Pulaski County GA

Biography of Noah Scarborough

The name Scarborough is an old and honorable one. Family records show that several brothers came to this country during the Revolutionary War and settled here. The Scarborough coat of arms shows that this family descended from the nobility of Great Britain. Noah Scarborough emigrated from South Carolina to Houston County, Georgia, later moving to Pulaski County, near the present Friendship Baptist Church, about 1836. (Records show he paid tax in said county in 1837.) He was a large landowner, being given a land grant for his services in the Mexican War. He donated the land on which the first … Read more

Biography of Dr. Nathaniel Polhill Jelks

Dr. Nathaniel Polhill Jelks, fourth son of James Oliver Jelks and Mary Polhill, was born July 18, 1845, in Hawkinsville, Pulaski County, Georgia, where he died March 28, 1911. When six years old his family moved to Oglethorpe, Georgia, after two years moving to Hamilton County, Florida, where he received his early education, later studying in Augusta, Georgia. In 1863 he entered the Confederate Army, enlisting in Company I, Second Florida Cavalry, under General Jones, a gallant command guarding the interior of the State. He was wounded at the Battle of Natural Bridge, Florida, March 6, 1865, in which the enemy … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William Bembry

Among the pioneer settlers of Pulaski County were William Bembry, born in North Carolina, August 23, 1795, and his wife, Marina Mayo Bembry, born in the same state, November 14, 1799, both descendants of English families. They came to Pulaski County in 1829 in covered wagons and purchased lands in and near Old Hartford, a prosperous town of this section at that time. They later built a home about a mile out, on what is now the Cochran highway, then little more than an Indian trail between the Ocmulgee and Oconee Rivers. They both lie buried near the old homestead, … 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 J. J. Harvard

Jerry Jordan Harvard, the son of H. M. and Jane Harvard, was born at Snow Spring in Dooly County, Georgia, in 1859. In 1.883 he was married to Sallie Bell Eubanks, to which union were born three sons and one daughter, who died in infancy. His sons were John B. Harvard, who married Daisy Fountain, both of whom died in 1917, leaving two sons, John B. and Fountain, who were reared by their grandparents; and H. L. Harvard, deceased, who married Mae Le Claire. His only surviving child is J. J. Harvard, Jr., who married Emmie Mason, and to this … Read more

Biography of John W. and Robert J. Lancaster

John Wilson, born August 1, 1843, and Robert Johnson, born March 6, 1852, were sons of William (born April 13, 1813, died May 8, 1903) and Pherbia Wilson Lancaster (born March 9, 1821, died April 16, 1900), and grandsons of Washington and Nancy Johnson Lancaster, who came here from Burke County and built a nice home near what is now Bembry’s Mill. Washington obtained these lands, including lot No. 388, the mill site, from William S. Lancaster, a Revolutionary soldier, who purchased the latter from Cornelia Dunahoo at the land drawing in Milledgeville, November 7, 1807. The deed to this … Read more

Biography of Howard Elliott Coates

Howard Elliott Coates, for thirty years a member of the Hawkinsville bar, has also served in both the upper and lower houses of the Georgia Legislature in framing the laws of his State, and has gained an enviable reputation in a profession which calls for keen intellect and requires intense application, good judgment, and a constantly widening comprehension of the relations and responsibilities which go to make up civilized society. He was born August 16, 1877, on a farm in Wilkinson County, Georgia, five miles from Irwinton, the county seat, and comes of Scotch and Irish ancestry. His parents were … Read more

History of Antioch Baptist Church, Pulaski County, Georgia

Antioch Baptist Church was organized August 10, 1893. Rev. R. Bullington preached the organization sermon. The group entered into a conference and elected A. C. Fulghum clerk. The charter members were: Sarah Foster, W. J. Pirkle and wife, J. T. Stephens, Catherine Stephens, J. L. Stephens and wife, B. F. Bracewell, H. D. Vaughn, A. C. Fulghum and wife. Fellowship was the name given the church. After a few years some became dissatisfied with the name and it was changed to Antioch. The services were held under an arbor for three or four years before a house was erected. In … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Harley F. Lawson

