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The following facts were obtained from
different sources but the main source was from the book titled HISTORY OF
PIERCE COUNTY GEORGIA by Dean Broome. The following is only excerpts. The book
gives many more details which includes wonderful pictures. If you are
reseaching Pierce County , this book is highly recommended.

Arrival
of the Automobile
The first automobile was brought to
Blackshear in 1910 by a rural mail carrier, Jeff ALLEN. This
automobile made a terrible noise and the City Council was trying to decide as
to whether or not to put regulations on automobiles. But, because of the noise
which the only automobile made, it was agreed it would not be necessary since
everyone could hear ALLEN coming from a long way off. Alonzo J. SRICKLAND
also had a car in 1910.
The next car, a Model T Ford, was owned by
R. W. BELVIN and was sold for $680. Eustace J. McKINNEY, who
operated a bicycle shop owned one of the first cars in the town. He became
Blackshear's earliest mechanic on automobiles. S. Foster MEMORY asked Mr.
BELVIN to go with him to Atlanta in 1912 to buy his first car. P. L. POMEROY went
with them.
By 1914, the number of automobiles in
Blackshear had increased to the extent that City Council felt the need to set a
speed limit on the vehicles. They adopted an ordinance providing that no
automobile or motorcycle should be operated at a speed of over 15 miles an hour
within the city with the exception of emergency calls. The traffic lights
followed and were put up in 1925 at the corner of Main Street and Highway Avenue. These were not changing lights.
The green light faced both ways on Main Street and the red light faced Highway Avenue in both
directions. The Police Chief H. L. RIGGINS stated many accidents have
been averted at this site.
On 10-16-1926 at the corner of Keller Street and Central Avenue an auto driven by William Levi YOUMANS was
struck by a train at about 1:00 pm. The driver and his son-in-law Owen K. MURRAY
were both killed. William YOUMANS died of a fractured skull and internal
injuries and Owen MURRAY died from a fractured Pelvic and shock.
This information was contributed by Larry Youmans William Levi Youmans
was his great-grandfather and the son of William Robert Youmans and Elizabeth
Sweat.
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Notable Marriages
In 1876:
August, Miss Ella MOORE was married
to Seward GRAY, jeweler. They moved to Indian River, FL.
In October, Miss Hester BRANTLEY
was married to S. T. MEMORY in the Presbyterian Church.
Daisy OWENS married T. L. STRICKLAND.
Vinnie RIGGINS married Allen HAGEN.
On May 1, 1882, Colonel NICHOLLS, who had lost his first wife
the year before, was married to Miss Ida ACOSTA. On June 23, 1882, Miss Kate NICHOLLS, only daughter of Colonel
NICHOLLS, by his first wife, married Mr. Wm. G. HENDERSON. The
attendats were Kate's cousins, Misses Ella, and Delia FOREACRE,
the former whom later married Mr. A. P. BRANTLEY, who was also an
attendant. Mrs. T. L. STRICKLAND, a pianist , played the wedding march. Miss
Mina DARLING and Mr William ARMITAGE were married that year,
and went Florida to live.
Lulu and Lottie HARPER were married in 1886, the
first to Mr. William COTTER, and the latter to Rev. George CULPEPPER.
Lottie died in less than a year after her marriage, and Lula died in 1912. Joseph
A. HARPER, the brother of Lula and Lottie, was married twice, his first
wife being Miss Belle KNOWLES, daughter of Captain KNOWLES, and
his second wife Miss Mamie HOLZENDORF. John HARPER, the youngest
brother, married Miss Gertrude CLARY.
Nancy STRICKLAND married Elias F. STEWART in 1834. Her sister Maria,
married Samuel SWEAT in 1835. She was the mother of Col. J. L. SWEAT.
The other sisters were Elizabeth, who married Thomas PURDOM
in 1845; Elinor, who married Ben HOWARD in 1849; Martha,
who married Matthew ASPINWALL, and her half aunt, Margaret SMITH,
who married James SMITH in 1840. She was the mother of A. N. SMITH.
In 1861 Missouri ROBERTS, and Dr.
Allen BROWN were married. Her sister, Florida ROBERTS , married Mr.
Robert WILLIAMS in 1865.
Miss Lou KEMPTON married E. Z. BYRD in 1877 or '79. After her
death Mr. BYRD married a young lady from Virginia.
Kate NICHOLLS married Wm. G. HENDERSON in 1882; Ida
ACOSTA married Col. J. NICHOLLS in 1882; Mina DARLING married
Wm. ARMITAGE in 1882;
Maria STRICKLAND married Dr. Capers DANIEL in 1881; Belle
STRICKLAND married Frank HIGGINS in 1879; Carrie BEASLEY married
J. L. GRADY in 1883;
Annie SHAW married William SMITH in 1885 or '86; Jessie
Kate WESTBROOK married W. G. BRANTLEY in 1883; Christian BRANTLEY
married J. M. PURDOM in 1883; Margaret BRANTLEY married A.
