Biographies of Pulaski County Georgia Collections

Biography of William I. Beaty

Nancy, daughter of William and Marina Mayo Bembry, born April 17, 1829, was married to William I. Beaty of Lowndes County, March 12, 1856. William I. Beaty was killed in the Battle of Atlanta, July 22, 1864. Nancy, who survived her husband only a few years, was left with three small children: Josephine, Brown, and W. J., better known to his friends as Zollie. At Nancy’s death the children were brought back to the old Bembry homestead and were reared by their grandmother, Marina Bembry. Josephine married J. F. Sparrow, of Pulaski County, January 14, 1881, and since her husband’s … Read more

Biography of William Benjamin Richardson

William Benjamin Richardson was born October 31, 1867. He was the son of Dr. Stephen Lawrence Richardson, prominent physician and surgeon, and Susan Radford Richardson, of Twiggs County. Early in life he was bereft of parents and was forced to seek a livelihood for himself. With his blithe courage and rugged determination he used the obstacles he encountered as opportunities to succeed. He united with Mount Calvary Baptist Church at Cary, Ga., and was called to serve as deacon soon thereafter, and was active in this work until he moved away. A lover of the simple and natural things of … Read more

Biography of William Augustus Jelks

William A. Jelks, youngest son of James Oliver and Mary Polhill Jelks, was born in Belleville, Hamilton County, Florida, September 5, 1859. He died in Hawkinsville, Ga., February 4, 1935. This family removed to Hawkinsville soon after the close of the War Between the States. William, or “Willie,” as he was called, was educated in private schools in Pulaski County, later at Mercer and Vanderbilt Universities. He was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. On leaving college, he taught in a private school in Hawkinsville for several years, and later edited the Hawkinsville paper until the business was … Read more

Biography of William Alexander Ferguson

The younger of two sons, only children of James B. and Martha Byrd Ferguson, William Ferguson was born in Bertie County, North Carolina, June 9, 1819. Grandparents on maternal side were John and Elizabeth Byrd. He married Margaret Ann Lee, December 16, 1836, whose early ancestors were from Virginia. She received her education from private tutors and Chawan College, Murfreesboro, N. C. Her father was William Henry Lee, her grandfather, Henry Lee. Her mother was Nancy Horne Lee, her grandmother, Annie Lee. Maternal side, her grandparents were Turner and Margaret Horne. Eight children were born to William and Margaret Ferguson. … Read more

Biography of Washington Leonidas Grice

A family tree would show four Grices in a direct line, all residents of Johnston County, North Carolina: Francis, who died in 1750, a copy of whose will appears in the published Colonial Records of North Carolina; his son, William, a Revolutionary soldier; and next, Stephen, a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas and Quarter Sessions, and his son, Garry, who in his youth was a civil engineer and laid out the town of Goldsboro, North Carolina. In 1822, Judge Stephen Grice, with his wife, who was formerly Miss Sally Simms, with their family, moved to Newton County, Georgia, … Read more

Biography of Warren Gainer Buchan

Prominent among the progressive citizens of Pulaski County was Mr. Warren Gainer Buchan. He was born February 21, 1877, at the old Buchan home in the Hartford District in Pulaski County, the son of John Beverly Allen Buchan and Mrs. Ann Maria Gainer Buchan. He was the second of thirteen children, and at a very early age assumed the responsibility of his own resources. Farming was his chosen vocation, and his success illustrated what could be made of the agricultural industry in Pulaski County. He became one of the largest landowners and taxpayers in the county, and held a place … Read more

Biography of W. H. Spurlin

The father of the Spurlins of Worth County was W. H. Spurlin, born in Shelby, N. C. He was a Confederate soldier, who moved to Pulaski County, Georgia, and married Nancy Bateman, daughter of G. W. Bateman. Children: J. G., W. C., and Sallie Spurlin. Sallie married D. Boland. They had one son, Denton. The second marriage was to Mary Frances Dewitte. Their children are: Thomas Augustus (called “Gus”) Spurlin, R. L., J. D., G. Clarence Spurlin, and daughters, Ella and Edna. Four of these, T. A. Spurlin, Col. G. Clarence Spurlin, Miss Ella Spurlin, and Mrs. Edna Webster, made … Read more

