Dougherty County Georgia Biographies - Rev. James William Farmer ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ This file contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Charlene Parker" Sep 2002 From "History of Bethel Association Including Centennial Meeting", by Alexander Lee Miller JAMES WILLIAM FARMER Another one of Bethel Association's fine and self-made pastor is James William Farmer. He was born at Greer, South Carolina, June 19, 1885 and reared on a farm in Habersham County near Toccoa, Georgia, and like most other boys of that section at that time had but little opportunity to attend school regularly, and consequently did not receive before he was grown even a common school education. He grew up to young manhood uneducated. He secured a position as R. F. D. carrier and held this place for about five years. During the time he served as mail carrier he felt the call to the ministry and realizing his unpreparedness and lack of education, although at that time he was married and had four children, he resigned his position and entered Hiwassee Academy in January 1917 in the seventh grade at the age of thirty one years. He graduated from Hiwassee Academy in 1920. He then entered Mercer University that fall and remained at this institution for four years. His work was through and due to his fine spirit and desire to do what he could, he impressed those in charge of the Institution and his brother students in the ministry, and became President of the Mercer Ministerial Association in 1924. He also worked for the State Mission Board during the summer in Evangelistic and Enlistment work and served churches as a student pastor, among them was Georgetown, in Quitman County. In 1924 he was called to the pastorate of Clarkesville and Demorest Churches. This field he served acceptably for four years. During the summer and fall of these years he also did special evangelist work for the State Executive Committee. In 1928 he came to the Bethel Baptist Association and located here, preaching at Colomokee, Georgetown, Damascus, Randolph, Liberty, Midway, Morris and Shiloh Churches. He is one of the wide-awake pastors of this Association. His work is outstanding, especially among the young people of his congregation. He is consecrated, wide-awake, and alert, to all of the duties involved upon him as a pastor. His churches are active in supporting the cause fostered by the Association and in Sunday School and Young People's work. following added by Debra Crosby 1920 Federal Census Towns Co. P. O. Hiawassee ed 163 sheet 7a page 15 125/125 James W. Farmer 34 w m Sc Sc Ga Minister Eunice 30 w f Ga Ga NC Isaac L. 11 w m Ga SC Ga John R. 9 w m Ga Sc Ga James H. 7 w m Ga Sc Ga Margorie 5 w f Ga SC GA Barbara 2/12 w f Ga SC Ga