B. ESTES in 1883 or '84.
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Blackshear
Bank
Blackshear's first bank was the outgrowth
of the business firm founded by Benjamin Daniel BRANTLEY in 1857. The
bank was chartered by an act of the General Assembly of Georgia, approved on
Sept. 11, 1891, and it was organized for business on July 6, 1892. It opened
for business at 10:00 A. M. on July 7.
Original incorporater of the bank were:
A. P. BRANTLEY and B. D. BRANTLEY of Blackshear, W. G.
BRANTLEY of Brunswick, J. T. BRANTLEY of Marietta, and G. D.
FORBES of Baltimore.
Officers were:
A. P. BRANTLEY, president; and B. D. BRANTLEY,
vice-president; who along with John C. NICHOLLS, John T. BRANTLEY,
and Mills B. LANE, vice-president of the Citizens Bank of Savannah,
constituted the board of directors. Upon the death of A. P. BRANTLEY, April 16, 1937, P. L. POMEROY was elected president, and he
served until October 16, 1938, the date of his death. Prior to 1937, Mr POMEROY
had served more than 15 years as vice-president and cashier, succeeding M.
C. McALPIN upon his death.
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Blackshears's
First Piano
In 1863, Blackshear's first piano arrived
in town and was installed in the home of Dr. Thomas J. DARLING. The
piano was for his daughters, Rena, Mina, Dora, and Emma, he imported the
town's first music teacher who lived with the Darlings and supervised the
girl's education. She taught other children as well in her free time. One of
her young pupils was Mrs. Hester MEMORY. Another was Mrs. G. T.
HENDRY, the former Emma ARMITAGE, granddaughter of Dr. DARLING.
Through the years the piano brought much
pleasure into the Darling home. After it had outgrown its usefulness, the
family instructed T. L. SAUL, who was very adept with tools, to preserve
the heirloom. It then served as a library table in the home of Mrs. E. L.
DARLING SR.
Upon her death the piano was installed in
the reception room of Darling Funeral Home.
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Blackshear in 1876
Early in the year 1876 a "dry
spell" settled over Blackshear. January was dry, following a dry December.
Some $25,000 to $30,000 worth of logs were lying on the banks of the Alabaha
and Satilla Rivers in Pierce County, waiting for a shower to raise the waters
and permit rafting to market.
A lady in the country had dreamed that Pierce County was to have only two showers of rain all year, and
then it was going to quit raining for good and all. It seemed her vision would
be verified - except that only one shower had fallen, instead of two.
Blackshear had a new newspaper. It had had
at least one previously, the first newspaper the county having been established
in 1869 by Robert BURTON. Mr. Burton sold the paper in 1872 to H. W.
GRADY, who in 1873 sold it to Mrs. Elias STEWART. J. Mason PURDOM
and Keightly STEWART were proprietors for a time. Finally, "The
Southeast Georgian" seems to have died a journalistic death, leaving no
heirs, and Blackshear was without a newspaper for about two years. Henry M.
McINTOSH brought printing equipment to Pierce County in 1876 and the first issue of his newspaper appeared
on January 29. In his first Volume, McINTOSH wrote:
"Among the first settlers were Mr.
J. B. STRICKLAND, who died some years since, Mr. Jas. A. HARPER who
now resides out of this county, and Mr. B. D. BRANTLEY, who still lives
here and is one of our wealthiest and most prominent citizens..."
"Died at her residence in Pierce
county, on Saturday morning. Jan. 1, 1876, Mrs. Eliza J. YOUMANS, wife
of C. S. YOUMANS, Esq. Born in Beaufort District, SC, July 11, 1833, was
married to C. S. YOUMANS Dec. 10, 1847, by the Rev. Jacob G. BOWERS, and
is the mother of ten children."
Editor McINTOSH wrote his last issue March 18, 1876. A few weeks later he sold his press and printing
equipment to Dr. Daniel LOTT, a dentist of Waycross. Apparently no newspaper was published in Blackshear
from March 18, 1876, until E. Z. BYRD started "The Little Gem"
with the issue of March 1, 1878.
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Blackshear School 
Blackshear School had several names:
- Blackshear Academy, 1860-1891
- Pierce County High School, 1892-1901
- Presbyterial Institute, 1901-1913
- Pierce Collegiate Institue, 1913-1917
- Blackshear Public School, 1917-1919
- Blackshear High School, 1919-1973
Blackshear Academy was incorporated in
1860, Incorporators were:
- J. A. HARPER
- E. D. HENDRY
- D. R. MILTON
- C. S. YOUMANS
- John W. STEPHENS
- John T. WILSON
- Benjamin BLITCH
- William GOETTEE
- John M. JENKINS
- James B. STRICKLAND
The first school was taught by Mr.
