Friday, October 17, 2003

Finding Your Folks

Biography of Haywood A. Florence of Meriwether County
By JUDY FOWLER KILGORE
jkilgore@thecitizennews.

A few weeks ago, I received a phone call from Nancy Hodges Sanders of Fayetteville who was curious as to whether her Florence family of Meriwether County might be related to my Fowler family. Her mother’s cousin married one of the Meriwether Fowlers.

So far, I haven’t been able to connect my Fowlers to any of those in Meriwether (and there were lots of them), but after Nancy and I talked a while and compared ancestors (to no avail), she revealed that she had a handwritten biography of one of her mother’s relatives who was a member of the Georgia legislature in the late 1890s.

Of course, I leaped right on that one and asked if she’d share it and allow me to run it in the column. Nancy graciously agreed and I present it here for your enjoyment. I have not changed any of the spelling and it appears in its original form (there are not very many paragraphs).

I also did a little checking around in Meriwether County (censuses and information online) and found a little more info which is presented following the bio. H.A.’s biography is dated 9 Feb. 1920, Durand, Ga. and reads:

“H.A. Florence was borned June the 29th 1846 marryed Emma B. Fletcher May 12th 1868. Parents on my fathers side was John M. Florence and Lavina Florence. My grandfather was Obed Florence. My great-great-grandfather was John Florence. My father was borned 18th of November 1803 died Feb. 2nd 1892. Mother was borned on May the 12th died Sept. 28th 1892. My wife parents was Benaja Jordan Fletcher borned Dec. 15th 1825 died the 3rd day Feb. 1907. My wife mother was Cathrine Sneed Crowder wife of B.J. Fletcher Borned on Dec. 2nd 1823 died Nov. 1898.

“H.A. Florence joined the Confederate Army Feb. 1st 1863. Discharged 1865 on June first. I was Elected to the house of Represeneativs and sworn in on October 24th, 1894. Served 2 years was appointed on the board of Registrars in 1896 & served the Board continusly 24 years. I am still serving. I was appointed on the Legislation commitee to locate the site to place the Confederate monument at Chatnooga Ten, was appointed on the committee to Attend as a -(liaison?)- at Milledgeville was on the finance (committee?) & County Matters Banking & general Agriculture committees, was appointed by the gov. of Ga. to serve on the visiting Board of the university of Ga at Athens Ga, was appointed through the influence of Gov. J.M. Terrell & Gov. Joe Brown & others on this commitee. I did not serve to my regret. This appointment was made by the president, Taft. I was the first as well as the last Mayor of Durand.

“Was elected Worshipful Master of the Masonic Lodge 3 times at Durand. Was elected first Lieutenant of Confederate Veterans of Meriwether Co. I was elected & served 4 times as Forman of the grand jury of Meriwether Co. I served 3 commications of the Grand Lodge of the State of Ga. at Macon. I attended the following Reunions of the Confederate Veterans, Chatanooga Tenesee, Dallas Texas Jacksonville Fla. Birmingham Ala. Atlanta Ga. and others. I joined the Methodist Church at old Trinity now Town of Durand in the summer 1866 made ---?--- in the fall of 1866 moved to Durand 23rd of Dec 1910. I was presented by the ladies of Thomasville a silk flag in Nov. year 1864 while fiddling and dancing on the top of a box car loaded with soldiers.

“I fought in all of the battles before the Kennesaw Mountain. Attacked (?) Hunney Hill South Carolina. I was at the Evacuaion of the city Atlanta the City Savanah the City of Columbus Ga. the last Battle of the Confederacy there I lost my flag. My violin old betsey as the boys called her the old fiddle that had given me so much consolation & comfort Across whose breast was played the sweetes songs that was sung Southern Across it was captured May 16th 1865 by some Yankey 55 years ago & I recond he forgot to returne it. peace to its ashes. I was the only man that followed my Captain out of the battle the only reason I followed him out he could not out run me & the other because I could not fly.

“I have had eleven children raised 10. I am not ashamed of any of them. They all marryed off except Lillie & Minnie who lives in the house with us and waits on me and wife just like we were two baby’s. Well all of my comrads has passed over to gods eternal camping ground soon I two will join them or ere the Silver cord will be loosed on the golden bowle broken at the fountain the wheel at the cistern the dust return to the earth, the spirit return to god that gave it. -- H.A. Florence.”

H.A. Florence was actually Haywood A. Florence, found in the 1850 (59th Div.), 1860 (Warm Springs), 1870 (White Sulphur Springs) and 1920 (3rd Dist., Springs St., Durand) censuses of Meriwether County.

There are also numerous references to the Florence families of Meriwether County on the Meriwether County GenWeb Archives page online.

Many, many thanks to Nancy for allowing me to share her family treasure.

If you have a genealogy story about a south metro Atlanta area family, send it to The Citizen, Drawer 1719, Fayetteville, GA 30214; E-mail jkilgore@thecitizennews.com or jodiek444@aol.com.

Until next week, happy hunting!

(Judy regrets that time does not permit her to do personal research for others.)