Harley Fleetwood Lawson, son of Shine B. Lawson and Emma Adams Lawson, was born in Hawkinsville, Pulaski County, Georgia, October 4, 1879. With the exception of seven years while he was away at school, he has spent his entire life in Hawkinsville. He attended the Hawkinsville public schools, leaving them without graduating, and entered Mercer University, from which he graduated with an A.B. degree in 1899. He taught school in different parts of the State until 1904, when he began the practice of law in Hawkinsville, having studied law under the late W. J. Hammond. He has held the following … Read more

Company G, 10th Confederate Cavalry

Roster of officers who served in Company G, 10th Confederate Cavalry. These men were primarily from Pulaski County, GA. James L. Leith, captain P. T. McGriff, first lieutenant, promoted to captain T. N. Sutton, second lieutenant John A. Hendley, second lieutenant, promoted to captain James O. Farnell, first lieutenant, promoted to captain John B. Wood, second lieutenant David C. Joiner, second lieutenant, promoted to captain David M. Roberts, second lieutenant

Hanksville, Pulaski County Georgia Schools

In the year 1889 the town of Hanksville had a number of private schools. The city council in 1890, considering a change in the system of the school elected the following trustees: Judge Jacob Watson James Stetson P. H. Lovejoy E. J. Henry Dave McCormick J. Jacobus. This board delegated Judge Watson to go to the Chautauquuar Lithia Springs to inquire for a superintendent. The board was then put in communication with N. E. Ware of Thomson, Ga., who was later elected. The following teachers were then elected: Geo. R. Glover Mrs. B. F. Parsons Miss Ida Watson Mrs. C. … Read more

Biography of Benjamin F. Parsons

Benjamin F. and Leonora Bartlett Parsons moved to Hawkinsville. Georgia, from Massachusetts in 1878, bringing with them two sons, Charles L. and William Naramore. Mr. Parsons first engaged in farming, and afterward became a member of the firm of Ferguson and Parsons, and later of the firm of R. F. DeLamar and Company. For four years he served as postmaster. During the latter years of his life he represented the Mutual Life Insurance Company, and died in 1910. Mrs. Parsons taught in the schools of Hawkinsville for fifteen years, and in the Sunday school of the Methodist Church for a … Read more

Pulaski County, Georgia Tax Receivers 1851 – 1936

Tax Receivers for Pulaski County, Georgia for the years of 1851-1936. Daniel M. McCabe, Jan. 12,1850-Jan. 16, 1851 Charles Love, Jan. 16, 1851-Jan. 14, 1852 John Buchan, Jan. 14, 1852-Jan. 17, 1853 Henry Anderson, Jan. 17, 1853-Jan. 11, 1854 Robert E. Mills, Jan. 11, 1854-Jan. 9, 1855 David Sapp, Jan. 9, 1855-Jan. 11, 1856 Daniel McCade, Jan. 11, 1856-Jan. 12, 1857 David Sapp, Jan. 12,1857-Jan. 12, 1858 John 0. Fleming, Jan. 12, 1858-Jan. 7, 1859 David Sapp, Jan. 7, 1859-Jan. 10, 1860 Daniel M. McCable, Jan. 10, 1860-Jan. 10, 1861 James Pugh, Jan. 10, 1861 David Sapp, March 1, 1862-Feb. … Read more

The Hawkinsville Georgia School Census-1888

Town of Hawkinsville-Whites, Males 136; females 160. Colored, Males 174; Females 174. Hawkinsville District-Whites, Males 39; females 38. Town of Cochran-Whites, Males 105; Females 93. Colored, Males 90; Females 107. Salem and Tripville District-Whites, Males 217; Females 238. Colored, Males 183; Females 198. Walker District-Whites, Males 8; Females 10. Colored, Males 93; Females 99. Hartford District-Whites, Males 138; Females 134. Colored, Males 240; Females 284. Mitchell District-Whites, Males 47; Females 64. Colored. Males 96; Females 129. Blue Springs-Whites, Males 61; Females 48. Colored, Males 61; Females 48. Whitfield District-Whites, Males 43; Females 34. Colored, Males 45; Females 64. Dupree District-Whites, … Read more

