joseph M. Sumner, George W. Sumner, Daniel S. Sumner, William Garrett, Derrell H. Herrington, Bluford Pittman, L. S. Thompson and Isaac Rooks lived on nearby farms and many members of these families moved into the village. Immediately, almost as if by magic, streets were laid off, trees planted that still beautify and furnish shade and comfort to the people, sawmills, turpentine stills, mercantile establishments, post office, doctors' "shops," schools, and two churches were built. A large number of people from North Carolina came soon after the operating of the road began. The first of these were Columbus Alford and brother, Jack Alford, who were large sawmill and turpentine operators. Their kinspeople soon fol- lowed. The Jones families and the Sinclair family from North Carolina, then A. C. Douglas and family who was supervisor of the railroad, Dr. Warren Williams and family, Prof. Williams M. Clements and family. (he taught the school), Mr. John McCranie, depot agent, Dr. J. W. Perry and D. W. McLeod, naval stores operator. The Sumner Free-Trader was established and financed by Hon. A. J. Alford, edited by W M. Clements and 'alter A. Allen in charge of the mechanical department. A few months later Allen succeeded Clements as editor. Associated with them was John L. Herring who became the noted editor and writer of South Georgia. Others were Jim Lane and family, Alex Holt and family, J. B. and H. 13. Davis families, Dr. W. L. Sikes and family, Wm. Sikes and family, W. E. Sessions and family, S. E. Blitch and family, Dr. R. R. Pickett and family, C. G. Tipton and family Joseph Fannin Kimble and family, Dr. J. B. (Jack) Pickett and family. He was County School Superintendent. Malcolm C. Lemmons and family, G. Washington Edwards and family. He was depot agent for about thirty years and his daughter, Mrs. Ibbie Pierce, was postmistress for as long: J. Dan Bridges and family, Charlie Pittman and family, Willis Haisten and family, the La Seurs, Ellis families, Z. C. Allison and family, Daniel W. Sumner and family, Sparks Anderson and family, Jessie Spurlin and family, T. D. Smith and family. Aurelius Bass and family, Wm. Hay and family, J. H. Pate, D. C. Strickland and others we failed to get . With all these good citizens and enterprises with her splendid schools and churches Sumner soon became the metropolis of the county. Her citizenry have always been of a high order and have put first things first. In her cultural advantages she has held a high standard. Sumner has the largest business house in the county. It was built for a mercantile and warehouse combined by J. Daniel Bridges, the financial genius, who in the days of his prime did the largest business in the county and was one of the wealthiest citizens. His sons John B., Will, Hugh, and "Buster" and one of his sons-in-law, Harry Jenkins, are among the leading business men of Sumner in 1934. They are the managers of his estate. Among the older citizens that have made Sumner a delightful place to live and who are there today are, Mr. and Mrs. T. L. Sumner, Mrs. Charlie Pittman, Mrs. Frances Sumner Lem- coons, Mrs. Dan Bridges, Mrs. Ibbie Pierce, Mr. and Mrs. J. R. Gleaton, Mrs. Dan Garrett, Mr. and Mrs. Z. C. Allison, Dr. and Mrs. W. W. Sessions, Mr. and Mrs. Sylvan Sessions, Mr. C. A. Thompson, Mr. and Mrs. J. R. McGill, Mrs. Rhodes Ellis and Miss Ina Ellis, Miss Maude La Seur, and Mrs. Torn B. Jenkins and family. While the last named family do not live right in the city they have contributed so much to the life of this community they are a part of it. Hon. Tom B. Jenkins was elected to represent the county in the legislature but died before he took his seat. Through the recent years of depression Sumner floated bonds of some $27,000 and built a splendid brick school house with basket ball shell and Teachers' home. The present generation are largely descendents of the first settlers and splendidly illustrate their ancestors. From the earliest settlers to this generation she has the finest school spirit. If it takes self denial; if it takes work ; if it takes unity of spirit to achieve anything for the school, Sumner has it. From this community citizens have gone to make their homes all over our country and wherever they are you find this same fine spirit. WARWICK Warwick is probably the most historic town in Worth County, at least it has seen more changes than any live town in the county. Probably the first white man to pass through its site was Andrew Jackson when he was sent to put down the Seminoles on the southern border of the state. These Florida Indians, with runaway slaves, were making marauding expeditions, killing the friendly Creeks and white traders of this section. He came from Tennessee to Ft. Early, down across the county, led by the Creeks, and crossed the old ferry probably below Oakfield. He camped some where in or near Warwick, leaving Ft. Early Feb. 1818. Then came the Old Stage Coach road to Pindertown in 1825. Through its site the Old Stage Coach passed twice a week carrying its passengers and mail from Milledgeville to Tallahassee. Sometime after its beginning, not long, a little village begun to build up on the old site of Warwick. Lewis Minor had the first store, followed by Pleas Cox. After his death DMIary Jane Cox carried on the business. Then Capt. James M. Rouse, Benjamin Gleaton, Warren L. Story, the Odums, Poseys and later Dr. Nicholas Ridley who were outstanding citizens, and many others. Goods were brought in covered wagons from Montezuma on account of the shoals in the river. No goods were brought by water. Mr. Abe Odum ran a regular schedule of covered wagons to Montezuma for freight for the settlement. After the coming of the railroad the town moved down to its present site. Near Warwick, now, is the great Crisp County power dam, on the Flint river. Warwick has recently built one of the largest and handsomest brick school houses in the county ; has a large new basket ball shell, recently finished and a large canning outfit. It has Home Economic and Agriculture departments. It is a large consolidated school. This inscription is found on the corner stone. "Warwick Consolidated School, W. A. Aultman, Chairman, Warren Maken Story, Martin S. Aultman, Francis Marion Hall, Ed. W. Fenn. W., H. Little, Contractor. This gives some of the names of its leading citizens. It has many pretty bungalow homes and is in a splendid section of the county. TOWN OF POULAN Poulan, nestling among the whispering trees near the center of the county, was named for Judge W. A. Poulan, and was settled about 1877. Those families who lived within a radius of two or three miles, and most of whom