Biography of W. E. Finleyson

W. E. Finleyson, son of John J. Finleyson, who was born January 29, 1829, in Bibb County Georgia, served in the War Between the States one year. He moved to Wilcox County in 1869, and died August 15, 1878. He married a Miss Nobles, and they had three children: Ellen, who married W. L. Holt; Laura, who married John Pearce; and Amanda, who never married. His wife having died, he married Amanda Goodwin in 1858, and the following children were born to them: L. F. Finleyson, Sarah, Eugene, Belle, W. E., Emma, John Thomas, James B., and Alice. W. E. … Read more

Biography of Virginia Jelks

Virginia Jelks, only daughter of James Oliver Jelks and Mary Polhill, married William Spivey Holliman, January 5, 1875. Their surviving children are: Emma Kathleen, educated in Macon, Hawkinsville, and Atlanta. She graduated from Cox College with A.B. cum laude degree. She married Edwin Poston Peterson, of Tuscaloosa, Ala. Marilu, educated in Hawkinsville, Dublin, Macon, and Atlanta. She pursued special courses at Cox College and Mercer University, and married Charles Luther Carter, of Jackson, Ga. Virginia was educated in Hawkinsville, Dublin, and Macon. She graduated ‘from high school and normal school in Macon, and pursued postgraduate course at North Carolina Teachers … Read more

Biography of Tillett Henderson Bridges

Tillett Henderson Bridges was born in Dooly County, February 27, 1857. His father, Daniel Bridges, was reared in Washington County, and his mother, Susan Fountain, was a native of Dooly. T. H. Bridges spent his early boyhood in Sumter County, near Americus (his father having returned to his home in Dooly County in 1868), and was educated at Snow Springs. In 1881 he came to Hawkinsville and entered the warehouse business with the late D. G. McCormick, later becoming a member of the firm. In 1889 he entered the firm of Coney, Lovejoy & Company. It was a large wholesale … Read more

Biography of Thomas E. Lovejoy

Among the historic landmarks that took rank and prominence in the days of “Georgia’s Aristocratic Knighthood” was “Old Spalding,” in Macon County, Georgia, and it was here that Thomas E. Lovejoy, the eldest son of the late P. H. and Henrietta Lovejoy, was born, sixty years ago. Graduating in the schools of Hawkinsville, he later finished his business course in Poughkeepsie, New York. He began his career in the grocery business with T. R. Wilcox, under the firm name of Wilcox & Lovejoy, in Hawkinsville. Very soon he became assistant cashier of the Planters Bank of this city, continuing in … Read more

Biography of Thomas Cook

Thomas Cook, son of Elijah and Samantha Powell Cook, was born in Bibb County, Georgia, January 1, 1870. When he was quite young his family moved to Pulaski County and later to Dodge County, where he attended school at Dubois until he was ten years of age. His family then moved to Cochran, where he was taught by Professor Morgan Wynne and Professor R. C. Sanders until he entered New Ebenezer College at Cochran. His first business experience was as clerk for Mr. J. J. Taylor, who operated a general merchandise and supply store at Cochran. He was associated with … Read more

Biography of Thomas Bartow Ragan

Thomas Bartow Ragan was born on a plantation in Pulaski County, Georgia, November 28, 1862, of sturdy Sew-Irish stock, the son of Alexander and Sophia Davis Ragan. Alexander Ragan was born in Robinson County, North Carolina, in 1827, and was but eight years old when his family moved to Georgia. He became a farmer and married Sophia, daughter of H. L. Davis, judge and justice in the early days of Pulaski County. Thomas Bartow Ragan was reared on the farm. He attended the country schools and supplemented his instruction by study, reading, and, later, by travel. At eighteen he came … Read more

