Maj. M’Whorter Elected Foreman of Green County Grand Jury

Weekly Banner, Aug. 18, 1905
Is Father of Judge Hamilton McWhorter

Greensboro, Ga., August 17.—The Greene county grand jury, now in session, is comprised of a number of the most prominent citizens of the county, and is, moreover notable because of its organization.

Upon the meeting of the grand jury Hon. Robert McWhorter was chosen foreman. Colonel McWhorter, who has played an important part in Georgia affairs since his early manhood, is 87 years old, hale and hearty, apparently as ever.

It is a remarkable coincidence that the first grand jury of which Colonel McWhorter was foreman was convened just sixty-one years ago.

Perhaps, there is no instance in Georgia history of a man being chosen to this remarkable office so far separated as in the case, where between his first service and his present one, there has been a lapse of sixty-one years.

Colonel McWhorter is one of the patriarchs of Greene, a man who from his early manhood has been prominently identified with the interests of this county and section. Although a native of Oglethorpe, he came to Green when he was fifteen years old, and has resided here continuously during the more than seventy years that have followed. He has been an active member of the Baptist church for sixty-seven years.

His life has seen many stirring episodes. He was elected to the legislature as far back as 1857, and being re-elected in 1859, he was a member of the legislature by which, after a violent contest, the question of secession was settled. He was a follower of Alex Stephens, and opposed secession; but immediately it was declared he went to the front, leading the first company that went from Greene county. He was subsequently transferred to the staff of General A.R. Wright as major, and continued on General Wright’s staff until the surrender at Appomattox.

When the war ended, he was one of those who promptly accepted the result and turned his attention to the rebuilding of the state. Upon receiving the congressional pardon, he was, in 1868, again elected a member of the legislature, being chosen speaker of the house. He presided during the stormy period of 1870 and 1871; and, later, in 1881, he was elected to the state senate from the nineteenth district. During his entire legislative career, his efforts were always exerted in favor of the development of the state’s resources, and toward the economical administration of the state’s business affairs.

He began life on the farm, his father dying when he was but five, and leaving his mother with a little farm of 75 acres. Later, when he came to Greene, he worked on the farm for his education and then for some years was in the mercantile business at Penfield, beginning as a clerk at a salary of $10 a year, and becoming a partner in a prosperous business. He married twice, his present wife, who was Miss Thurmond, being ten years his junior, who, like Colonel McWhorter himself, looks very much younger than the recorded span of years would indicate.

Third Georgia Regiment Drum

Minor Smith Hobbs, who claimed residence in Greene County, Georgia, enlisted with the Dawson Grays on April 26, 1861 and then enlisted as a private in the Third Georgia Infantry Regiment, Company C. He was wounded at Chancellorsville, Virginia on May 3, 1863. Hobbs was promoted to full corporal 4th class in 1864. He was wounded again on July 30, 1864 at Petersburg, Virginia. Hobbs surrendered at the courthouse in Appomattox, Virginia on April 9, 1865 where he was discharged as a corporal having served the Confederacy with distinguished service.

This kettle drum came to Company C from Greene County when the regiment was first organized in April 1861. Seaborn Barnwell was the first and only regimental drummer. Barnwell beat the calls made for the regiment until the surrender at Appomattox where the drum was hung on the regiment's stacked guns by Barnwell. When it was time to go home, Hobbs was unable to leave the drum and brought it back to Greene County. He kept it for many years before taking the drum to a reunion where he turned it over to Captain William A. Wright. Captain Wright was also a member of the regiment and son of General Ambrose C. Wright, the regiment's first colonel. Captain Wright eventually gave the drum to a survivor's committee to be placed in the Georgia State Capitol where this picture was taken.

The Samuel Cas Shields family

This photo, ca. 1910, is believed to have been taken at Praters Mill after the family moved to Dalton, Whitfield County, GA. Their oldest son, James Stewart Shields, is not in the picture. Stewart married Hattie Jane Rhinehart in 1909 and they were living with her family in Tennessee. Stewart and Hattie stayed in Tennessee for some years after the rest of his family moved to north Georgia.

Front: Melona Jane Shields in father Samuel Cas Shields' lap, Albert Conley Shields, Pearl Lewcrilly Shields in mother Martha Ogle Shields' lap, Blaine Arthur Shields, Sallie Addice Shields.

Back: Milas Odell Shields, William Elmer Shields, Walter C. Brown Shields.

McWhorter-Davison marriage

Athens Banner, May 30, 1913 -- page 2
McWhorter-Davison
The following invitation has been received in the city.
Mr. and Mrs. James Vason McWhorter request the honor of your presence at the marriage of their daughter Coraleta to Mr. Charles Julian Davison on the evening of Thursday the nineteenth of June at half after eight o’clock. Baptist Church, Woodville, Georgia.