were originally from North and South Carolina, were B. T. Collier, who was the oldest settler and among the first to be buried in the Poulan cemetery, W. A. Lancaster, Newell Thornhill, Samuel and Amanda Castleberry, the Sumners, Hobbys, Monks, Hancocks, and Fords. In 1877, W. H. and J. G. McPhaul came from North Carolina to Worth County. J. G. McPhaul and a negro boy camped in the fall of that year on the banks of the Warrior Creek, near the site of Poulan and made the boards used in building the first house. Mr. McPhaul later enlarged his sawmill and turpentine in- dustries, and in 1885 the Presbyterian Church was erected on its present site by W. H. and J. G. McPhaul, Walter and Lawrence McNeill, and Major Peter Pelham, with a few others. That same year a planing mill was put in operation by George F. Montgomery & Company, of Indiana. The next year the first school house, a one-room building, was built. Later this was moved to the present school campus and additions were made as needed. In this year, 1933, Poulan has a consolidated school in a modern brick building. The church and school attracted people to the town, and by 1889 there were several nice dwellings in Poulan. It was about 1895 that J. G. McPhaul looked ahead and saw the possibilities of a manufacturing industry at Poulan, and built the Poulan Cotton Mill. This mill did not begin operation however, until some time later, when a stock company was formed. This is the only enterprise of the kind in Worth County. Poulan's population was greatest in the years between 1902 and 1905. For a short time a large sawmill, planing mill, and overall factory were in operation in Poulan, but these were closed for various reasons and the population began to de-crease. However, the spirit of progress in the hearts of the people was on the increase, and in 1903 the Baptist Church was built. Mr. Moats, Mr. Peckham and Mr. W. C. Under-wood were the members of the building committee, and Mr. D. A. McGirt, who had lived in Poulan since 1882, was in charge of the construction work. During the last few years Poulan has been awake and keeping up with the times. The Bank of Poulan .was soon established in the office now used by the cotton mill, and was later moved to the building which Chase S. Osborn, ex-Governor of Michigan has, since the closing of the bank, bought and now occupies as an office. Then came the public library which was backed by such men as Mr. Osborn, Mr. Cram and Mr. Kemp. This library grew steadily, and is now one of the smallest chartered libraries in Georgia. In 1924 the Poulan School District voted bonds and erected an excellent modern school building under the name of Poulan Consolidated School, and is now considered one of the best schools in the county. HEADS OF FAMILIES OF WORTH COUNTY WHEN IT WAS ORGANIZED Given by Hon. William Henderson, of Ocilla, who lived in the County at the time. Hon. William Henderson, of Ocilla, was the son of Daniel Henderson, one of the men who secured from the Legislature the organization of Worth County. Mr. Wm. Henderson stated that these Districts may not always be right but are nearly so. As he was for several years Sheriff of Worth, this information is reliable. Second District Hyle Aultman George Houston Daniel Willis Dr. Terrell T. Monger Daniel Henderson James P. Cox Rev. Warren P. Dykes George Spring (Kept the Hotel) (Primitive Preacher) Andrew B. Hobby Alexander Hobby Seventh District W. L. Hunt Maxey Pate Fifteenth District James N. Ford Sixth District Elihu Thompson David Ridley Jackson Land William W. Tyson James Ross Robert Graham Ford Dr. Theophilus W. George Warren Gary Green Ford Tison James Gibbs Elzy Ford Dougal McLellan John McLellan John A. Ford William Vines John Willis Isaac Porter Hiram W. Vines Benjamin Willis Malon Monk Thos. G. Westfall Johnson Brooks Henry Hollingsworth, Barney Ross Joseph Sumner, Sr. weight 400 pounds Alfred J. Davis Seaborn Land Gordon Sumner White Land Green B. Williams Sixteenth District John M. Kennedy Adam J. Fowler Robert R. Jenkins Alfred Moree Buchanan Jeater A. J. Ammons Henry O'Neal Madison Goughf Parish Register Harrison O'Neal Holly K. Goughf Luke Jenkins Asa M. Giddens James T. Hancock Fourteenth District James Giddens Rev. Peter S. Lunsford Solomon Rouse William Whiddon (Baptist Preacher) Capt. James M. Rouse Rev. James M. Cham George Green William Posey pion Joseph Land Jim Posey David Champion CHAPTER V COURTS JUSTICES OF THE INFERIOR COURT, WORTH COUNTY Created December 20, 1853 WORTH COUNTY'S INFERIOR COURT JUDGES By acts of the Legislature of 1798, the Inferior Court was the court of Ordinary. The Inferior Court had jurisdiction over all county matters that are now the work of the County Board of Commissioners. They also had criminal jurisdiction over slaves and misdemeanors of whites. Could try persons with or without a jury. They were elected for a term of two or three years. Below we give a list of the Inferior Court Judges from the time of the organization of Worth until the abolishment by the Legislature in 1867. William Posey, Apr. 7, 1854-Feb. 12, 1857. Luke M. Jenkins, Apr. 7, 1854-1856, Joseph Sumner, Apr. 7, 1854-1856. Daniel Henderson, Apr. 7, 1854-Feb. 12, 1857. David Smith, Apr. 7, 1853-Feb. 12, 1857. John Turner, Jan. 11, 1856-1856. Seborn Land, Apr. 21, 1856-Feb. 12, 1857. Benjamin T. Collier, July 14, 1856-Feb. 12, 1857. William Augustus Harris, Feb. 12, 1857-1858, resigned. William Posey, Feb. 12, 1857-1858, resigned. Thomas H. Kendall, Feb. 12, 1857-1858. William L. Hunt, Feb. 12, 1857-1859. Henry O'Neal, Feb. 12, 1857-1858, resigned. David Smith, Feb. 27, 1858-1858. Dougald McLellan, Feb. 27, 1858-Jan. 10, 1861. James W. Rouse, Feb. 27, 1858-1860. Elihu Thompson, Feb. 27, 1858-Jan. 10, 1861. Hardy F. Fortner, Sept. 13, 1858-Jan. 10, 1861. John J. Willis, Feb. 15, 1859-Jan. 10, 1861. T. T. 14 lounger, Aug. 13, 1860-Jan. 10, 1861. James W. Rouse, Jan. 10, 1861-1864. J. M. C. Holamon, Jan. 10, 1861-1862. Robert G. Ford, Sr., Jan. 10, 1861-1862. William W. Poulan, Jan. 10, 1861-1862. Eli Sikes, Jan. 10, 1861-1862. Newel Thornhill, Feb. 4, 1862-Jan. 21, 1865. Daniel S. Sumner, Feb. 4, 1862-Jan. 21, 1865. James J. S. Young, Feb. 4, 1862-1862. (51) Edward Barber, Oct. 15, 1862-Jan. 21, 1865. Greene Barry Williams, Oct. 15, 1862-1864. Benjamin T. Collier, Mch. 26, 1864-Jan. 21, 1865. George W. Spring, May 7, 1864-Jan. 21, 1865. Edward Barber, Jan. 21, 1865 Robert G. Ford, Jr., Jan. 21, 1865 George W. Spring, Jan. 21, 1865 J. C. Sumner, Jan. 21, 1865-1866. William Augustus Harris, May 1, 1866, Res. resigned May 1866-68. County Court Judge. Mitchell G. Fortner, May 1, 1866 Benjamin