Ray City History Blog

Isaac Newton Strickland (1835-1912)

On October 31, 1864 during the Civil War, 25  citizens in Lowndes County, GA petitioned Governor Joseph E. Brown for Isaac Newton Strickland to be detailed from Confederate military duty in order to teach in the local school in the 662 Georgia Militia District of Lowndes County. Most of the signers of the petition had husbands, sons, or brothers who were serving or had died in the war; many were “slave owners.”

The petition appears to be written by William Wisenbaker, at least he is the first to sign. It claimed several reasons for excusing Isaac Strickland from military duty. Isaac’s father, Henry Strickland (b. 1794) was over 70 years old and farming in the 658 GMD of Lowndes County.  Two of Isaac’s five brothers had been confirmed killed in the war: Robert M. Strickland (1832-1862) killed May 8, 1862 at the Battle of McDowell; Henry L. Strickland (1825-1862) enlisted Sept 21, 1861 26th Georgia Infantry; killed June 27, 1862 at the Battle of Cold Harbor. Another was thought dead.   William W. Strickland (1841-?) enlisted Jan 13, 1864 at Thomasville, GA and mustered into Company A, 20th Battalion, Georgia Cavalry, later consolidated into Company D, 8th Regiment Georgia Cavalry; He appeared in the 1864 census for reorganizing the Georgia Militia and swore the Oath of Allegiance in Lowndes County, GA in 1867.  James M. Strickland (1829-1877) and Thomas B. Strickland (1839-1893) also survived the war.

The Petition (transcribed below with notes on the petitioners)
Correspondence of Governor Joseph E. Brown

Lowndes County citizens petition to have Isaac Strickland detailed as a teacher in the 662 Georgia Militia District, October 31, 1864.

Lowndes County citizens petition to have Isaac Strickland detailed as a teacher in the 662 Georgia Militia District, October 31, 1864.

Mr. Wisenbaker & Others
Valdosta
Oct 31, 1864
Petition for detail of Isaac Strickland as School Teacher

Georgia
Lowndes County

The undersigned citizens of said county and supporters of the school in the 662 GM District respectfully petition that Isaac Strickland of said county be detailed to continue our school on the following grounds
1st The school numbers forty scholars and he has heretofore and is now the, if detailed, teacher and it is impractical to supply his place
2nd His constitution is delicate and health feeble by reason of weak health he was not able to render material service at Atlanta and returned home prostrate in strength and health.
3d He makes no charge for indigent children
4th His father is over seventy years old and has lost three sons in the military service and has two now in the army and it would be an aid to him in managing and conducting his farm that his only remaining son Isaac live with him while and carry in the said school
5th The granting of this application will confer a public benefit for if our schools are closed our children will grow up in ignorance
Respectfully Submitted

Wm. Wisenbaker
Thomas Harp
William Peterson
Wm Stanfield
M N B Outlaw MD
Edward Outlaw
Mrs. G. E. Golding
Micager Amerson
Mrs. Winy Howel
Mary Zeigler
Ana D. Clayton
Martha Clayton
Rama Howell
Mrs. E—-
Mrs. C. Carter
L. R. Clower
Virginia Brasseton?
A.C. & D. I. Jones
Elizabeth Jones
Martha Creach
Sarah Creach
Nancy Creach
Robert ?
Fredrick Hinley

During Reconstruction and afterwards, Isaac N. Strickland remained in Lowndes County. He signed the Oath of Allegiance to the United States of America on June 22, 1867.  In 1870, he was employing Isom Jordon, a “freedman” in the 662 GMD of Lowndes County, GA. In 1872,  Isaac Strickland was listed as a witness to support a claim by Abraham Leffler against the US government for property confiscated during the Civil War; Abraham Leffler was a former resident of the Ray’s Mill District of Berrien County.   Strickland’s enumeration in the 1880 Census of Lowndes County includes Mariah Jordon, a formerly enslaved African-American woman with whom he was living, and their children.

Notes on the Petitioners

William Wisenbaker (1816-1883) was a farmer and prominent citizen of Lowndes County. The 1860 census shows he was the “owner” of two enslaved people. His son, William H. Wisenbaker, served in the Valdosta Guards, Company D, 50th Georgia Infantry and died of typhoid fever in 1863.

Thomas Harp (1808-1892), a farmer in the 662 Georgia Militia District and husband of Mary McLeod, appeared on the 1864 Census for reorganization of the Georgia Militia. They had children of school age who might have attended the school taught by Isaac Strickland.