WELLS. In 1860 the school was in charge of Colonel WARE. In 1861 Mr.
Jack JENKINS was in charge, and after that Miss CAMPBELL until
1865, when Mr. GREENLEAF was back and he became the principal, with her
as assistant. In 1889, Joseph A. HARPER, Pierce county school
commissioner, made a report to the people of the county on the progress of the
schools during the six-year period he had been in office. A clipping from the
local newspaper dated April 12, 1878 - "Rev. H.P. MYERS has become associated
with Rev. J. Albert SMITH in the management of the Southern Blackshear Academy in Blackshear. No place in southeast Georgia offers more advantages than Blackshear for the
building of a school. For health, social and religious privileges, it is
without a rival. Tuition is $2, $3, and $4 per month. Students can enter at any
time as they are charged by the month."
A group of Pierce county men formed a
corporation on February 4, 1891, to gain a charter and establish Pierce County High School. Members of the corporation were A.P. BRANTLEY,
John C. NICHOLLS, J.M. JOHNSON, John BAXTER, William DAVIS,
J.A. HARPER, J.S. BENNETT, Henry HYERS, R.H. RAWLS,
W.B. BAKER and Joseph DICKSON. Because of lack of support, the
Academy had ceased operation a few weeks after the 1891 school term began. The
lack of support was caused by the parent's knowing of plans to build a new
school, and they would not send their children to the run-down Academy
building. The new school was managed by Professor and Mrs. A.F. HILL.
Prof. and Mrs. Hill left when the spring term ended. That fall Prof. Z.B.
ROGERS and his sister, Miss Alpha, took over the school for one year. The
enrollment had been aroun 50, much less than the company owners had hoped. In
the fall of 1893 a local man, Robert G. MITCHELL, Jr., became the
principal. He stayed one year and then went back to practicing law. J.H.
O'QUINN was secured in the fall of 1894, and he stayed until the fall term
was over in 1896. From about 150 children in the city the enrollment had
increased to around 80. During the next four years the school had four
principals, the Rev. M.P. CAIN, J.E. TWITTY, S.A. HEARN
and M.M. MURPHY. In the fall of 1899, J.H. O'QUINN was hired
again as principal. He had been popular at school as well as in the town, and
soon the enrollment went over a hundred. By Oct. 12, 1899 it was 139. Seventy of the students were from towns
other than Blackshear, the majority of them boarding in town. Prof. O'QUINN stayed
for two years.
On May 31, 1901, J.M. PURDOM and the Rev. C.M. LEDBETTER
appeared before the Savannah Presbytery board of trustees and presented an offer from Blackshear
and Pierce county for establishing a high school in Blackshear. The offer was
accepted and Pierce County High School went out of existence, and Presbyterial Institute
came into being. The school opened in October with Prof. Thomas J. FARRAR,
Ph. D., principal. His assistants were Misses Kate F. GUTHRIE, Corra
WESTON and Nellie V. MILLS. By Sept., 1903, when Thomas G.
WILKINSON took over as principal, the school listed seven people on its
faculty. One, Miss Agnes EQUELL, was the music teacher, another, the
Rev. A.L. PATTERSON, was pastor of the Blackshear Presbyterian Church.
Pierce Collegiate Institute, established
in Blackshear by the South Georgia Methodist Conference, opened for the first
time on September 10, 1913, with the largest attendance in the history of
Blackshear schools. President W.A. HUCKABEE had seen to it that many new
features had been added. The dormitories under the care of Mrs. INGRAM
were real homes, while the dining room, as managed by Mrs. WARD, was
unlike any boarding school to be found, the food being prepared like
"Mother used to cook" and seved in a most tempting styles. After the
1917 spring term ended, the Methodist Conference withdrew their sponsorship and
turned the school and property back to the city.
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First Stores
Jasper REEVES, father of J.M. REEVES, kept the first store
ever run in Blackshear. John MINCHEW was the "first to build a
store-building in the new county-site of Blackshear," although it does not
appear that that he ever lived in the new town. He had formerly lived in Ware County but sold lots he owned in the Waycross area to B.F. WILLIAMS (grandfather of O.S.
WILLIAMS and Miss Marion WILLIAMS) and moved across the Satilla River into the new county of Pierce. Benjamin Daniel BRANTLEY and his wife moved
to Blackshear from Waresboro in December, 1858. It is believed that Mr. BRANTLEY
had already opened a store at Blackshear in 1857. Mr. BRANTLEY put up a
store and went into the business of merchandising, the firm name being Brantley
& Douglas.
Another early store was the firm of Harper
and Strickland begun in 1858; it changed hands once or twice. Other stores were
built the same year. It was not unusual in those days for wagon trains
containing wool, hides, wax, poultry and cotton to arrive in Blackshear. B.D.