Collier, Feb. 16, 1867-1868. WORTH COUNTY JUDGES AND SOLICITORS Judicial Circuits Macon Circuit, 1853-61 Southwestern Circuit, 1868-70 Albany Circuit, 1870-1916 Tifton Judicial Circuit, Aug. 19, 1916-1937 MACON CIRCUIT Judges Abner P. Powers, Nov. 28, 1851-1857 (res) W. K. deGraffenreid-Dec. 8 Richard H. Clark, Sept. 1, 1857-1859 1851-1855 Henry G. Lamar, Feb. 1, 1859-1861 (died) Theodore W. Montfort,. Nov. 11, 1855-61 SOUTHWESTERN CIRCUIT Judges Solicitors J. M. Clark, Aug. 19, 1868-70. R. H. Whiteley, Aug. 19, 1868-70 ALBANY CIRCUIT Judges Peter J. Strozier, Oct. 19, 1870-75. Gilbert J. Wright, Feb. 19, 1875-1880. Wm. O. Fleming, Jan. 1, 1881-1881 (died). L. P. D. Warren, Nov. 5, 1881-1882 (died 9-14-82). C. B. Wooten, Sept. 14, 1882-1882. B. B. Bower, Nov. 11, 1882-1896 (res. effective Apr. 9, 1896). W. N. Spence, Apr. 9, 1896-1909. Frank Park, Jan. 1, 1909, 1913. (res. effective 11-17-13). SOLICITORS, ALBANY CIRCUIT R. H. Whiteley, Oct. 25, 1870-1871 W. P. Sims, Mar. 9, 1871-1872. (Res. Jan. 10, 1872). J. C. Rutherford, Feb. 3, 1872, Dec. 31, 1872. B. B. Bower, Feb. 22, 1873-Dec. 31, 1876. Wm. O. Fleming, Feb. 15, 1877-Dec. 31, 1880. J. W. Walters, Jan. 1, 1881-Dec. 31, 1884. W. N. Spence, Jan. 1, 1885-Apr. 9, 1896, resigned. W. E. Wooten, Apr. 10, 1896-Dec. 31, 1912. R. C. Bell, Jan. 1, 1913-1921, Jan. 1. TIFTON CIRCUIT JUDGES Eugene E. Cox, Nov. 17, 1913-1917 R. Eve, Jan. 1, 1917. Continued to date. R. Eve, elected for 1933 to 1937. SOLICITORS R. S. Foy, Jan. 1, 1917-1932. W. Clyde Forehand, elected for 1933-1937 COUNTY COURT OF WORTH JUDGES James J. McDowell, Term from Dec. 28, 1894-Dec., 1898. Frank Park, Term from Dec. 28, 1898-Aug., 1904. Court abolished Aug., 1904. SOLICITORS T. R. Perry, Term from Aug. 8, 1896-Aug., 1898. J. H. Tipton, Term from Aug. 8, 1898-Aug., 1900. A. J. Davis, Term from Aug. 8, 1900-Aug., 1904. CITY COURT OF SYLVESTER Established August, 1904 JUDGES Frank Park, Aug. 11, 1904, Res. to take effect Jan. 1, 1909. Julian B. Williamson, Jan. 1, 1909, Jan. 1, 1912. Act passed Aug. 17, 1911 to abolish Court to take effect Jan. 1, 1912. C. W. Monk, Jan. 1, 1917-'32. Act re-establishing Court approved Aug. 8, 1916. C. W. Monk, Re-elected to serve 1933-1937. SOLICITORS J. H. Tipton, Aug. 11, 1904-Jan. 1, 1912. W. C. Forehand, Jan. 1, 1917-Jan. 1, 1921. W. C. Forehand, Jan. 1, 1921 to 1932. Joe L. Houston, Elected to serve from 1933-1937. CHAPTER VI MILITIA DISTRICTS BOUNDARIES, 1931 OF WORTH COUNTY'S MILITIA DISTRICTS 1594: Bridgeboro Bounded on west by Mitchell County; south by Colquitt County; East by W. Line of land lots 8, 39, 54, 85, 100, 131 and 146 and 7 in 1592 d. militia district; north by S. line of land lots 178-184, inclusive, in 1124th militia district. 1592: Minton Bounded on west by E. line of land lot 178 in 1124th militia district, and E. line of land lots 145, 132, 99, 86, 53, 40 and 7 in 1594th militia district; south by Colquitt County; east by line running through center of land lots 16, 31, 62, 77 and 108 in 1576th militia district, and Warrior Creek; north by S. line of land lots 154 (portion of) 153, 152, 151, 150 and 149 and W. line of land lot 149 and 174 in 1806th militia district, and S. line of land lots 194, 193 and 192 in 1124th militia district. 1576: Warrior Bounded on west by a line running through center of land lots 108, 77, 62, 31 and 16 in 1592d. militia district; south by Colquitt County ; east by Tift County ; north by S. line of land lots 116-122, inclusive, and portion of 123 in 1655th militia district. 1655: Pine Hill Bounded on west by E. line of land lots 215, 200, 169 and 154 in 1806th militia district, and Warrior Creek ; south by N. line of land lots 108 (portion of) 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114 and 115 in 1576th militia district; east by Tift County; North by S. line of land lots 298, 297 and 296, E. line of land lots 258 and 249, and S. line of land lots 249, 248 and 247 in 1346th militia district. 1806: Tempy Bounded on west by E. line of land lots 267, 240, 221 and 194 in 1124th militia district, and E., line of land lots 175 and 148 in 1592d militia district ; south by N. line of land lots 128, 127, 126, 125, 124 and 123 in 1592d militia district; East by W. line of land lots 155, 168, 201 and 214 in 1655th militia district ; North by S. line of land lots 246, 245 and 244 in 1590th militia district, W. line of land lots 244 and 263 and S. line of land lot 289 in 1590th militia district, and S. line of land lots 288 and 287 in 1124th militia district. 1346: Sumner Bounded on west by E. line of land lots 399, 384, 353, 338, 307, 292, 261, and 246 in 1590th militia district; south by N. line of land lots 214, 213, and 212, W. line of land lots 250 and 257, and N. line of land lots 257, 256 and 255 in 1655th militia district, and Tift County; east by Tift County; North by S. line of land lots 437, 431, inclusive, in 1701st militia district. 1590: Poulan Bounded on west by E. line of land lots 403, 380, 357 and 334 in 867th militia district, and E. line of land lots 311 and 288 in 1125th militia district; south by N. and E. lines of land lot 264, E. line of land lot 243, and N. line of land lots 217, 216 and 215 in 1806th militia district ; east by W. line of land lots 247, 260, 293, 306, 339, 352, 385 and 398 in 1346th militia district; North by S. line of land lots 430, 429, 428 and 427 in 1701st militia district. 1701: Shingler Bounded on west by E. line of land lots 518, 495, 472, 449 and 426 in 867th militia district; south by N. line of land lots 402, 401, 400 and 399 in 1590th militia district, and N. line of land lots 398, 392, inclusive, in 1346th militia district; east by meanderings of Daniels Creek; North by Turner County and S. line of land lots 208, 177 and a portion of 176, in 1044th district. 1044: Doles Bounded on west by E. line of land lots 17, (portion of) 16, 15, 14 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, and 7 (portion of) in 512th militia district, and E. line of land lots 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1 in 1602nd militia district ; south by N. line of land lot 512 in 1428th militia district, N. line of land lots 513, 518 inclusive, in 867th militia district. and N. line of land lots 519 and 520 in 1701st militia district; east by Turner County; North by S. line of land lots 195, 190. 163 and 158 and W. line of land lots 158, 159, and 160 in 4724 militia district, and S. line of land lots 248-256 inclusive, in 1121st militia district. 