William R. Peterson (1812-1885), of Lowndes County, GA. Image source: Phil Ray

William Peterson – William R. Peterson (1812-1885) a farmer and “slave owner” in the 662 GMD and husband of Catherine McLeod, appeared on the 1864 Census for reorganization of the Georgia Militia. Their children were school age. The 1870 tax digest lists  two “Freedmen,” Abe Lamb and Lovless Peterson, employed by W.R. Peterson that year in the 662 GMD.

Dr. Meshack Napoleon Bonaparte Outlaw (1820-1895) was a “Physician Farmer” and “slave owner” with a young family in the 662 GMD of Lowndes County, GA.  Dr. Outlaw enslaved 17 African-American men, women and children who resided in three “slave houses” on his property.

Edward Outlaw (1825-) was a “Master Carriage maker,” unmarried, living in the 662 GMD of Lowndes County, GA. He was a brother of Dr. MNB Outlaw. In 1870, he was employing freedmen Harrison Flint, Anthy Jones, Samuel Shelton and Edgar Williams in the 662 GMD of Lowndes County, GA.

Colemna Outlaw Colding , wife of Captain John Badger Colding. Image source: Outlaw Geneaology

Colemna E. Colding (1835-1905), sister of Dr. MNB Outlaw and Edward Outlaw, and widow of  John B. Colding. He was a Captain of Company G, 60th Georgia Regiment, killed June 13, 1863 on the battlefield at the Second Battle of Winchester, VA; before the war, he was an attorney in Dooly County, GA, a Democrat and a strong supporter of Governor Joe Brown.  Colemna Colding never remarried and is buried at the Outlaw Family Cemetery, Vienna, GA

Micager Amerson – Micajah Amerson (1825- ), Wheelwright, living in the 662 GMD of Lowndes County, GA with his young family.

Mrs. Winy Howel – This may be Winnaford Howell (1835-), wife of George W. Howell, who in 1860 was residing in Tallokas, Brooks County, GA. Her husband was a blacksmith in the Valdosta Guards, Company D, 50th Georgia Regiment. In 1863 he was in Chimborazo military hospital with gonorrhea. He was detailed to Richmond as a blacksmith. He was hit in the right leg by a minnie ball at Sailors Creek on April 6, 1865. He was captured and sent to Lincoln Hospital, Washington, DC and released on Oath of Allegiance July 18, 1865.

Mary Zeigler, appears to be Mary A. B. Zeigler (1829-1904) or possibly her 16-year-old daughter Mary A. E. Zeigler (1848-1927). Mary A. B. Zeigler was the widow of Jacob Jefferson Zeigler (1831-1864), a planter and “slave owner” in the 662 GMD of Lowndes County.  Jacob J. Zeigler enslaved 28 African-American men, women and children who resided in five “slave houses” on his plantation. He enlisted August 15, 1863  in Company A, 20th Battalion Georgia Cavalry and served as a corporal. He was killed May 28, 1864 at the Battle of Haw’s Shop  leaving Mary with eight young children to raise. Mary A. B. Zeigler and Jacob J. Zeigler were grandparents of Jacob Fredrick Hinely who operated the Ray’s Mill Hotel in the early 1900’s. In 1870, Mary A. B. Zeigler was employing freedmen Fed Zeigler, Manuel Boston and Peter Boston in the 662 GMD of Lowndes County, GA.

Ana D. Clayton, appears to be Annah Zeigler Clayton (1838-1904), wife of Duncan Clayton (1829-1897). Confederate military service records confirm her husband served in Company G, 26th Georgia Infantry Regiment in late 1861 and early 1862. Albert Douglass, a colorful deserter from the Berrien Minute Men also joined the 26th Georgia Regiment, but it is not clear if their service overlapped. Duncan Clayton before the war was employed as an overseer of enslaved people. Annah Zeigler Clayton is buried at Old Lake Park Cemetery.

Martha Clayton (1827-), Martha Kennedy Clayton, wife of Jackson J. Clayton and sister-in-law of Duncan Clayton. Jackson J. Clayton served with the 10th Florida Regiment. Before the war he was occupied as a laborer in the 662 GMD of Lowndes County. Their children would have been of school age.

Joseph Lott Howell, Civil War photo

Rama Howell, or Remmie Farmer Howell (1847-1925), wife of Joseph Lott Howell (1835-1906) and sister of James M. Stanfill (1846-1864). Her husband, Joseph Lott Howell, and brother James both enlisted January 26, 1864 in Company A, 20th Battalion Georgia Cavalry where they were company mates of Jacob J. Zeigler. In the Battle of Haw’s Shop. May 28, 1864 Ziegler was killed and James M. Stanfill mortally wounded. Stanfill was sent to a Virginia hospital where his right leg was amputated; he died in the hospital June 29, 1864.  Joseph Lott Howell, however, spent most of his enlistment detailed on recruiting missions according to Confederate military service records.