BRANTLEY would make trips himself to Savannah to obtain merchandise.
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Businesses in 1900
*W.T. HUGHES & BROS**********************************
This firm was formed in 1899 and was operated by W.T. HUGHES, who had been
"prominent in Blackshear commercial circles since 1883," said L.J.
HUGHES. The Hughes brothers, T.D., W.T., and L.J., were natives of Liberty
County, sons of Capt. Wm. Hughes, Jr., who commanded the Liberty Guards during
the Civil War.
*T.D. HUGHES*******************************************
T.D. HUGHES came to Blackshear in 1886 and worked in various local stores
before eventually setting up his own grocery store in the Armitage block. He
was assisted in the business by his son, Edwin HUGHES, and it was a well-known
local store for several years.
*TONSORIAL PARLOR**********************************
W.L. McMILLAN, who was marshall of Blackshear for a number of years,
operated a "first class barber shop" next to the old post office
facing the railroad. It was in charge of by Will ASPINWALL, who was
considered one of the best barbers in this section of Georgia."
*W.C. LOVE & CO.
*************************************** The only drug store in Blackshear in
1900 was that of W.C. LOVE & CO. in the Armitage block. The firm
also included John THOMAS, also county clerk. In charge of the store was
J.W. MARTIN, Ph. G., of Wrightsville, a graduate of the university of Illinois at Chicago.
*GRADY & DARLING************************************
This co-partnership included J.L. GRADY, "than whom no better man
exists in this section of the globe," and "the jolly, hustling E.L.
DARLING." They sold "everything from a cambric needle to a house
and lot" and were said to be "the only men in Blackshear able to take
care of the living and dead." They were assisted in the store by C.E.
FOSTER and W.B. CULPEPPER. Grady and Darling also had the principal
livery and drayage business in Blackshear in 1900.
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News Events
Mr. Robert BURTON was the proprietor of the first paper in Blackshear.
It was "The Southeast Georgian." Keightley STRICKLAND set type
on that paper.
Eleazar Z. BYRD was one of the most prominent and influential men in Pierce County during the period from about 1878 to after 1900. It
was during this time that he served as publisher of the local newspaper, as
sheriff, as in other county offices. He came to Blackshear from Florida some time after 1870 and was publishing The Little
Gem in Blackshear in march of 1878. The name of the newspaper was changed
several times, until it finally became The Blackshear Times. Below is a list of
News Briefs from 1878-1900 from The Little Gem.
March
15, 1878 - Dr. Brown
has withdrawn his obligation to erect the missionary Baptist Church house on the corner of Broad and Court House street and Mr. William ARMITAGE has taken the
contract to complete the same.
November
14, 1878 - A large
orange tree on one of B.D. BRANTLEY's places has produced some 500 large
sweet oranges which compare favorably as to size and flavor with the Florida oranges. E.Z. BYRD, "Blackshear
News", editor, urged Pierce countians to think seriously about going into
the orange business.
- Dec. 19, 1878 - John W. BOOTH says he is not a
candidate for sheriff.
- We've just printed 2,800 election tickets for Ware county.
- A.J. DICKSON has a meat hog that will pull 400 pounds net.
- We are informed by timber men that timber is selling at Burnt Fort
for $1.25 per average.
- We have an advertisement from the "Jesup House" in Jesup, Ga., but have not had the time to set it.
- Isham STONE has moved his bar room up near the depot.
- H.J. SMITH has just received an assortment of general
merchandise, for sale cheap.
- Our Sunday Schools will have Christmas trees for the little ones.
- Seward SMITH has filled the other side of his house with
liquors.
- A car load of flour, bacon, etc., just received at B.D.
BRANTLEY'S
- The sound of the hammer and ring of saw are heard about the
residence of A.J. STRICKLAND and Capt. E.D.HENDRY
- One quire of good note paper and 24 envelopes to match, for 25
cents at the News office.
- Preaching in the Methodist Church next Sunday, at 11 o'clock by Rev. G.J. GRIFFITH.
January
31, 1879 - Elijah
ASPINWALL of Pierce county and Miss Celie MOODY of Appling county
were married at the home of Mr. George MOODY. The attendants were Hybert
WILLIAMSON and Miss Mozel DONALDSON, Thomas J. BYRD and Miss Mary
ASPINWALL. Rev. J. W. KIMBRELL officiated. Following the wedding the
group proceeded to supper where the dining room table groaned beneath
everything that was dainty. Afterwards music and dancing continued until three o'clock in the morning.
September
9, 1882 - William
F. SWEAT was nominated by the Pierce county Democratic convention to run
for representative of Pierce county in the coming general election. The
convention lasted all day. At the First District convention in Savannah, Pierce county's own Hon. John C. NICHOLLS was
nominated to run for Congress.