1724: Vickers Bounded on west by E. line of land lots 152 (portion of), 169, 184, 201, 216, 233, and 248 in 1121st militia district, and E. line of land lots 129, 130, and 131 in 1044th militia district; south by N. line of land lots 157, 164, 189 and 196 in 1044th militia district ; east by Turner County ; North by meanderings of Swift Creek. 1121: Warwick Bounded on west by E. line of land lots 27, 26, 25, 24, 23, 22, 21, 20, 19, 18, and 17 (portion of) in 512th militia district; south by N. line of land lots 1, 32, 33, 64, 65, 96, 97, 128 and 129 in 1044th militia district; east by W. line of land lots 247, 234, 215 202, 183 and 170 in 1724th militia district; North by Swift Creek and Crisp County. 512: Oakfield Bounded on west by Flint River; south by meanderings of Abrams Creek; east by NV. line of land lots 10, (Portion of), 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1 in 1044th militia district, and W. line of land lots 256, 225, 224, 193, 192, 161, 160, 129, 128 a portion of 97 in 1121st militia district; North by Flint River and Swift Creek. 1602: Aultmans Bounded on west by Flint River and Dougherty County; South by Dougherty County and N. line of land lots 507, 508, 509, 510 and 511 in 1428th militia district; east by W. line of land lots 16, 15, 14, 13, 12, 11 and 10 (portion of) in 1044th militia district; north by meanderings of Abrams Creek. 1428: Red Rock Bounded on west by Dougherty County ; south by N. line of land lots 277-282, inclusive, in 1124th militia district; east by W. line of land lot 316 in 1124th militia district, and W. line of land lots 329, 362, 375, 408, 421, 454, 467, 500 and 513 in 867th militia district; north by S. line of land lots 17 (portion of) and 16, in 1044th militia district, and S. line of land lots 1, 65, 66, 119, 120, 170, 171, in 1602d militia district. 867: Sylvester Bounded on west by E. line of land lots 512, 501, 466, 455, 420, 409, 374, 363 and 328 in 1428th militia district ; south by N. line of land lots 316, 315, 314, 313, 312 and 311 in 1124th militia district; East by W. line of land lots 335, 356, 381 and 402 in 1590th militia district; and W. line of land lots 427, 448, 473, 494 and 519 in 1701st militia district; North by S. line of land lots 176 (portion of) 145, 144, 113, 112, 81, 80, 49 and 48 and 17 (portion of) in 1044th militia district. 1124: Gordy Bounded on West by Mitchell and Dougherty Counties ; south by N. line of land lots 139-145, inclusive, in 1594th militia district, W. line of land lot 177 in 1592d militia district, and N. line of land lots 177, 176 and 175 in 1592d militia district; east by W. line of land lots 195, 220, 241 and 266 in 1806th militia district, N. line of land lots 266 and 265 in 1806th militia district, and W. line of land lots 289 and 310 in 1590th militia district; North by S. line of land lots 334-329, inclusive, in 867th militia district, E. line of land lot 317 in 1428th militia district, and S. line of land lots 317-322, inclusive, in 1428th militia district. CHAPTER VII SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES STATE SENATORS Worth Co., 1853-1861 1855-6 Wm. A. Harris, (Succeeded A. J. Shine, elec. but died) 1857-8 Wm. A. Harris 1859-0 Wm. A. Harris 10th Sen. Dist. 1861 1861-2-3 Ex. D. A. Vason 1863-4 Ex. 4-5 Ex. Fred H. West 1865-6 P. J. Strozier 1868 Ex. 9-0-Ex. F. O. Welch 1871-2 F. O. Welch 1873-4 Wm. A. Harris 1875-6 Wm. A. Harris 1877 C. Wessalowski 1878-9 I. P. Tison 1880-1 A. C. Westbrook 1882-3 Ex. 3 A. C. Westbrook 1884-5 H. L. Long 1886-7 W. E. Smith 1888-9 C. A. Alford 1890-1 W. C. Gill 1892-3 Wm. E. Wooten 1894-5 W. L. Story 1896-7 Philip Cook, Jr. 1898-9 Ed. L. Wight 1900-1 G. G. Ford 1902-3-4 A. B. Duncan 1905-6 Cruger Westbrook 1907-8 Ex. W. L. Sikes 1909-0 J. P. Callaway 1911-2 Ex. 2. J S. Shingler 1913-4 L. L. Ford 1915-5 Ex 6-7 Ex. Mark Tison 1917-18 Sol. J. Yeomans 1919-0 J. S. Shingler 1921-2 Dennis Fleming 1923-3 Ex 4. L. D. Passmore 1927-28 P. B. Ford 1929-31 Ex.-G. H. Richardson, Lee County 1932-33 J. R. Pottle, Albany, Doroughty County. Judge Frank Park of Worth County, represented the Second Congressional District in Congress from 1914-25. Judge E. E. Cox Congressional Second-Congressional District 1925 to date. WORTH COUNTY 1855-6 M. Simmons 1857-8 Henry O'Neal 1859-0 Daniel Henderson 1861-2-3 Ex. Daniel Henderson 1863-4 Ex. 4-5 Ex. Daniel Henderson 1865-6 R. G. Ford 1868 Ex. 9-0 Ex. James M. Rouse 1871-2 Royal R. Jenkins 1873-4 D. McClellan 1875-6 Daniel Henderson 1877 J. M. Rouse 1878-9 G. G. Ford 1880-1 J. M. Sumner 1882-3 Ex. 3. W. J. Ford 1884-5 W. J. Ford REPRESENTATIVES 1886-7 J. H. Pickett 1888-9 David H. Champion 1890-1 J. W. Perry 1892-3 J. M. Sumner 1894-5 J. L. Sumner 1896-7 G. G. Ford 1898-9 G. G. Ford 1900-1 W. L. Sikes 1902-3-4 W. L. H. Alford 1905-6 W. L. H. Alford 1907-8-8 Ex. Claude Payton 1909-0 G. G. Ford 1911-2 Ex. 2. Claude Payton 1913-4 Dr. G. S. Sumner 1915-5 Ex. 6-7 Ex. G. S. Sumner 1917-8 G. B. Williams (58) HISTORY OF WORTH COUNTY, GEORGIA 59 1919-0 G. B. Williams 1921-2 Mark Tison, deceased G. R. Nottingham, resigned, Apr. 1922. W. O. Bozeman, elec. June 1, 1922 C. W. Hillhouse, elec. June 1, 1922 1923-3 Ex 4. W. O. Bozeman 1923-24 C. W. Hillhouse 1925-6 C. W. Hillhouse 1925-26 L. D. Passmore 1926-27 C. W. Hillhouse 1928-29 W. Jewel Crowe 1928-29 O. M. Thomoson Oct. 1930 Thos. B. Jenkins died Jan., 1931. 1931 P. M. Lancaster to fill unexpired term. 1933-1935 J. H. Tipton, Sylvester, Ga. 1933-1935 Gordon S. Sumner, Poulan, Ga. CHAPTER VIII OFFICERS COUNTY SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS OF WORTH COUNTY Name and Address Profession Date R. T. Ford, Isabella, Ga. Farmer 1882-1884 W. L. Sikes, Sumner, Ga. Doctor 1884-1885 J. B. Pickett, Sumner, Ga Doctor 1885-1893 J. G. Polhill, Sylvester, Ga. Lawyer 1893-1904 L. D. Passmore, Sylvester, Ga. Lawyer 1904-1912 W. R. Sumner, Sumner, Ga. Lawyer 1912-1916 B. L. Jones, Sylvester, Ga. Teacher 1916-1920 W. R. Sumner, Sumner, Ga. Lawyer 1920-1931 M. C. Owen, Sumner, Ga. Teacher 1931 to present WORTH COUNTY, COUNTY OFFICERS Commissioned-Succeeded James G. Brown, Sheriff Apr. 7, 1854-Jan. 11, 1856. Wm. A. Johnston, Clk. Supr. Ct Apr. 7, 1854-Jan. 11, 1856. Wm. A. Johnston, Clk. Infr. Ct Apr. 7, 1854-Jan. 11, 1856. James N. Ford, Ordinary Apr. 7, 1854-Jan. 11, 1856. Jeremiah Spring, Tax Rec Apr. 7, 1854-Jan. 9, 1855. A. B. Mattox, Tax Col Apr. 7, 1854-Jan. 9, 1855. Thos. B. Arline, Surveyor Apr. 7, 1854-Jan. 11, 1856. Jas. A. Olliver, Coroner Apr. 7, 1854-Jan. 9, 1855. Lewis Simmons, Tax Col Jan. 9, 1855-Jan. 11, 1856. William Spring, Tax Rec Jan. 9, 1855-Jan. 11, 1856. Malon Monk, Coroner Jan. 9, 1855-Jan. 11, 1856. Stephen W. Pearce, Sheriff Jan. 11, 1856-Feb. 27, 1858. John J. Willis, Clk. Supr. Ct Jan. 11, 1856-July 14, 1856. Wm. F. Bynum, Clk. Inf. Ct Jan. 11, 1856-Feb. 27, 