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.