Dooly County GaArchives Biographies.....Rufus  Robertson February 3 1872 - March 2 1935
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Olivia Terjesen terjesen@adelphia.net January 30, 2004, 3:10 pm

Author: Olivia Terjesen
Rufus Erastus Robertson was born in Knoxville, Georgia on February 3, 1872.  He 
married Sarah Elizabeth Harp on February 12, 1899 at home in Pinehurst, Georgia 
by John Calhoun.

Rufus Robertson was a farmer in Dooly County most of his life, and he was one 
of the progressive farmers of the county, employing such methods as were best 
fitted to his type of agricultural operations and had attained prestige in his 
community and the county.  He was particularly interested in the school affairs 
of his community and exerted his every effort toward the betterment of his 
community and its people.

For several years, Rufus was the Chief of Police in Unadilla, GA; and he was 
known as the "meanest man in Dooly County".  At that time, Unadilla was a 
thriving commercial center. The town had its own movie theatre, train station, 
banks, grocery stores, farm equipment and cotton gins, etc.

As Chief of police, he had been notified to be on the "lookout" for a black man 
that had fled a crime in Hawkinsville.  He was getting ready to leave the house 
to patrol his town when he noticed that he had a hole his pant's pocket where 
he kept his pistol.  His wife Sarah wanted to mend it, but Rufus said he wanted 
to get to town.  Once he got to town, he noticed the "lookout suspect".  He 
proceded to tell the suspect, "consider yourself under arrest", when all of a 
sudden the suspect pull out a gun and shot Rufus in the chest.  Rufus grabbed 
for his pistol, but it was snagged in the hole of his pant's pocket; the men 
tumbled to the ground and Rufus managed to get his pistol free, and he shot and 
killed  the suspect.  During surgery to remove the bullet from Rufus, the 
doctor saw that the bullet was lodged too close to his heart and did not want 
to remove it for fear of killing him.  (1920's is when shooting took place)

Rufus was over six foot and a stout man that weighed over 200 pounds.  When he 
died from a heart attack on March 2, 1935; he carried the bullet with him to 
his grave.  He is buried at Harmony Baptist Church Cemetery, Dooly County, GA."

Rufus was also in the posse that went to escort Leo Frank to jail.
   

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