1858. Jas. M. Rouse, Tax Rec Jan. 11, 1856-Jan. 12, 1857. Daniel S. Sumner, Tax Col Jan. 11, 1856-Jan. 12, 1857. Milner Holliday, Coroner Jan. 11, 1856-Feb. 27, 1858. Thos. H. Westfall, Surveyor Jan. 11, 1856-Feb. 27, 1858. Robt. D. Sinclair, Ordinary Jan 11, 1856 Edward Barber, Clk. Supr. Ct July 14, 1856-Feb, 27, 1858-1860. James M. Rouse, Rec. & Col Jan. 12, 1857-Feb. 27, 1858. Asa M. Giddetis, Sheriff Feb. 27, 1858-Jan. 10, 1860. Daniel S. Sumner, Clk, Infr. Ct Feb. 27, 1858-Jan. 10, 1860. William M. Davis, Coroner F'eb. 1858-Jan. 10, 1860. White Land, Rec. & Col Feb. 27, 1858-Jan. 10, 1859. Michael J. Horn, Surveyor Feb. 27, 1858-Jan. 10, 1860. James M. Rouse, Tax Rec Jan. 10, 1859-Jan. 10, 1860-1861. White Land, Tax Col Jan. 10, 1859-Jan. 10, 1860. James N. Ford, Ordinary Jan. 10, 1860 to 1864. (60) Commissioned-Succeeded Robt. J. Weeks, Clk. Supr. Ct Jan. 10, 1860 Thos. G. Westfall, Clk. Infr. Ct failed to qualify. Louis G. Simmons,. Sheriff Jan. 10, 1860 White Land, Tax Col Jan. 10, 1860-Jan. 10, 1861. Thos. G. Westfall, Surveyor Jan. 1.0, 1860-1864. to 1873. Michael Deariso, Coroner Jan. 10, 1860 R. J. Weeks, Clk. Inf. Ct Aug. 13, 1860 J. R. Bozeman, Tax Rec Jan. 10, 1861 White Land, Tax Col Jan. 10, 1861 W. L. Hunt, Clk. Supr. Ct Jan. 24, 1862-Feb. 16, 1864-1866. W. L. Hunt, Clk. Infr. Ct Jan. 24, 1862-Feb. 16, 1864. Royal R. Jenkins, Sheriff Jan. 24, 1862-Aug. 4, 1863 to 1864. J. P. Cox, Treasurer Jan. 24, 1862-Feb. 16, 1864. James W. Rouse, Ordinary Tan. 26, 1862-Feb. 16, 18644873. White Land, Rec. & Col Mar. 1, 1862-Feb. 16, 1864. William Keen, Sheriff Feb. 16, 1864-May 1, 1866-Sept. 20, 1870 (Res.) R. P. Porter, Clk Infr. Ct Feb. 16, 1864-May 1, 1866. R. R. Jenkins, Tax Rec Feb. 16, 1864-May 1, 1866. G. W. Sumner, Tax Col Feb. 16, 1864-May 1, 1866. A. M. Smith, Coroner Feb. 16, 1864-May 1, 1866. J. W. Fowler, Treasurer Feb. 16, 1864-May 1, 1866. Jas. A. Fortner, Clk. Infr. Ct May 1, 1866-Aug. 22, 1866. W. J. Hodge, Tax Rec. May 1, 1866-White Land, Sept. 9, 1867. James J. Willis, Tax Col May 1, 1866 Asa Rooks, Feb. 26, 1868. Peter T. Everett, Coroner May 1, 1866 John T. Brooks, Treasurer May 1, 1866 Win. L. Hunt, Clk. Infr. Ct Aug. 22, 1866 Henry R. Joiner, Clk. Supr. Ct _June 23, 1869 White Land, Tax Rec Oct. 12, 1868-1875 to 1879 to 1881 1885 to 1887. qualified Wm. Henderson, Sheriff Feb. 9, Joel W. Joiner, Clk. Supr. Ct Feb. 9, Virgil S. Holton, Tax Rec Feb. 9, 1871 1871 1871 qualified Gary G. Ford, Tax Col Mar. 7, 1871 John M. Kennedy, Treas Mar. 7, 1871 A. M. Giddens, Tax Rec Apr. 8, 1872 Chas. G. Tipton, Clk. Supr. Ct Jan 24, 1873 to 1883-Jan.-1895 to 1896. Henry H. Rouse, Sheriff Jan. 30, 1873 David Champion, Tax Col Jan. 28, 1873 Daniel S. Sumner, Treasurer____ Feb. 1, 1873 Wm. O. Watson, Surveyor Feb. 10, 1873. Harrison O'Neal, Coroner Feb. 17, 1873 Wm. J. Ford, Ordinary Tan. 21, 1873-Mar. 1877, (Res.). W. J. Gregory, Sheriff Feb. 2, 1875 J. L. Sumner, Tax Col Feb. 2, 1875 Daniel S. Sumner, Treas Feb. 15, 1875 Wm. O. Watson, Surveyor Failed to qualify. Harrison O'Neal, Coroner Failed to qualify. commissioned Wm. J. Gregory, Sheriff Jan. 19-Dec. 21, 1877. Resigned. qualified Geo. W. Sumner, Tax Rec Feb. 5, 1877- Commissioned-Succeeded Joseph Z. Ross, Tax Col Mar. 13, 1877 Michael W. Deariso, Treas Feb. 5, 1877 Wm. W. Watson, Surveyor Failed to qualify. Harrison O'Neal, Coroner Failed to qualify. Thos. M. Lippett, Ordinary Apr. 23, 1877 to 1893. Wm. J. Ford, Sheriff Feb. 4, 1878 Jno. D. Houston, Sheriff Feb. 15, 1879 Henry H. Rouse, Tax Col Feb. 15, 1879 Wm. F. Tanner, Treas Feb. 20, 1879 to 1883. commissioned H. J. Marsh, Surveyor Jan. 16, 1879-Mar. 4, 1880. Res. qualified T. M. Cherry, Coroner Jan. 2, 1880 Geo. W. Spring, Sheriff F'eb. 1, 1881-Apr. 29, 1882, Resigned James Young, Tax Rec Feb. 5, 1881 to 1885. Wm. Jackson Story, Tax Col Feb. 5, 1881 W. Jackson Davis, Surveyor Jan. 26, 1881 to 1885. Niles Perry, Coroner Mar. 12, 1881 Geo. W. Spring, Sheriff June 5, 1882 J. J. McDowell, Clk. Supr. Ct Jan. 30, 1883 to 1894, (Res.) S. W. Holten, Sheriff Feb. 1, 1883 J. J. Ross, Tax Col Jan. 30, 1883 to 1887 Jesse Turner, Treas Feb. 6, 1883 S. M. Cox, Coroner Feb. 6, 1883 S. W. Holton, Sheriff Feb. 4, 1885-Sept. 9, 1885. Resigned J. M. Turner, Treas Jan. 17, C. C. Walters, Surveyor Feb. 12, 1885 1885 Josh Adam, Coroner Feb. 13, 1885 J. W. Davis. Sheriff Oct. 26, 1885-Feb. 7, 1887 Calvin C. Walters, Tax Rec Jan. 21, 1887 to 1891-1895 to 1898 W. J. Storey, Tax Col Apr. 9, 1887 Geo. S. Sumner, Treas Feb. 7, 1887 C. W. Hillhouse, Surveyor Jan. 18, 1887 J. N. Odom, Coroner Feb. 5, 1887 S. M. Cox, Sheriff Feb. 1, 1889-Jan. 30, 1891 A. P. Smith, Tax Col Jan. 22, 1889 to 1894 B. F. Sikes, Treas Tan. 22, 1889 E. Lindsey, Surveyor Feb. 4, 1889 to 1893-1900 to 1906 J. W. Hobby, Coroner Jan. 25, 1889 Mark Tyson, Tax Rec :Tan. 27, 1891 J. M. Turner, Treasurer Jan. 29, 1891 Cornelius McCowey, Coroner Feb. 2, 1891 W. J. Sumner, Ordinary Jan. 20, 1893 G. S. Nelson, Sheriff Jan. 16, 1893 to 1895 C. W. Graves, Tax Rec Jan. 18, 1893-1895-1900-1905 R. K. Young, Treasurer Jan. 17, 1893 Z. W. Mathews, Surveyor Jan. 27, 1893 to 1900 Edd Eady, Coroner ___-_Jan. 21, 1893 to 1898 J. W. Price, Ordinary Dec. 16, 1893 to 1904 Wyatt A. Hall, Tax Col Jan. 12, 1894-1898. B. F. Sikes, Treas Jan. 19, 1895 Jas. W. Warren, Clk. Supr. Ct Oct. 30, 1896-1898-1916 to 1924-1928 to 1937. H. S. Story, Sheriff Nov. 12, 1896-Nov. 16, to 1898. B. F. Sikes, Treasurer Nov. 7, 1896 D. A. McGirt, Tax Rec Nov. 14, 1898 N. G. Houston, Tax Col Nov. 9, 1898 to 1902-1906 to 1912. Commissioned-Succeeded J. W. Aultman, Treas Nov. 10, 1898 A. J. Paul, Coroner Nov. 8, 1898 to 1904-1912 to 1916. John N. Sumner, Sheriff Nov. 2, 1900-1908 (Res.)