Biography of Sir John Pate

Sir John Pate, baron of Leicestershire, England, had a son, Major Thomas Pate, who emigrated to America in 1672, and settled in Gloucester County, Virginia. His son, Matthew, and wife, Anne Reade, were parents of Jacob, born in 1710, and who married Zilla Broach. Their son was Jacob, Jr., born in 1747. He was the father of John, born in New Bern, N. C., or Gloucester County, Virginia, about 1760, and who married Nancy Cowart in 1794. Redding Hamilton Pate, their son, born in 1796, in 1829 married Elizabeth Miller, born in 1809. They lived in Washington County, Georgia. Redding … Read more

Biography of S. W. Brown

Stephen William Brown was born September 1, 1831. He married Martha Pope of Hayneville, Houston County, Georgia. To this union was born three sons: James Pope, Robert Duncan, and Stephen William, who died very young. James Pope Brown was born in Pulaski County at the plantation home, “Pine Avenue,” the son of Stephen William Brown and his wife, Martha Pope Brown. He was educated in the country schools of Pulaski, at Governor Northern’s Preparatory School and at Mercer University, where he graduated in 1873 with an A.B. degree. He was a Baptist, a Democrat, a Mason of Mount Hope Lodge, … Read more

Biography of Ruth Scarborough, Ph.D.

Of all its youthful graduates, Pulaski County can boast of no other who has attained greater success in the realm of literature than Dr. Ruth Scarborough. Dr. Scarborough is the daughter of Robert Lee and Georgia (Turner) Scarborough, and is a graduate of the Hawkinsville High School. She received her A.B. degree from Bessie Tift College, Forsyth, Georgia, and her M.A. degree from Mercer University, Macon, Georgia. During her years at Bessie Tift College she was an ardent student, exceedingly wise in those things which seemed hard to master. She was interested in psychology and sociology. She participated in the … Read more

Biography of Robert Jenks Taylor

Robert Jenks Taylor was born in Hawkinsville, Pulaski County, Georgia, June 15, 1854. He is eighty-one years old and never looked better yr felt younger in his life, though in recent years he distributed and put in trust more than a million dollars for his loved ones and drew in his sails so his last years would not be harassed by business matters. But he was like the old-time gin horse, turned out to graze: He couldn’t stop. He organized the Taylor Investment Company and kept right on making money. He goes to his office regularly at the Macon Savings … Read more

Biography of Robert Gallatin Lewis

Robert Gallatin Lewis, born January 1, 1858, died June 20, 1892, was the son of John Falton Lewis, and his wife, Lavinia Butts, of Dooly County, now Crisp County. He was born at Gum Creek, now Coney, and as a youth attended private schools in Gum Creek and Montezuma. Later he was a student at Mercer University, where he was especially interested in mathematics. He was prepared at Gum Creek for his business career and future usefulness by his father, who, “surrounded by his young sons, was like a chieftain upon the field among his lieutenants, teaching them to plan … Read more

Biography of R. F. Delamar

In the pioneer days of Pulaski County there came a family from North Carolina seeking new and undeveloped fields of endeavor. Settling east of the Ocmulgee River, they tilled available lands, also clearing and occupying lands heretofore unused, visualizing a vast agricultural territory that would attract other settlers who desired a simple and productive life. From such hardy forbears came R. F. DeLamar, born February 24, 1859. At the death of his father, Frank, as he was known, became the head of the family and remained on the farm, the sole support of his mother, brothers, and sister. In early … Read more

Biography of Pleasant H. Lovejoy

Pleasant H. Lovejoy, public-spirited, civic leader, prominent public official, and Christian gentleman. There is a sentiment and an inspiration among “the old red hills of Georgia” that “breeds and makes real men,” and in this atmosphere, in the county of Jasper, “Plez” Lovejoy first saw the light of day. Filled with energy and courage, he enlisted in the Confederate Army as a 16-year-old boy. Beginning life during the days of Southern reconstruction, facing the struggle and deprivations that fell on every one, he took his stand in the forefront of the battle for existence and, aided by sacrifice, effort and … Read more