Ware-Pierce-Richmond County GaArchives Biographies.....Darling, Thomas Jefferson 1868 - living in 1913
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 October 22, 2004, 12:55 am

Author: William Harden
p. 896-898

   THOMAS JEFFERSON DARLING. Prominent among the leading lumber manufacturers
and dealers of Ware county is Thomas Jefferson Darling, of Waycross, who was for
many years identified with the upbuilding and growth of this section of the
state, and has contributed his full share towards advancing its material
interests, as proprietor of the Darling Construction Company being associated
with one of its most valuable industrial enterprises. A son of Dr. Thomas
Jackson Darling, he was born, June 25, 1868, in Blackshear, Pierce county,
Georgia, of New England lineage.

   His grandfather, Joseph Darling, was born in 1784, either in Rhode Island, or
in Georgia, of Rhode Island ancestry. For many years a resident of Richmond
county, Georgia, he owned a large plantation on the Washington road, eight miles
from Augusta, where both he and his wife spent their last years, at the close of
life being buried side by side on the old home plantation, his death occurring
October 4, 1844. He married Mary Manning Dunevan, who was born March 5, 1783,
and died April 14,1847, having survived him two and one-half years.

   Born in Richmond county, Georgia, in 1828, Thomas Jackson Darling laid a
solid foundation for his future education in the days of his youth, and was
subsequently graduated from the Augusta, Georgia, Medical College with the
degree of M. D. Beginning the practice of medicine in Blackshear. Pierce county,
Dr. Darling continued there until the breaking out of the war between the
states, when he offered his services to the Confederacy, and as a surgeon in the
army continued in active service until the close of the conflict. Resuming then
his practice in Blackshear, he remained there until his death, June 14, 1873,
being one of the foremost physicians and surgeons of that part of the county.

   The maiden name of the wife of Dr. Darling was Bashabee Elizabeth Godbee. She
was born in Alabama, July 29,1829, a daughter of Samuel Isaac Ivy Godbee, and
grand-daughter of Samuel Godbee, who married Elizabeth Moore, a daughter of
Abner Moore. Samuel Isaac Ivy Godbee, who removed from. Alabama to Georgia in
1830, and spent the remainder of his years in Eichmond county, married Elizabeth
Mobley, a daughter of James Alexander and Sarah (Wimberly) Mobley. The Moores,
Mobleys and Wimberlys were among the early and prominent settlers of Richmond
county. Dr. Darling's wife outlived him many long years, passing away October 9,
1903, leaving eight children, as follows: Rena, Mina, Dora, Will, Emma, A. C.,
Thomas Jefferson, and Edward Lee.

   Receiving his preliminary mental training in the public schools of
Blackshear, Thomas Jefferson Darling afterwards continued his studies at the
Johnsonville High School. Apprenticing himself "to a firm of builders at the age
of seventeen years, in Orlando, Florida, he remained with his employers three
years, and was afterwards foreman of a carpentering gang for four years, in
Blackshear, Georgia, and in Waycross, Embarking then in business on his own
account in Waycross, Mr. Darling built up a patronage that extended throughout
southern Georgia, and into Florida, as a contractor and builder, filling many
large contracts. In Jacksonville, Florida, Mr. Darling erected the magnificent
Dyal Upchurch office building, and in Waycross has had the supervision of the
building of many of its most substantial and handsome business blocks. He
erected the Young Men's Christian Association Building, the Bunn Bell College
Building, and many others of note. He has built three court houses, numerous
school houses, and hundreds of dwellings in South Georgia, creations of his
brains and hands being in evidence in many places. Retiring from the building
industry in 1908, Mr. Darling has since been prosperously employed in the lumber
business, having an extensive yard in Waycross, and a finely equipped planing mill.

   On August 8th, 1895, Mr. Darling married Laura Le Count, who was born in
Kekoshkee, Wisconsin, May 25, 1868, a daughter of Charles Le Count, and
grand-daughter of John Hendrix Le Count. Her great-grandfather, John Le Count,
was born at New Roehelle, New York, of French Huguenot ancestry, and served, so
it is supposed, as a soldier in the Revolutionary war. John Hendrix Le Count, a
native of New Roehelle, New York, served in the War of 1812, and Mrs. Darling
now has in her possession his papers giving him an honorable discharge from the
service. He subsequently removed to Wisconsin, locating at Hartford, where he
spent his remaining years. He married Esther Smith, who was born in Dutchess
county, New York, a daughter of Stephen and Deborah (Bashford) Smith, both of
whom were life-long residents of Dutchess county, his birth occurring in 1770,
and his death in 1845, while she was born in 1783 and died in 1851.

   As a young man Charles Le Count migrated to Wisconsin, and until 1869 was
there engaged in the hardware business. In that year he settled in Nebraska, in
York, which was then a frontier town, seventy miles from a railroad. Opening a
hardware store there, he built up a good business, and became prominent in
public affairs, serving as treasurer of York county, as treasurer of the city of
York, and as treasurer of the County Agricultural Society, and of seven other
organizations of minor importance. On account of impaired health, Mr. Le Count
sold out his Nebraska interests in 1885, and purchased an orange grove at
Anthony, Marion county, Florida, where he lived until 1906. Coming then to
Georgia, he resided in Waycross until his death, in February, 1907.

   Mr. Le Count married Jane Amanda Littlefield, who was born, August 20, 1824,
in Readsboro, Vermont, a daughter of Elisha Alvin Littlefield. Her grandfather,
Asa Littlefield, who was born May 6, 1762, and died June 19,1845, married, March
24, 1782, Lois Stark, whose birth occurred May 15, 1755, and who died April 25,
1740. In 1820 Elisha Alvin Littleneld married Lydia Maria Parsons, a daughter of
Joseph and Rachel (Battles) Parsons, who removed from Canada to Vermont, and
they subsequently left New England, going to Kekoshkee, Wisconsin, where both
spent their remaining years. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Le Count were people of
sterling worth and integrity, highly esteemed in the business and social circles
of Kekoshkee, and were valued members of the Universalist church. They reared
four children, namely: Adelaide, John, Charles, and Laura, now Mrs. Darling. Mr.
and Mrs. Darling are the parents of four children, namely: Thomas Jackson
Darling, Charles Le Count Darling, Dorothea Darling, and Sunshine Darling.
Politically Mr. Darling supports the principles of the Democratic party in state
and town elections, and in national affairs is a Prohibitionist. Religiously
both Mr. and Mrs. Darling are members of the Methodist Episcopal 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

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