Terrell-Macon-Crawford County GaArchives Biographies.....Whitchard, James Horsley 1853 - living in 1913 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 October 20, 2004, 12:14 pm Author: William Harden p. 848-849 HON. JAMES HORSLEY WHITCHARD. An honored and highly esteemed resident of Dawson, Terrell county, Hon. James H. Whitchard holds a position of note among the more useful members of the community, as a teacher having been an important factor in advancing the educational interests of Southwestern Georgia, while as the owner of a farm he has contributed towards the development of the agricultural prosperity of Terrell county. A son of John Whitchard, he was born August 29, 1853, at Garden Valley, Macon county, Georgia, of early colonial ancestry. The Whitchard family, according to tradition, is descended from one of three brothers that came to America at an early period of its settlement, and here spent their remaining years. But one of the brothers married, and from him are descended all of the Americans bearing the name of Witchard, Whitchard, Whichers, Whitcers, or Whittier. John Whitchard was born in Crawford county, Georgia. Left an orphan in boyhood, he was brought up by his maternal grandfather, John Williams, being reared to agricultural pursuits. As a young man he purchased land in Crawford county, Georgia, and for a time operated it with slave labor. He subsequently removed to Macon county, where he continued as a farmer until after the breaking out of the war between the states, when he offered his services to the Confederacy. Enlisting, in 1862, as a private in the Tenth Georgia Battalion, he went with his company to Virginia, where he joined the Army of North Virginia. He was subsequently promoted to the rank of quartermaster of his battalion and continued with his command until the close of the conflict, taking an active part in the many battles in which the Army of North Virginia participated, being at Appomattox at the surrender. Returning to Macon county, he resumed business at Garden Valley, remaining there until 1877. Selling out in that year, he came with his family to Terrell county, and having purchased land lying three miles southwest of Dawson carried on farming until late in life, when he removed to Dawson, where he lived retired from active pursuits until his death, in the eighty-third year of his age. The maiden name of the wife of John Whitchard was Nancy Jane Horsley. She was born in Upson county, Georgia, and died in Dawson, Georgia, in the eighty-second year of her age. Her father, James Horsley, who married Betsey Bullard, was born in South Carolina, of English lineage. Coming to Georgia in early manhood, he located first in Upson county, where he married, and for a time was engaged in farming. He was subsequently similarly employed for a number of years in Macon county, from there coming to Terrell county, where he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives, making their home with their children. Mr. Horsley living to celebrate the ninety-second anniversary of his birth, while Mrs. Horsley passed away at the age of four score and four years. Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. John Whitchard, namely: Antoinette, Loula, Mattie, William S., James Horsley, John Williams, Samuel M., Thomas 0., and Lizzie. Growing to manhood in Macon county, James Horsley Whitchard received a practical education in the public schools, and under his father's instructions was well trained in the different branches of agriculture. In 1878 Mr. Whitchard purchased, in Terrell county, land situated three and one-half miles from Dawson, and for a time was there prosperously engaged in farming. Retiring then from agricultural labors, he rented his land, and for eighteen years was actively engaged in educational work, teaching school in Terrell, Randolph and Webster counties, as an educator being successful and popular. In 1894 Mr. Whitchard was elected county school commissioner for Terrell county, and filled the responsible position ably and efficiently for six years, when he was elected as a representative to the state legislature. Although a resident of Dawson, Mr. Whitchard superintends the operation of his farm, in its management meeting with satisfactory results. On December 10, 1884, Mr. Whitchard was united in marriage with Miss Leila Ada Jolly, who was born in Macon county, Georgia, a daughter of John Robert and Cynthia (McMickell) Jolly, natives of Macon and Marion counties, respectively. In his political affiliations Mr. Whitchard is a Democrat and active in party ranks. Fraternally he is a member of P. T. Schley Lodge, No. 229, and of Lawrence Chapter, Royal Arch Masons. Both Mr. and Mrs. Whitchard are consistent members of the Missionary Baptist church. Additional Comments: From: A HISTORY OF SAVANNAH AND SOUTH GEORGIA BY WILLIAM HARDEN VOLUME II ILLUSTRATED THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY CHICAGO AND NEW YORK 1913 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/terrell/bios/gbs357whitchar.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/gafiles/ File size: 5.3 Kb