Dec. 11, 1883 - Following the resignation
of Prof. LAMBDIN of the Blackshear Acadamy, which left the school
temporarily without a teacher, the board of trustees on this date hired Miss Mildred
STEED of Barnesville.
Apr.
7, 1884 - The Pierce County Sunday School Association met with the Methodist Church in Blackshear. Dr. A.M. MOORE, Miss Mollie
STRICKLAND of Blackshear and Mrs. KENNON of Hoboken were named delegates to the State Convention.
Sept. 1, 1884 - W.G. BRANTLEY, by a
vote of 167 to 39 for D.R. JOHNSON, won his race for Represenative from
Pierce county.
Dec.
26, 1885 - The Pierce County Agricultural Society met and Dr. A.M. MOORE
was reelected president for the coming year and J.P. HUGHES was named
secretary. E.M. CRAWFORD, John BAXTER, and R.G. RIGGINS
were elected delegates to attend the state convention at Columbus in February.
June 9, 1886 - S.D. BRADWELL of
Hinesville, one of the owners of the "Blackshear Georgian" announced
his decision to seek the nomination of the Democratic party as Congressman from
the First District.
Sept.
1, 1887 - Col. A.B.
ESTES Jr. has the finest piece of long cotton to be found anywhere within
the corporate limits of Blackshear. He has three acres planted.
April
21, 1888 - A 250 pound
black bear was killed about two miles from Patterson by Randall LIGHTSY.
Others on the hunt included James BROWN, Joseph E. GRINER, J.J.
DICKSON, John ANDERSON, L.C. WYLLY, Lemuel GRINER, Barnie
DICKSON, Edmund THOMAS and a HIGHSMITH.
August
10, 1889 - Pierce
county sheriff Tom A. DAVIS escaped serious injury when his black horse
fell with him as he left his home in a gallop for Blackshear. The fine horse
broke his shoulder and had to be destroyed. Sheriff Davis was uninjured.
August
22, 1890 - George
W. (Wash) TUTEN
was killed instantly in a sawmill accident at the North Bay Lumber Company in
Blackshear. He was a member of the City Council and was mayor pro-term.
May
18, 1891 - the upper
portion of Pierce county suffered three hail storms during the afternoon. Each
time the size and amount of hail increased until by the third shower the stones
were big as hen eggs and covered the ground to a depth of six inches. In most
cases crops were completely destroyed. Among those suffering severe damage were
Perry YOUMAN, W.R.ANDERS, C.E. MORRIS, Ben GUEST,
and William H. PEACOCK.
July 14, 1894 - C.G. TENNANT, a
guard at the Offerman convict camps, died of gunshot wounds received on the
11th, when he was shot by Anderson AUSTIN, colored, and ex-convict. A
jury pronounced it manslaughter.
February
6, 1896 - Between 90
and 100 relatives attended the dinner in celebration of Mr. William TURNER's
100th birthday. His wife, Aunt Riney, is in her 98th year.
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Officers in 1878
Officials of the town of Blackshear in 1878 were as follows:
- Mayor, R.G. RIGGINS;
- Clerk of council, J.M. PURDOM
- Marshal, A.L. DAUVERGNE
- Treasurer, B.D.BRANTLEY
- Councilmen, J.W. STRICKLAND, A.N. SMITH, D.H.
BURNEY, A.J. STRICKLAND
On 3rd inst. July 1878, Mr. John ALDRIDGE
elected by Town council to fill unexpired term of A.L. DAUVERGNE as marshal.
(From the Little Gem, March 29, 1878)
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Satilla Rangers
The Satilla Rangers, who became Company A of the the 50th Georgia Infantry, were mustered into service at Blackshear on
March 4, 1862,
for the duration of the war. Following is a roster of Company A, Infantry:
OFFICERS
- John T. WILSON, Captain
- James a. WATERS, 1st Lieut.Promoted to Captain Dec.
31, 1862.
Elected 1st Lieut. Apr. 1864
- Aaron DOWLING, 2nd Lieut. March 4,
1862.
Surrendered at Appomattox, Va., April 9, 1865.
- John M. ALLEN, Junior 2nd Lieut. March 4,
1862
- Alonzo C. MARTIN, 1st Sgt. March 4,
1862.
- John S. ANDREWS, 2nd Sgt., March 4,
1862.
- W.F. MINSHEW, 3rd Sgt., March 4,
1862.
- Edmond THOMAS, 4th Sgt., March 4,
1862. captured
- 1862, died in Fort Delaware Prison, Sept. 25, 1862.
- Banner GUY, 5th Sgt., March 4,
1862.
- Wm. R. WOODS, 1st Corporal, March 4,
1862.
- Jeremiah E. JOHNS, 2nd Corporal, March 4,
1862.
- William J. HARRIS, 3rd Corp., March 4,
1862.
