BERRIEN COUNTY, GEORGIA, BIOGRAPHY

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Barbara Walker
Winge barbarawinge@yahoo.com

SOURCE:  CENTENNIAL EDITION - THE ADEL NEWS, Adel, Cook
County, GA, p. 7-C  [Taken from the BERRIEN COUNTY PIONEER, 
November 09, 1888]


JOHN McDERMID SETTLED NEAR SPARKS

John McDermid was born in Robinson County, North Carolina,
in the year 1811.  His parents emigrated from North
Carolina, when the subject of this sketch was about three
years old, to Georgia, and settled in Montgomery County.
His father died soon after leaving his mother a widow with
three children - himself and two sisters.  They lived in
Montgomery County ten years, and his mother, failing to
realize anything from the sale of his father’s estate in
North Carolina, determined to move nearer the frontier of
the State.  She accordingly joined herself and family to an
emigrant party from her neighborhood and came to the
territory now known as Berrien County.  She settled on Bear
Creek, near where Duncan Wilkes now resides, but not long
afterwards moved to the place where Mr. John Patterson now
lives, John being the only son, he had to assume the role of
paterfamilias, to provide for and protect his mother and two
sisters.  In those days the duty was a heroic one for a boy
only thirteen years old.

Irwin County had civil jurisdiction over all this territory
then, but the presence of the wily red man and white
renegades made the dispensation of law and order a very tame
affair - doubtful and risky. The sight of an Indian was no
uncommon thing in those days. Parties of them were
continually roving the woods, and not unfrequently committed
depredations upon his little homestead.  He served through
the Indian War of 1836; was attached at different times to
different companies of soldiers under the commands of
Captains Pike, McCranie and Grantham.  He came out without a
scratch on his person.  He has a bowie knife in his
possession now that he captured from the Indians.

Mr. McDermid settled the Mims’ place, where Rev. J. W. Wells
lives and was living there when he married in 1841, Miss Ann
E. Alderman at the home of her parents in the upper edge of
Brooks County.  His wife is still living at the age of 66
years.  Eight children born to them all of whom they raised
to manhood and womanhood, and six are still living.  The
following are the names of his children and whom they
married.
     Mary Ann married Paul Crosby
     Angus was killed in the late War.
     Ansel A. D. W. died in time of the War at Valdosta with measles
     Florrie married E. J. Williams, Jr.
     Nancy married Joseph Dampler
     Jane married Berry W. Lovitt.
     Ezekiel J. married Sallie Lindsay
     Margaret is single and living with her parents.

Mr. McDenmid attached himself to the Primitive Baptist
Church, when he was quite a young man and has ever since
lived consistently with his profession.  He has been noted
from his youth for honesty, frankness and truth.  His life
has been one of quiet and inobtrusiveness.  He now lives
about one mile west of Sparks on a place he settled thirty
or more years ago.  He is 77 years of age, hale and hearty
and bids fair to live a score or more years yet.  He is of
Scotch descent; his grandparents came from Scotland when his
father was quite a small boy.