Calhoun County FlArchives Biographies..... CHAFIN, WILLIAM T.  January 15, 1886 - 
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/fl/flfiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Nancy Rayburn Naev@earthlink.net August 4, 2007, 1:57 am

Author: The History of Florida:  Past & Present, The Lewis Publishing Co., 1923,  Vol.III pg. 300

     CHAFIN, Hon. WILLIAM T.  Of the members of the Florida judiciary who have 
been chosen from other ranks than those of the legal profession, one who 
during his incumbency of his office has displayed judgment and ability and who 
has vindicated the faith of those who put him on the bench is Hon. WILLIAM T. 
CHAFIN, judge of the County Court of Calhoun County and one of Blountstown’s 
progressive citizens.  Prior to his elevation to the judgeship he had much 
experience in other fields of endeavor, having been a sawmill man, farmer and 
contractor, and in each of these fields displayed ability and fair-mindedness 
that showed him to be of judicial timber.
     Judge CHAFIN was born on a farm in Calhoun County, January 15, 1886, and 
is a son of CHARLES A. and SARAH A. (GRIFFIN) CHAFIN.  Through his father’s 
family he comes of Revolutionary ancestry, and his grandfather was MOSES 
CHAFIN, who was born in Virginia in 1800.  The maternal grandfather of Judge 
CHAFIN was L. M. GRIFFIN, who was born in 1820, in Berrien County, Georgia, 
and moved to Florida in 1880, dying in Calhoun County in 1916.  He was a 
veteran of the war between the states, in which he fought as a Confederate 
soldier.  CHARLES A. CHAFIN was born in Georgia, and when still little more 
than a lad enlisted in the Confederate Army.  He saw much active service with 
a Georgia volunteer infantry regiment, but came safely through the struggle 
and after the war located in Calhoun County, Florida, where he followed 
farming until his death, August 4, 1905, and also served as a local preacher 
in the Baptist Church.  Mrs. CHAFIN, also a native of Georgia, survived her 
husband until March 13, 1917.
     WILLIAM T. CHAFIN attended the public schools of Calhoun County until 
about fifteen years of age, at which time he began to devote his entire time 
to farming in association with his father on the home place.  Later, after he 
had attained his majority, he and his brother embarked in the sawmill business 
and operated in the manufacture of lumber until 1907, at which time he 
returned to agricultural pursuits and continued therein until 1917.  He then 
centered his activities in contracting and building, specializing in the 
construction of bridges, this occupying him until 1920, in the fall of which 
year he became a candidate for county judge.  Elected to this office, he 
assumed the duties thereof January 1, 1921.  As before noted, his record is an 
excellent one, and he is held in high esteem not only by the public but by the 
members of the bench and bar of Calhoun County.  Judge CHAFIN is a democrat in 
his political views, and as a fraternalist belongs to the Masonic Blue Lodge.  
He is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church.
     On February 17, 1907, in Calhoun County, Judge CHAFIN was united in 
marriage with Miss BERTHA PLAYER, daughter of JAMES and BELLE (GIBBS) PLAYER, 
natives of Georgia and farming people, and they have five children:  LOUISE, 
JAMES CARL, MILTON, WILLIAM T. and HAROLD.


Photo: http://www.usgwarchives.net/fl/calhoun/photos/bios/chafin32nbs.jpg

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/fl/calhoun/bios/chafin32nbs.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/flfiles/

File size: 3.7 Kb