- Lazarus DOWLING, 4th Corp., March 4,
1862. Wounded
at Sharpsburg, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. Disablility discharge granted, March 5, 1863.
PRIVATES
- ALBRITTON, James H.
- ALLEN, George W., captured Oct. 1864.
- ALTMAN, Jasper
- ALTMAN, Samuel, killed at Boonesboro, MD
- BYRAM, William
- BRYANT, John
- BRYANT (or BYRAM), Warren
- CLARK, Samuel
- COLLINS, George w.
- CREWS, Bryant sent to hospital Sept. 1862
- CREWS, Thomas
- CARTER, Willis S.
- CLARK, Daniel, killed in battle at
Fredericksburg, VA.
- DYKES, George
- DENMARK, James M.
- DAVIS, James L., died in hospital of disease in
VA.
- DOPSON, William J.
- DOWLING, David L.
- DENMARK, James W.
- DIXON, James J.
- DIXON, Malachi
- DYESS, Josiah, died Feb. 3, 1863, Lynchburg, VA
- DOWLING, Darling W.
- DOWLING, John H.
- DOWLING, Jabez J.
- DAVIS, John H.
- DAVIS, Charlton S. wounded May 1864
- DEEN, John
- DOWLING, M.
- EDENFIELD, William, killed at Fredericksburg,
VA.
- FLETCHER, John W., wounded in battle Booneboro,
MD
- FORD, Edward M., killed in battle at
Gettysburg, PA
- GODWIN, Jacob,
- GANDY, Charles
- GODWIN, John
- GOODING, William H., missing after battle of
Boonesboro
- HERNDON, Daniel
- HERRING, John W.
- HENNESSY, Michael
- HATTON, John
- HOWARD, MOSES W.
- HIGGS, James J. A., captured at Cedar Creek,
VA.
- HARRIS, Ebenezer
- HARRIS, Lazarus J. S., died Sept. 4, 1862
- HARRIS, Roberson
- HIGHSMITH, John M. died in Richmond, VA
- HIGDON, J.P.Y.
- JENKINS, William W.
- KELLY, James P.
- KNOX, Franklin died in service June 30, 1862
- LANGDALE, Noan
- MANNING, Lewis P.
- McSWAIN, John, captured at Cedar Creek, VA
- McALHANEY, John T.
- MUSIC, A.
- NUNEZ, Alexander, captured Aug. 1864.
- NETTLES, Jeremiah F. *(see notation below)
- NEWTON, Ezra
- NUNEZ, Daniel G., wounded and lost leg at Cedar
Creek.
- O'BERRY, Robert G. wounded at Boonesboro, MD
- POWERS, George died in Richmond, VA hospital.
- PHILLIPS, John R. captured at Cedar Creek, Va.
- PEACOCK, James T. died of wounds, Sept. 14,
1862.
- PITTS, James H. sick in hospital, Savannah July
1, 1862.
- RIGGINS, William W. disablility discharge
- ROBERTS, John L.
- STRICKLAND, Abraham
- STEWART, Colquitt killed May 12, '64, Spottsylvania, VA
- STEWART, James died of disease, '62, Fernandina, FL.
- STONE, George R. wounded and
missing Boonesboro, MD
- STONE, William H. captured at Cedar Creek, VA
- THOMAS, James R. killed at Boonesboro, MD
- THOMAS, Lewis R. wounded at Boonesboro, MD
- THOMAS, John L.
- THOMAS, Jackson died of disease, Oct. 8, '62
- THOMAS, James F. killed in battle, Boonesboro,
MD
- TIPPINS, James T. missing after battle
Boonesboro, MD
- WALKER, Isham died May 2, 1862 in hospital,
Macon, GA
- WOODS, Edward C.
- WOODS, George W
- WILSON, Ezekiel
- WELLS, Jasper W. wounded June 3, '64, cold
Harbor, Va
- WELLS, Newton R.
- WATERS, W. W. captured at Cedar Creek, VA Oct.
19, '64
- WALDRON, R.D. discharged July 18, 1862
- WALDRON, Benjamin wounded in battle Boonesboro,
MD
- WALDRON, George W.
* According to Widow's
Pension Application # A11890 filed in Alachua County Florida on August 08, 1903
by his widow Rhoda Nettles - age 84, it states that Jeremiah F. Nettles died on
April 03,1863 from pneumonia contracted while he was in service at
Fredrickburg, Va. Contributed by Patty
Nettles Floyd (Nov. 7, 2003)
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Pension Records
The pension records below have to do with those
who applied for pensions or received pensions in the Pierce county ordinary's
office.
- ALDRIDGE, John - served four years in Co. D, 26th Georgian
Infantry.
- BARNARD, James G - enlisted in the Army in April, 1861 in
Florida.
- BELL, Lewis - served three years, two months in Co. D, 22nd
Regiment.