-1916 to 1937. J. W. Aultman, Treasurer _Nov. 29, 1900 J. R. Willis, Tax Col Nov. 24, 1902 B. F. Sikes, Treasurer Nov. 30, 1902 W. W. Tison, Ordinary Nov. 2, 1904 to 1916. W. D. Brady, Tax Rec Dec. 2, 1904 to 1908. J. R. Willis, Tax Col Dec. 15, 1904 B. F. Sikes, Treasurer Dec. 15, 1904 T. M. Coram, Coroner Oct. 17, 1904 to 1912-1916 to 1921. qualified J. W. Aultman, Treasurer Dec. 1, 1906 W. J. Davis, Surveyor Dec. 13, 1906 to 1916. L. A. Potts, Sheriff Nov. 3, 1908 (apptd. for unexpired term). L. A. Potts, Sheriff Nov. 12, 1908 to 1916. Thyal Holton, Tax Rec Nov. 19, 1908 to 1912. J. W. Aultinan, Treasurer Nov. 17, 1908 S. S. Story, Treasurer Dec. 15, 1910 L. A. Potts, Sheriff Dec. 13, 1912 1912-1916. B. Sikes, Tax Rec 13, J Dec. Mack J. Bass, Tax Col Dec. 30, 1912 to 1937. W. H. Powell, Treasurer Dec. 16, 1912-1916. W. K. Stewart, Clk. Supr. Ct Dec. 14, 1914 to 1916. W. J. Davis, Surveyor Dec. 22, 1914 S. S. Story, Ordinary Dec. 27, 1916 to 1937. W. B. Holton, Tax Rec Dec. 14, 1916 to 1933. A. F. Champion, Treasurer Dec. 29, 1916 to 1920. C. M. Medders, Surveyor Jan. 4, 1917 to 1935-1929 to 1937. W. E. Watson, Treasurer Dec. 15, 1920 (died Dec. 6, 1923). Mrs. W. E. Watson, Treasurer (Appointed to fill his place) J. H. Carter, Coroner Jan. 10, 1921 to 1928. John L. Tipton, Clk. Supr. Ct Jan. 1, 1924 to 1929. W. C. Moree, Surveyor Jan. 1, 1925 to 1928. T. A. Spurlin, Coroner Jan. 1, 1929 to 1937. COUNTY OFFICERS ELECTED TO SERVE FOUR YEARS. BEGINNING JANUARY 1st, 1933-1937 S. S. Story, Ordinary J. W. Warren, Clerk Superior Court J. N. Sumner, Sheriff D. B. Gleaton, Tax Receiver M. J. Bass, Tax Collector Henry J. Sumner, Surveyor T. A. Spurlin, Coroner Board of C. H. Strangward, Chairman, Sylvester, Ga. I. J. Hancock, Doerun, Ga., R.F.D. W. W. Tison, Doles, Ga. C. W. Monk, Judge City Court of Sylvester Joe L. Houston, Solicitor City Court of Sylvester Clifford Grubbs, Probation Officer W. C. Tipton, Health Officer T. R. Perry, Sr., County Attorney M. C. Owen, School Superinten dent Education C. A. Thompson, Sumner, Ga. G. M. Green, Sylvester, Ga., R.F.D. No.4 Board of Commissioners of Roads and Revenues F. M. Kimble, Chairman, Poulan, G a. C. H. Forshee, Poulan, Ga., R.F.D. J. I. Langdale, Sumner, Ga., R.F.D. No. 2 George L. Tatum, Gordy, Ga. F. C. Hall, Oakfield, Ga. R. B. Pollard, Sylvester, Ga., Clerk Board of Commissioners Tax Assessors C. A. Thompson, Sumner, Ga. J. S. Hancock, Sylvester J. F. Bryan, Vickers COUNTY COMMISSIONERS Since the fiscal affairs of the county have been placed by Statute in the hands of Commissioners of Roads and Revenues, the County has been peculiarly fortunate in the selection of this Board from August 29, 1904, until date. Were there a roster of "Who's Who in Worth County" the personnel of the Boards would be found on this roster, and their names would be near the top in all achievements going to make up good citizenship. The first Board consisted of D. H. Davis, T. J. Pinson, H. C. Woolard, J. S. Westherry and J. D. Bridges. At their first meeting, T. J. Pinson was elected Chairman with J. W. Price, Clerk of the Board. All of the above Commissioners have passed to their reward except D. H. Davis, who is now living at Ashburn, Ga., and is seventy-two years old. Mr. Davis was born in Worth County, and has lived in the county all his life until a part of the county was cut oft to make the County of Turner. In a recent interview with Mr. Davis, he said that Worth County was not only the hest county in the State of Georgia, but was the best county in any state. Mr. Davis is one of the outstanding citizens of this section, and, while his legal residence is in Turner County, we still claim him as our own. He is one of the largest real estate owners of the county. Mr. Davis is a product of Worth County. He was an orphan boy, his mother having died when he was one year old, and his father at five years old. There were no free schools then, and all the education he received was paid for by himself. He would work on the farm for six months and send himself to the country schools for six monthhs. There are few, if any, boys in Worth County at this time who are more handicapped than was D. H. Davis, but Worth County always has had. and still has, many gifts in store for the boys who have inspiration, imagination, and determination and who are not afraid of perspiration. When a caesarian operation brought forth from old Mother Worth her youngest offspring, the county of Turner, immediately thereafter Mr. Davis was drafted in her service as Commissioner and held the position until voluntary retirement on account of approaching old age. What is true of D. H. Davis is also true in a large measure of the rest of the personnel of Worth's first Board of Commissioners of Roads and Revenues. They were all self-made men; they were all successful: they all exemplified what is best. They were all outstanding citizens of Worth County. How-ever, a short biography of the others will be found in this History. While the personnel of every Board since has been noted for the character of its roster, yet the achievements of the first Board possibly stands out in review. They financed the beautiful courthouse and jail that we are using at this time, and during their administration there were many complex and controversial questions that required tact, firmness, and understanding. They were peculiarly the storm center of controversial questions of finance, administration, and policy, and yet through it all they kept their poise, going the even tenor of their way, courteously kind to all, yet firm in what they deemed right. We place a wreath of most beautiful flowers on memory's page as a token of their patriotic and unselfish service. In writing the history of the County and its Commissioners of Roads and Revenues, your historian would receive and deserve the censure of the citizens of the County should we fail to refer to the right hand of the first Board during the parlous times of that day. We refer to the building Committee, composed of J. W. Price, T. C. Jefford, Frank Park, and T. R. Perry, who had charge of erecting the beautiful court house at Sylvester, and were called the Building Committee. The beautiful building that we now own will ever be a monument to their acumen, wise supervision, and judgment. On February 15th, 1905, J. W. Price resigned as Clerk of the Board and the Commissioners elected J. H. Tipton as Clerk, and Perry & Tipton as attorneys for the Board. On Jun 8th, 1905, Dr. H. M. Jefford was elected County Physician. January 1st, 1907, the personnel of the Board was as follows : J. S. Westberry, Chairman, R. K. Young, D. H. Powell, W. H. B. McKenzie, and W. S. Long, Commissioners. This year the Commissioners adopted the alternative road law and worked the convicts on the public roads of the County. Until this date the convicts were sold to individuals for the highest bid. C. F. Wall was the first Superintendent of the chain-gang. At the first meeting in January, W. E. Grubbs was elected Clerk of the Board. T. R. Perry was elected County Attorney, or rather was re-elected. On April 19th, 1907, Dr. L. F. Grubbs was elected County Physician at a salary of three hundred dollars per year. On December 1st, this year, G. S. Nelson was elected County Warden. At this meeting the Commissioners passed an order requiring all stumps to be pulled from the public roads of the county. On March 3rd, 1908, Dr. T. J. Bridges and Dr. Mack Jefford were elected County Physicians at $25.00 per month, payable quarterly. On June 30th, 1908, G. S. Nelson resigned as County Ward-en, and G. L. Hammond was elected