A Fresh Look at Ocmulgee Bottoms

Ocmulgee in 1000AD

Many of the most fundamental assumptions by the Anthropology profession concerning the Pre-European history of the Lower Southeast were developed during the mid-20th century as a result of a massive, federally-funded excavation of archaeological sites near Macon, GA. While today, anthropologists, museums and the National Park Service present a united front stating that the body of knowledge, which resulted from the Ocmulgee Bottoms studies, was the result of comprehensive analysis, plus well-thought out consensus by some of the most brilliant men of their time, the truth is quite a bit different.

Muster Roll of Georgia Militia – District 384-J

Muster Roll of Georgia Militia, Pulaski County, Georgia, March 4, 1862 – District 384-J Oliver Hall, captain Z. L. Davis, first lieutenant Wm. DeShazo, second lieutenant David Buchan, third lieutenant Alex Reagans Jas. M. Buchan Wm. English Elisha Thompson John Lester H. L. Barnes G. W. Williams Amos Floyd Henry Graves John Blount David Sapp Luke Sapp, Jr. John Atkinson James M. Lancaster Wm. G. Allen T. L. Allen T. S. Allen Z. R. Edins T. D. Horne Frederick Floyd Berry Armstrong John Holland S. W. Bellflowers Matthew Coody David Willis Burnell Bryant Thomas Bryant J. W. Simpson Willis Handcock … Read more

Muster Roll of Georgia Militia – District 384

Muster Roll of Georgia Militia, Pulaski County, Georgia, March 4, 1862 – District 384 A. D. Wynne J. Pickering J. H. Buckhalter H. H. Henderson C. W. M. Wynne Wm. Horton Alex Martin, Jr. Rob Thompson Nelson Giddings Frank W. Gray Paul Meadoughs David Nicholls James Nicholls Wm. Bembry, Sr. Orrin Clark T. N. Sutton Berry Cooday James Willis Wm. S. Arnold Harrison Barlow Joseph Barlow James H. Goodman Stephen Pitman C. C. Grisson J. C. DeLamar N. P. Ferney J. T. Willis Spire Blount

Biography of John James Whitfield

The oldest son of a family of eight children who survived infancy, the exigencies of the situation prevented even a high school education, for at the age of 14 he entered the path as assistant bread winner, taking store jobs at meager pay with John Henry & Son, then M. D. Willcox, D. C. Joiner, and at the age of 17, with Merritt & Coney. On the dissolution of the latter firm, with R. A. Merritt taking the hardware division, young Whitfield entered that business. Mr. Merritt, going to Macon to live in 1889, sold his young protégé a half … Read more

History of First Methodist Episcopal Church South, Pulaski County, Georgia

The Methodist Church is, likewise, identified with the earliest history of Pulaski County. It was in November of 1805 that Henry Dearborn, Secretary of War, negotiated a treaty between the Indians and the Federal Government for lands between the Oconee and Ocmulgee Rivers. On December 15, 1808, the Georgia legislature passed an act creating Pulaski County from a part of this territory. And in January of 1809 the South Carolina Annual Conference, which embraced all of Georgia at that time, created the “Oakmulgie Circuit.” This circuit embraced Pulaski County. Within one month after the county was created and two years … Read more

Biography of Matthew Philips

Matthew Philips, son of Exum Philips, Captain of Militia in the Revolutionary War, from North Carolina, was born and died in Edgecombe County, North Carolina. Soon after his death in 1823 his wife, Elizabeth Nicholson Philips, daughter of Colonel John Nicholson and Penelope Mann of North Carolina, moved with her three children to Pulaski County, where other members of the Philips family had already preceded her. She settled first at Longstreet and later bought and settled on what is now the old Philips plantation, two miles east of Hawkinsville. Her children were: Martha Penelope Hooker Philips, who married John C. … Read more