- BENNETT, William T. - served three years in Co. C, 4th GA
Regiment.
- BYRD, William F. - soldier in Co. A, or I of the 4th
Georgia Regiment.
- CARTER, William Jr - served in the Army four years in Co. B
of 54th Reg.
- CASON, David - served four years in Co. D, 7th regiment of
GA Cavalry.
- CLELAND, John - served three years eight months in Co. F
26th Regiment.
- COWART, M.M. - enlisted in the fall of 1861 in Co. B, 20th
Regiment.
- CRAWFORD, Reuben M. - enlisted in the Army in January,
1862, Co.
- D. DAVIS, James C.C. - born Feb. 15, 1847, served in the
Army as private.
- DIXON, John - enlisted in Army May 17, 1862, in Company E,
7th Reg.
- DOWLING, J.J. - enlisted in the Army March 4, 1862, in Co.
A. 50th Reg.
- ECHOLS, George S. - was a soldier in Capt. HENDRY'S
Company.
- HENDERSON, John J. - sergeant, was 75 years old Sept. 5,
1908.
- HENDRY, Enoch D. - served as captain in Atlantic and Gulf
Guards.
- HENDRY, George S - enlisted Feb. 28, 1862, Damp Claghorn in
GA
- HOWELL, Elijah - pvt. in Captain HENDERSON'S company of GA.
- JAMES, R.T. - enlisted about Sept., 1862, and served up to
Apr. 9, 1865.
- JOHNSON, Samuel D. - resided in GA from Dec. 25, 1827,
enlisted in 1862.
- KIMBRELL, William - served three years in Co. I of the 4th
GA Regiment.
- LAUGHINGHOUSE, John C. - served fours years in Co A. 4th
Regiment.
- MARTIN, Joseph J. - enlisted April 18, 1861, in Co. E, 26th
Georgia.
- MOODY, John - resided in Georgia from March 15, 1833,
Company A.
- NUNEZ, W.P. - soldier in Co. K, 26th GA Regiment, Gordon's
Brigade.
- PHILLIPS, G.W. - resided in Georgia from Feb. 15, 1834,
Company G.
- PROCTOR, James C. - enlisted in Co. I, 9th Georgia, sick
and was discharged.
- RIGGINS, Thomas - resided in Georgia from Feb. 22, 1831,
Company G.
- RIGGINS W.E. - enlisted in the Army in Sept. 1861, in Co F,
26th Reg.
- RIGGINS, William - resided in GA from May 31, 1838, in
Company A.
- SILLS, Newton - served two years and 10 months in Co. D,
9th Reg.
- SMITH, William W. - served in Conf. Army first in Independent
Cavalry.
- TIPPINS, Phillip - a soldier in Co. K of 54th Regiment of
GA Infantry.
- WALKER, Berry - died July 6, 1875, leaving a widow, Mary B.
- WALKER. WILLIAMS, Robert - resided in Georgia from july 15,
1844, in Co. K.
- WOODARD, William - served three years in Co. F, 4th Georgia
Cavalry.
- YOUMANS, Charles S. - served three years in Mercer's
Partisan Rangers.
- YOUMANS, Perry - enlisted at Screven, GA, in Co. K, 4th GA
Cavalry.
- YOUMANS, James S. - Company C, 4th GA Regiment of
Volunteers.
- YOUNG, William - soldier in Co. G, 7th Georgia, wife was
named Adeline. Back To Top

Cemetery Listings
Pierce county has a number of old
cemeteries, the oldest of which is Shiloh, located three miles northeat of
Blackshear. Other old cemeteries are: Blackshear (very large and manicured),
Old Mill Creek, Foster Clay, Foster Sand Hill (also known as Sheppard Davis
cemetery). Below is a listing of white cemeteries:
- Patterson
- New Mill Creek
- New Home - off of New Hope Church Road
- Bristol
- Mershon
- Ramah - off Hwy 121 and Horsehoe Road
- Beulah - off Beulah Church Rd onad Peacock Rd.
- Ben James
- Rehobeth - 7.5 miles west of Blackshear
- Waters
- Enon
- Thomas - off of Hoboken Rd. and Thomas Cemetery Rd.
- Youmans - off Old Alma Road
- Raulerson - off of Trudie Rd. and Raulerson Rd. (see note below)
- Prospect - 14.5 miles east of Blackshear.
- Mollie Brown
- St. John's - off of St. Johns Church Rd.
- Alabaha - seven miles north of Blackshear
- Strickland
- Hershal Davis
- Byrd - off Hwy 121 and Honeysuckle Lane
- Martha Memorial
- Aspinwall Cemetery - off of Tyre Bridge Rd and Aspin. Cemetery Rd.
Raulerson Cemetery was consecrated in the
1830's with the burial of Noel RAULERSON a great-uncle of Thomas S.