to succeed him. On October 6th, G. W. Sizemore was elected to succeed G. L. Hammond, resigned. Application was made to the Prison Commission for forty felony convicts. On January 5th, 1909, the personnel of the Board was changed, J. S. Westberry and R. K. Young retiring, and G. W. Chapman and J. T. Thornhill taking their places. The Board organized by electing W. S. Long chairman and W. E. Grubbs clerk. The board consisted at this time of the following members : W. S. Long, D. H. Powell, W. H. B. McKenzie, G. W. Chapman, and J. T. Thornhill. At their first meeting Polhill & Tison were elected county attorneys at a salary of one hundred dollars per annum. On April 6, 1909, Capt. W. E. Sams was elected deputy warden and given charge of camp No. 2. On the same date G. M. Pinson took the place of W. S. Long on the Board and was elected chairman. On the same date Rev. Sam Eady was appointed to preach a sermon at each camp once a month at a salary of $15.00 per month, and Dr. M. J. Crockett was elected County Physician at a salary of $360.00 per annum ; G. W. Chapman was appointed as a committee of one to have oats at the poor farm cut, and on June 1st a committee was appointed to have the oats threshed. On April 6th, same year, the convicts were divided into two camps, with W. E. Sams in charge of Camp No. 2. On April 6th, 1909, G. M. Pinson was commissioned as a member of the Board, to take the place of W. S. Long, and at the same time was elected chairman of the Board, the Board at this time consisting of G. M. Pinson, chairman, G. W. Chapman, D. H. Powell, W. H. B. McKenzie, J. T. Thornhill, and W. E. Grubbs, clerk. On December 7th, 1909, W. E. Sams was elected county warden at a salary of $100 per month. On May 3, 1910, Dr. M. J. Crockett was elected county physician at a salary of $25.00 per month. On January 3, 1911, the Board was composed of J. A. Haines, J. T. Thornhill, G. W. Chapman, I. J. Hancock, and J. W. Young. At their first meeting J. A. Haines was elected chairman, with W. E. Grubbs as clerk, and W. E. Sams was re-elected warden for another year. At a meeting of the Board on December 16, 1912, the following resolution was passed: "Upon motion and unanimous vote, it was ordered that the following taxes be relieved on account of error in digest: Sam Smith, two dogs: M. W. Webb, one dog." On January 7, 1913, W. S. Hufstetler and S. F. Whidden, two newly elected members of the Board, were sworn in, and the board organized by electing J. A. Haines chairman, S. F. Whidden, vice chairman, and W. E. Grubbs, clerk. The board at this time consisted of the two newly elected members and I. J. Hancock, W. S. Hufstetler, and J. W. Young. At a meeting held on May 6, 1913, Crisp County was offered the cash sum of one thousand dollars to reimburse them for work done on -North County roads. This payment was justified for the reason that a year or more earlier, by an Act of the Legislature, a large portion of Worth County, including the town of Warwick, was cut off into Crisp County, and later the courts held the Act illegal. In the mean time, Crisp County had been maintaining the roads, had built some new roads, and this appropriation \vas to reimburse them in part for money expended in this way. At a meeting held on July 12, 1913, it was moved and unanimously voted that every member of the board appear be-fore the house committee of the Georgia Legislature to oppose cutting off a portion of Worth County to create a proposed new County of Griggs. On January 15, 1915, the personnel of the board was changed, the members being at this time as follows : J. S. Westberry, S. F. Whidden, W. S. Hufstetler, J. B. White, and J. M. Watson. At their first meeting J. S. Westberry was elected chairman, and R. B. Pollard, clerk. At a meeting January 19, 1915, Captain W. E. Sams tendered his resignation as warden, which was accepted, to take effect as soon as he could be released by the prison commission and his successor elected. At the same meeting the salary of the county warden was fixed at $90.00 per month. At the same meeting T. R. Perry was elected as county attorney at a salary of ten dollars per month, and the salary of the clerk was fixed at $40.00 per month. At a meeting February 2, 1915, President Cleveland was relieved of paying poll tax on account of over age. In 1915 the board was buying kerosene at nine cents per gallon, and during this year the old obsolete cannon were mounted on the court house lawn, the city of Sylvester paying half and the county the other half of the expense. On September 7, 1915, the resignation of Dr. M. J. Crockett as county physician was accepted, and Dr. W. C. Tipton was elected in his place. On November 17, 1915, S. M. Davis was elected to fill the unexpired term of W. S. Hufstetler, resigned. In the year 1916 the personnel of the board was as follows: J. S. Westberry, chairman, J. M. Watson, J. B. White. S. M. Davis, and S. F. Whidden, with R. B. Pollard as clerk, T. R. Perry, county attorney, and G. S. Nelson, warden. On January 2, 1917, the personnel of the board was as follows : J. S. Westberry, chairman, S. M. Davis, J. B. White, J. M. Watson, and E. J. Gissendaner, with R. B. Pollard, Legend for cut on page 69. Top row left to right: Geo. L. Tatum, C. H. Forshee. Center, F. C. Hall. Second row, left to right: F. M. Kimball, Chairman of Board. J. I. Langdale, Sumner. Third row, left to right: R. B. Pollard, Clerk of Board, and R. J. Free, Warden. 70 HISTORY OF WORTH COUNTY, GEORGIA clerk, M. J. Crockett, county physician, at a salary of $35.00 per month, and Perry & Williamson, county attorneys for a term of two years. At a meeting held April 16, 1918, J. S. Westherry tendered his resignation and it was accepted. It was decided not to elect another member to fill this vacancy until the regular primary election to be held in September following, and that the nominee at this primary might be elected to serve during the interim before taking office as a result of the primary. S. M. Davis was elected chairman to fill the unexpired term of J. S. V estberry, resigned. This time the board took up the task of tick eradication in Worth County, and vats were ordered built and men employed to look after the work. This work was to be done with the assistance of the state. Prices were good this year, and the board sod to M. J. Bass a lot of second hand or used oat sacks at 30 cents each. On September 16th the clerk was ordered to advertise for good corn in the ear and authorized to pay $1.25 per bushel for same; aso a lot of native hay at $27.50 per ton. On January 7, 1919, the present heating plant for the court house was bought and