CLINCH COUNTY, GEORGIA
HISTORY

Among the settlers who moved into the new county following its creation were John L. Morgan, Tarlton McMillan and Thomas G. Ramsey. Judge Morgan removed from Lowndes County and settled at Magnolia about 1853. Mr. McMillan came here in the same year. He is yet living at the ripe age of 90. Judge Ramsey moved in from Alachua County, Florida, and resided here until 1875.

The O'Quins also settled here about this time. Two brothers, David O'Quin and H. D. O'Quin became quite prominent as county officers. Their father was Silas O'Quin, who lived in Wayne County. He was born July 20th, 1788 and died in 1879, 59 years. The children of Silas O'Quin were: Stephen, Jackson, H. D., Alexander, David, Charlton, George, Rebecca and Nancy O'Quin. David and H. D. O'Quin were the only ones who ever lived in this county.

David D. Johnson also came here about this time. He came here from Dooly County in 1855 and settled near the present village of Withers, on the place where S. W. Register afterwards lived. Mr. Johnson was born January 21st, 1813, and died in 1862, in the Civil War. His wife was Sarah Pate, who died in 1900. They had several children.

W. J. Strickland moved here about this time from Tattnall County, where he was born October l0th, 1829. His first wife was a daughter of Hiram Sears, but she did not live long after their marriage. Mr. Strickland's second wife was Charity Sears, daughter of Harrison Sears. He died at his home below Homerville, August 3rd, 1907.

John W. Hodges came to this county a few years after it was created. He first lived about four miles east of Homerville, but during the war bought a home in Homerville and removed to town. His wife was Miss Elizabeth E. Darsey, of Liberty County, to whom he was married February 12th, 1846. Mr. Hodges was born April 30, 1822 and died in Homerville, December 26th, 1878. He was survived by his wife who is yet living. Mr. Hodges was a brother to Archibald Hodges, and was a member of the Baptist Church, being a deacon for many years previous to his death.

James Touchstone and William Touchston were also early settlers, following the creation of the county. The former moved in from where Milltown now is, in 1851 and settled on Cow Creek. His death occurred in August, 1865, age 71 years. William Touchston was distantly related to James Touchstone and settled here a few years before.

John Q. Findley settled in Clinch County in 1850. He was a native of Tattnall County, and for several years was coroner of Clinch County. He lost his life in the Civil War.

Capt. J. P. A. DuPont settled where the town of DuPont now is, about 1858. This illustrious man married a daughter of Simon W. Nichols. He died in 1863.

Also there was Matthew Fiveash, who moved to near where DuPont now is, about 1858. He died about 1886. He married Mary, a daughter of George Dame, Sr. Among his daughters were Mary, who married S. D. Findley, Eliza, who married Lucius Sirmans, Delilah, who married Frank Dickerson, and Roxie, who married James O. Dampier.

Levi Herren, Sr., moved here about this time. He was born in 1796, and was a native of this State. His wife, Charity Sears, was born in 1812. Mr. Herren had several children, among them: Levi Herren, Jr., and Mildred, who married Benjamin O'Steen, Mary, who married J. M. Jeffords, and Olive, who married Freeman S. Walker, Jackson, who married Jane Arnold, and Mack, who married a Hargreaves.

Charles Strickland came to Clinch County in 1849 and settled on Red Bluff Creek on lands now owned by A. J. Lockhear. He was a native of Pierce County, and married Lucretia, a daughter of Hon. Benj. Sirmans.

Robert F. Lanier was a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was sent to Clinch County as a circuit rider in 1857. This early pioneer of Methodism of Clinch County was born in DeKalb County and married Miss Matilda Pickrun. He died in 1888 and was buried on the old home place of Dr. L. C. Mattox, near Homervllle.

Also Ziba King came to this county about this time. He was a native of Ware County and was the first judge of the County Court of Clinch County. He subsequently removed to Desoto County, Florida, where he became very wealthy in the cattle business. He died in 1901.

George W. Delk came to Clinch County from Ware just before the Civil War. He served as sheriff of Ware County in 1855-7, and was later a justice of the peace of the 1061st district. He was born in 1822 and died about 1895.

Jonathan L. Morgan came to Clinch County in 1860, and settled about ten miles south of Homerville. Here he lived until 1905, when he removed to Waycross. Mr. Morgan was born in 1832 in Appling County, and died May 5th, 1907, in Waycross. He married Susan, daughter of Abr. Hargreaves, of Ware County, and had four children.

John C. Hargreaves was a son of Abraham Hargreaves, and was born June 5th, 1835. He married Parthena, a daughter of Thomas Morgan. He lived about ten miles south of Homerville. He came here about i860 and in 1876 removed to Florida, where he died the same year.

John Gibbs settled here about 1855 or 1860. He married Charity, a daughter of George Dame, Sr., and they had five children, viz.: George D. Gibbs, Willis B. Gibbs, Austin J. Gibbs, Martha E. Gibbs, who married J. B. Cornelius and Catherine, who married Jeptha Hughes.

Henry P. Livingston came to this county in 1859 and married Palester, daughter of John J. North. He accumulated much property and leaving it to his wife and only child, suddenly disappeared about 1864. He never did reveal where he came from and it has never been ascertained where he went to. His only child was J. H. W. Livingston.

John Williams, Sr., was living here when the county was created. He was born in 1800 and his wife in 1798. His wife was Nancy Smith, daughter of William Smith and sister of John, Jesse and James M. Smith. Mr. Williams raised several children, among them being Hezekiah P. Williams, born 1830; Jackson S. Williams, born 1832; John Williams, Jr., born about 1831; and Elias Williams, who served as a justice of the peace in the 970th district a year or two; John Williams, Jr., served one term as representative from Clinch County.


Source: History of Clinch County Georgia, Compiled and Edited by Folks Huxford, The J. W. Burke Company, Macon, Georgia, 1916

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