RAULERSON, grandson of Jacob RAULERSON, who owned the farm on which
the cemetery was located. Jacob RAULERSON purchased the farm from Alexander
NUNEZ in 1817.
A listing of Black cemeteries as reported
by "HISTORY OF PIERCE COUNTY GEORGIA", directions are from
Blackshear.
- Shilo - one mile north
- Nunn - 2 miles southwest
- Ivey - 3 miles southwest
- Mershon - 13.5 miles north
- Gethsemane - 10 miles northeast
- Ridge - 7.5 miles northeast
- Offerman - 11.5 miles northeast
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Weather Reports
Warren P. Ward's "History of Coffee
County," published in 1930, says a severe storm, presumably a tornado,
orginated about three miles north of Douglas about 1857 and moved eastward in a
straight path, passing on to the coast and into the Atlantic Ocean. "Not a
tree was left standing in the path of the storm," which was about one mile
wide.
Part of Pierce County may have been in the
path of this storm, giving names to Hurricane Creek and Little Hurricane Creek
which flow into Pierce, and to communities in both present Bacon County and
Coffee County which still bear the name Hurricane.
The first tornado to hit Blackshear after
it was chartered struck about noon on November 10, 1880. The new two-story home
of Jessee MILTON which was nearly completed was blown down. The dwelling
house and kitchen of Mrs. Nancy STEWART was destroyed. The tornado moved
up Church Street, striking the A.N. SMITH home and the Town Hall, in
which the Blackshear News was printed. The store room at the H.J. SMITH
place was upset and a part of B.D. BRANTLEY'S kitchen was torn away.
On Sunday, October 2, 1898, Blackshear and
Pierce county was visited by one of the worst hurricanes ever to hit this
section. One person, Mrs. Jack DICKSON, was killed when her kitchen was
blown down on her. The Times report, describe the damage: "Main street from
BRANTLEY'S hardware store to Dr. BREWER'S office has been stripped of
every China tree except one or two and they are badly damaged. The school house
in the pine thicket near the residence of William DAVIS was blown down,
and some one said it was turned around. Mr. AHL'S kitchen at the 'Norman
Place' was blown down and torn to pieces. An old woodshop out at Mrs. M.J.
HOWARD'S was blown down. A shed-room at Joe GRAY'S was torn loose
from the house and leans from the house about two inches. Mr. A.P. BRANTLEY'S
wind-mill up at his house was blown over and badly damaged. Mr. G.W. TAYLOR,
naval stores manufacturer, is the heaviest loser we have heard of up to now. He
lost about 75,000 boxes besides other losses. We haven't seen Mr. TAYLOR
but we understand that he places his loss at $5,000 and is tempted to abandon
the whole business. Mr. D.J. WALKER'S store down in Patterson was
unroofed and the damage to his stock of goods will amount to several hudred
dollars. E. ASPINWALL says the storm damaged his turpentine business at
least $1,200. A portion of W.F. RAYBON'S house was carried away and the
Masonic hall was moved about 12 inches out of plumb." A letter to the
editor from A.J. DIXON at Mershon reported: "My gin-house was
demolished and my fodder, which I had just before the storm stored therein, was
badly damaged. The little house in which the post office was kept was blown
down and torn to pieces. All the pine timber in front of my house was leveled
to the ground, being blown up by the roots."
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Great Fires
The worst fire for Pierce County to date
was March of 1875. The fire started in the store operated by a Mr. MALONE.
In this fire the Pierce county courthouse and all the stores on the west side
of the railroad were burned, with the exception of B.D. BRANDLEY's.
Nearly all the Pierce county records were destroyed as the courhouse burned.
In January of 1880, fire destroyed the
Pierce county jail. Sheriff E.Z. BYRD reported that a prisoner in the
jail lit a piece of paper to warm his feet and lay down to sleep with the paper
still burning. The prisoner, un-named, was rescued but the building was a total
loss.
On the morning of April 21, 1899, a fire
was discovered in one of the brick stores owned by William ARMITAGE and
occupied by T.D. HUGHES grocery. The blaze spread to the William DAVIS
building and all stores in the Armitage building, including W. T. HUGHES
& Co., Thos. D. HUGHES place, T.F. LAKE store, Grady and
Darling, E.J. McKINNEY's bicycle shop and the law offices of ESTES
& WALKER. These establishments were a total loss except that everything
removable was taken from the buildings, as it became apparent they were doomed.
The Times reported the following week: "Col. STURGIS'
office is now in the courthouse, Cols. ESTES & WALKER have
offices in The Times building upstairs, Col. Walter MILTON's office
is between the Baptist Church and The Times office,
T.F. LAKE opened up in the Willaim DAVIS' old store formerly
occupied by Will DARLING. The post office is in the same building for
the present. C.W. LOVE, formerly clerk in the City Drug Store, has rented the Converse store from Jos. A.