Ware-Jefferson-Clinch County GaArchives Biographies.....Folks, Frank Clingman unknown - living in 1913
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 October 22, 2004, 12:24 am

Author: William Harden
p. 893-895

   HON. FRANK CLINGMAN FOLKS, M. D. A prominent and successful physician of
Waycross, Hon. Frank Clingman Folks, M. D., has not only gained marked prestige
in his profession, but is known as a progressive and public-spirited citizen,
and as a man of the highest principles of honor and integrity. A native of
Jefferson county, Georgia, he was born on a farm that is now included within the
corporate limits of the city of Wadley, his father, Hon. William Bardon Folks,
M. D., having been born, in 1830, in the same place, while his grandfather, Amos
Folks, was a native of North Carolina.

   His paternal great-grandparents were of English birth, or of English
ancestry. After living for many years in North Carolina, they migrated to
Georgia, making the removal with private conveyances, bringing with them their
household goods, stock, and slaves. Buying land in Jefferson county, he improved
a homestead, and there both he and his faithful helpmeet spent their remaining
days.

   A young boy when his parents moved to Georgia, Amos Folks assisted his father
to some extent in the pioneer labor of improving the farm, and during his active
career was a successful planter. He died while yet in manhood's prime, in
Jefferson county. His wife, whose maiden name was Celia Lofly, was a life-long
resident of that county. Three sons and one daughter were born of their
marriage, as follows: Green, the oldest son, enlisted during the Civil war in
the Confederate army, and died while in service, in Virginia; Solomon died in
early manhood; William Bardon, father of Frank C. Folks, M. D., and Catherine,
who married Dr. Seaborn Bell, of Emanuel county.

   Acquiring his literary education in the schools of his native county, Dr.
William Bardon Folks began the study of medicine under Dr. William Hauser, of
Jefferson county, and was graduated from the Savannah Medical College with the
class of 1855. Practicing but a short time in Jefferson and Washington counties,
he located, in 1856, in Waresboro, then the county seat of Ware county. At that
early day neither railroad, telephone or telegraph lines spanned the country,
Ware county, and all of the nearby counties, being then in their pristine
wild-ness. As the population grew, his practice increased, his visits, which
extended many miles in either direction, were made on horseback, oftentimes the
trails which he followed having been those made by the Indians. At the outbreak
of the Civil war, he offered his services to the Confederacy, and being made
surgeon of the Twenty-sixth Georgia Volunteer Infantry, he went with his
regiment to Virginia, joining the Army of the Potomac. He continued with his
regiment until the close of the conflict, when he resumed his practice in
Waresboro. He subsequently settled in Yankee Town, afterward in Tibianville,
where, in addition to his practice he engaged in mercantile business. Removing
from there to Whigham, Decatur county, he was station agent on the Atlantic and
Gulf railroad for two years, and during the next two years practiced medicine at
Valdosta, Georgia, after which he lived for a while in Savannah.

   When Waycross was first started, Dr. W. B. Folks was the first physician to
locate in the new town, and built the fourth house erected within its limits.
Here he was actively and prosperously engaged in the practice of his profession
until about two years prior to his death, which occurred in 1886. Energetic and
public-spirited, he became exceedingly influential in public affairs, and served
two terms as mayor of the city, and represented the fifth district, which
included Ware, Clinch and Coffee counties, in the State Senate, to which he was
elected in 1878.

   Dr. William B. Folks married Mary Jefferson Miller, who was born, in 1830, in
Jefferson county, Georgia, whose parents were life-long residents of Jefferson
county. Her grandfather, Thomas Me Watty, immigrated from Scotland to America,
settling in Jefferson county, Georgia, in pioneer days. She survived her husband
many years, passing away in 1906. Five children blessed their union, as follows:
Rosa, who died at the age of eighteen years; Frank Clingman, the special subject
of this brief sketch; Chauncey M.; Gustavus P.; and William B., Jr. The father
was a stanch Democrat in politics, and both he and his wife were members of the
Methodist Episcopal church.

   After completing the course of study in the public schools of Ware county,
Frank Clingman Folks read medicine first with his father, and later with Dr.
William Duncan, of Savannah. Then matriculating at the Savannah Medical College,
he was there graduated with the class of 1876, receiving the degree of M. D.
Immediately entering upon private practice of his profession, Dr. Folks was for
four years located at Horner-ville, Clinch county, where he made rapid progress
along the pathway of success. In 1880 he returned to Waycross, where he has
since continued in his field of labor, having won a noteworthy position in the
front rank of the medical fraternity of Ware county.

   The doctor has taken quite an active part in public affairs, in addition to
having served two terms as mayor of Waycross has represented the fifth district
in the state senate, to which he was elected in the fall of 1888, just ten years
after the election of his father to the same position from the same district.
Fraternally he is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Order of Masons, and
to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Religiously both the doctor and Mrs.
Folks are valued members of the Methodist Episcopal church, South.

   In 1877 Dr. Folks was united in marriage with Emma A. Morgan, who was born in
Clinch county, Georgia, a daughter of Jonathan L. and Susan (Hargreaves) Morgan,
who were born in Georgia, Mr. Morgan having been of Welsh lineage, and Mrs.
Morgan of English ancestry. Eight children have been born to Doctor and Mrs.
Folks, namely: Ada, who died in infancy; Rosa; Mabel; Frankie; Willie; Fleming;
Robert, and Louise. Rosa married first George Bell, who died in early life,
leaving one child, Sarah Bell; she married for her second husband P. K. Groff,
of Akron, Ohio, and they have one son, Philip Folks Groff. Mabel, who married
Charles Newton, has two children, Frances and Charles. Frankie, who became the
wife of Walter P. Rivers, died March 1, 1912. Willie Folks, the doctor's oldest
son, is a graduate of the Atlanta College of Physicians and Surgeons, and is now
engaged in the practice of medicine at Waycross. Fleming was graduated from the
Atlanta School of Pharmacy. Robert and Louise are both pupils in the Waycross
high school.



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

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