installed. On January 9th the new commissioner, F. M. Kimble, was sworn in and elected chair-man, with E. J. Gissendaner as vice chairman. R. B. Pollard was re-elected clerk at a salary of $50.00 per month, G. S. Nelson was re-elected warden at a salary of $150.00 per month, this to include the use of his automobile. T. R. Perry was re-elected county attorney at a salary of $25.00 per month, and Dr. W. C. Tipton, county physician, at a salary of $50.00 per month. On Octe ber 7, 1919, E. M. Aultman was elected to fill the unexpired terns of. M. Davis, resigned. The salary of ward-en was increased to. $200.00 per month, beginning with October 1st. At the first meeting in 1920 all officers of the board were re-elected for another year, including clerk, attorney and ward-en. On June 1st, 1920, the board consisted of F. M. Kimble, chairman, E. J. Gissendaner, G. G. Young, H. A. Land; and E. M. Aultman, with R. B. Pollard, clerk, T. R. Perry, county attorney, and W. C. Tipton, county physician. On September 15, 1920, the resignation of G. S. Nelson as warden was accepted, and C. E. Jordan was elected warden at a salary of $175.00 per month, and the upkeep and use of his automobile. On January 18, 1921, the same officers were re-elected with a reduction in salary of 20 per cent. On January 4, 1921, E. J. Gissenclaner was retired and L. D. Mathews sworn in to take his place as a member of the board. On July 1st, 1921, the services of the Home Economic Demonstration Agent was dispensed with, and the farm demonstrator was dropped from the pay roll of the county on July 5, 1921. On October 4, 1921, a health officer was employed at a salary of $2400.00 a year. On January 3, 1922, the same officers were re-elected for another year. On January 2, 1923, H. A. Land and G. G. Young, having been retired, and E. W. Fenn and J. M. Watson having been elected to succeed them, the new board was organized with the following members : F. M. Kimble, chairman, E. M. Ault-man, E. W. Fenn, L. D. Mathews and J. M. Watson. R. B. Pollard was re-elected clerk, T. R. Perry, attorney, and Chas. E. Jordan, county warden. On January 1st, 1924, H. J. Prance was employed as county agent, the county to pay half of his salary and the state the other half. The board was composed of the same members as in 1923, and was organized by electing F. M. Kimble, chairman, R. 13. Pollard, clerk, T. R. Perry, attorney, and Chas. E. Jordan, as warden. On February 3, 1925, three new commissioners were sworn in, as follows: M. S. Aultman, to take the place of E. W. Fenn, resigned and moved to Florida, G. E. Gissendaner and C. R. Varnadoe, and the same chairman, clerk, attorney and warden were elected for another year. On January 5, 1926, the board met with no changes in its personnel, and the same officers were elected for another year. On March 22, 1926, J. R. Free was elected as county warden to succeed Chas. E. Jordan, resigned. January 7, 1927, the board was organized by the election of F. M. Kimble, chairman, G. E. Gissendaner, vice chairman, and M. S. Aultman, C. R. Varnadoe, and J. M. Watson, commissioners. R. B. Pollard was re-elected clerk, T. R. Perry, attorney, W. C. Tipton, county physician, and R. J. Free, warden. On January 3, 1928, the board met and re-elected the same officers for another year. At this meeting a county wide school tax of five dollars on the thousand was ordered levied and collected by the tax collector. March 16. 1928, the potato plant was sold for one thousand dollars, the same having been previously bought in by the county at a tax sale. On July 3, 1928, a resolution was passed to the effect that the county not buy any more lands sold for taxes. On January 1, 1929, the board re-elected all the same officers for another year at a salary cut of 10 per cent. On January 7, 1930, the resignation of C. R. Varnodoe was accepted, and H. A. Land sworn in to take his place. On account of the depressed financial condition of the county the county health officer was discontinued, to take effect July 1, 1930. On January 6, 1931, F. C. Hall and J. I. Langdale were sworn in as new members, taking the places of J. M. Watson and M. S. Aultman, retired. The board organized by electing F. M. Kimble, chairman, G. E. Gissendaner, vice chairman, with F. C. Hall, H. A. Land, and J. I. Langdale as the other members. The same officers were re-elected for another year, and R. B. Pollard was made purchasing agent for the county. On January 5, 1932, the board met and re-elected all the old officers for another year. On June 10, 1932, all salaries were slashed, the warden being cut to $100.00 per month, and others in the same proportion. September 6th a resolution passed not to collect any road tax for 1932. January 3, 1933, H. A. Land and G. E. Gissendaner having been retired, George L. Tatum and C. H. Forshee were sworn in to take their places. Worth County has been exceedingly fortunate in the personnel of this board since the affairs of the county have been handled by a Board of Commissioners. They have at all times been men of high character and unimpeachable integrity. Especial attention is called to the present chairman of the board, Hon. F. M. Kimble. He served as chairman of the board for a long number of years, with honor to himself and profit to his constituency through some of the most trying times in the history of the county. He is peculiarly a self-made man, but inherited those sterling qualities that commend him to all who know him. He was inducted into office at the very peak of our country's unprecendented prosperity, but, beginning about 1920, the ever increasing demands of government, with the ever decreasing revenues, have made the problems confronting the board most trying. During his encumbency of office the tax returns of the county have declined approximately two million dollars, and the people voted nearly unanimously four hundred thousand dollars of bonds, a county-wide school tax of five dollars a thousand, and consolidated school districts, all of whom have taxing powers. The people have demanded county agents and farm demonstrators, welfare workers, health department, tick eradication requiring thousands of dollars for dipping vats, all of which increased demands, with the steadily decreasing tax values, placed on the shoulders of this board exceedingly heavy bur-dens, but through it all, chairman Kimble, with the other members of his boards, have managed to carry on with remarkable ability and poise tinder such trying circumstances. The long and faithful services of R. B. Pollard, clerk, T. R. Perry, county attorney, and W. C. Tipton, county physician, are also to be commended.