Mrs. C. Carter

L. V. Clower  was Louisa Virginia Jones Clower (1842-1912).  She was a daughter of Berrien M. Jones and his first wife, SStan Jones. Prior to marriage, the 1860 census lists Louisa Virginia Jones as “slave owner” of 12 enslaved people ranging in age from 3 months to 60 years old; Her father’s estate in 1860 included 37 enslaved people. In 1862, She was married  to Dr. William P. Clower in Thomas County, GA.  Her husband was  appointed on January 18, 1862 as Regimental Surgeon for the 29th Georgia Regiment, which included the Berrien Minute Men. Surgeon Clower’s brother,  John T. Clower, would  serve as the doctor in Ray’s Mill (now Ray City, GA) from 1870 to 1887.

Virginia Brasseton?

A C & D I Jones.  Aaron L. C. Jones (1840-1917) and Daniel Inman Jones (1836-1891). Aaron L. C. Jones was a son of John Jones of Carroll County, GA. He enlisted in May of 1861 in Company F, 7th GA Infantry and went to Richmond with his unit. But after extended illness he was “discharged by reason of Surgeon’s certificate of disability” on September 12, 1861. He enlisted again May 5, 1862 in Company B, 56th Georgia Infantry. He was taken prisoner July 4, 1863 at the surrender of Vicksburg, MS. He swore an oath not to serve again in the Confederate States military and was released on July 8, 1863.  However, he broke that oath and returned to his unit. He was captured again on Dec 16, 1864 near Nashville TN and sent as a POW to Camp Douglas, Chicago, IL.  Daniel Inman Jones was a son of Berrien M. Jones and his first wife, Sophrona Inman Jones, pioneer settlers of Lowndes County, GA. By 1860 Daniel Inman Jones had his own farm in the 661 Georgia Militia District of Lowndes County where he was enumerated as a “slave owner” of 19 enslaved people. He enlisted March 4, 1862 in the Valdosta Guards, Company D, 50th Georgia Regiment. Confederate Military Service Records note that he was discharged June 12, 1862 by furnishing a substitute, George Plankinhorn, to serve in his place. The 1870 tax digest lists  31 “Freedmen” employed by D. I. Jones that year in the 662 GMD.

Elizabeth Jones (1848-1873) appears to be a daughter of Rebecca Perrill Cooper Jones (1810-1887) and Berrien M. Jones (1799-1854), pioneer settlers of Lowndes County, GA. She was a niece of William Brauner Cooper and of Francis Jones. The 1860 census shows Elizabeth in her widowed mother’s household; Her mother’s net worth being valued at $20,000 in real estate and $34,577 in personal estate. Her mother was then enumerated as “slave owner” of 37 enslaved people. Some time between 1864 and about 1868, Elizabeth Jones married William Lang Thomas. Her husband was a Confederate veteran, having served for about 8 months in 1864 before being furloughed sick; he served as a private in Company D, 4th Georgia Cavalry Regiment, along with regimental mates George Harris, James Harris, and Josiah Wood.

Martha Creach – Martha Creech (1810- after 1870), widow of Charles Pinckney Creech, was farming and raising her large family in the 662 GMD of Lowndes County, GA. Her son, James Bryan Creech (1832-1890) was serving in Company C, Hood’s Battalion (29th Georgia Cavalry). He later was a member of the Georgia Constitutional Convention of 1877, along with Ray’s Mill (now Ray City) resident Jonathan David Knight and Judge Augustin H. Hansell. Before the war, he was a merchant of Tallokas, Brooks County, GA.

Sarah Creach (1840-), daughter of Martha Creech, appeared in her parents’ household in the Census of 1850.

Nancy Creach, was probably Nancy Creech (1838-), daughter of Martha Creech, who in 1860 was still living in her widowed mother’s household. But possibly could have been Nancy J. Newsome Creech (1835-1919), daughter-in-law of Martha Creech and wife of James Bryan Creech.

Robert ?

Frederick Hinley – Frederick Hinely (1815-1886), a farmer and “slave owner” in the 662 GMD of Lowndes County, GA; enslaved 11 people. He was the husband of Ann Elizabeth Wisenbaker (1817-1888).  The 1870 tax digest records that  “Freedman” Monday Morell was employed by Frederick Hinely after the war. Ann Elzabeth and Frederick Hinley were grandparents of Jacob Fredrick Hinely who operated the Ray’s Mill Hotel in the early 1900’s.

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