William Register

EXTRACT from pages eight thru nine of "The Register Family Magazine," (date published unknown)

WILLIAM REGISTER, 1814-1893, Son of Samuel And Elizabeth
"William Register was born in Bulloch County,(Georgia) Sept. 29, 1814. He was the third son of Grandfather Samuel and Elizabeth, his wife. He was 10-11 years old when his parents moved to Lowndes now Berrien County. He was married May 24, 1838, to Miss Luraney Harnage. She was a native of Liberty County, where her father, Jacob Harnage, had died a few years before (1831). The estate records in Liberty County show that her brother, Isaac Harnage, became her guardian and qualified as such September 3, 1832, also he became guardian at the same time for her sisters, Winnifred and Elizabeth. When Isaac and family moved to Ware County (territory now in Clinch County) about 1835, he brought his sisters or wards with him. Winnifred later married George B. Williamson of Ware County (Georgia), and Luraney married William Register; we are unable to learn what became of Elizabeth. Mrs. Luraney Register was born in Liberty County (Georgia), March 1st, 1818, and was therefore 20 years old when she married. To her and William Register were born eleven children, viz:"
CHILDREN:
1. Samuel W., b. Aug. 5, 1839, m. Mary Stanford, dau. of David.
Note: Samuel W. Register was the maternal Great Grandfather of Merle Anita Young of Clinch co., GA.
2. John Taylor, b. Feb. 10, 1841, m. 1st. Sarah Stalvey, dau. of Benj., 2nd Katie O'Kane, dau. of James O'Kane.
3. Guilford A., b. Apr. 13, 1842, m. Rachel E. Hughes, dau. of William.
4. Oliver Perry, b. Jan. 22, 1844, m. Mary Clifton, dau. of Ezekiel.
5. Abraham R., b. Feb. 8, 1846, m. Elizabeth Stalvey, daughter of Benjamin.
6. Harris, b. July 31, 1848, died Nov. 5, 1852.
7. Mary E., b. Nov. 26, 1850, m. 1st. E.B. Allen, 2nd J.D. Weaver. No Issue.
8. Martha, b. July 22, 1853, m. Ezekiel S. Sirmans, no surviving issue.
9. Moses C., b. Oct. 1, 1855, m. Annis Tomlinson, dau. of Sherod.
10. Orren, b. Mar. 15, 1858, m. Victoria Burkhalter, dau. of James M.
11. William J., b. Oct. 23, 1860, m. Eliza Stalvey, dau of Benjamin.



Obituary/Biography:
The following obituary of William Register, 1814-1893, was published in the "Valdosta Times," newspaper, on October, 7, 1893 and was reprinted in the "Register Family Magazine."


Obituary of William Register, "Valdosta Times," October 7, 1893.
"Mr. William Register passed away Sept. 4, at the age of 79 years, having been born in Bulloch County, Ga., Sept. 29, 1814. When a boy, he removed with his parents to Cat Creek, Lowndes County, where he resided for a number of years, and then moved near where Stockton is now; his father once owned the entire landed interest where that town is now situated. While his father resided there, the subject of this sketch united in marriage with Miss Luraney Harnage of Lowndes County, who still survives, Rev. William A. Knight, officiating. After his marriage, William and his young wife located one mile west of where DuPont is now located. While living there he enlisted in the Seminole War as a private under the command of Zachery Taylor, where he remained on and off duty until the close. During the time, he displayed wonderful courage equal to the bravest; not only in the engagements, but as a scout, was most remarkably alert. Many were the successes attained by Taylor's command. Mr. Register with others, opened and cut the first public road penetrating the wilds of South Florida where not only the savage man but the more savage beasts were ever hiding to surprise the unsuspecting pioneer. He too was one of the brave little band of twenty-five who so bravely put to flight the hostile tribe of Indians from what is now known as Indian Hammock on the Suwannoochee Creek. Many noble acts of heroism, privation, and peril characterized this little band of braves."
"After the close of the war with the Seminoles, Mr. Register moved twelve miles south of where DuPont now is, where he lived until his death on the 4th of Sept. 1893, covering a period of 48 years. In 1849, he received a sunstroke which rendered him a comparative invalid the remainder of his life. He raised an interesting family of nine sons and two daughters, all of whom survive him; also his descendants are numerous, leaving 71 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren, most of them now living in this section. Five of his sons enlisted ( also as did their father for a short while) in the late war and remained until its close, and remarkable as it seems, only two were wounded and none killed or died."
"Mr. Register was a farmer and stockraiser by profession. In both he was eminently successful, and before his death had accumulated quite a fortune. For twenty years or more he was a faithful member of the Primitive Baptist Church and his remains now rest beside his father and a sister, from their toils, under the shades in Wayfare Church cemetery in Echols County. Honesty, integrity, and truth nobly followed him everywhere and in all his dealings; and he bequeaths not only to his children his earthly inheritance but a life pure as pure can be and as spotless as the glittering gems of paradise. His sons are industrious, useful, and noble examples of integrity, one of them, Samuel W. Register, now being the efficient clerk of the Superior Court of Clinch County."
"In closing this sketch, it seems proper to say that in the death of Mr. Register this county (Clinch) and southeast Georgia loses one of its best citizens __ that class or school of citizens or men who make any country. He has nobly done his part in the advancement of the material prosperity and development of this part of Georgia. His career antedates that of railroads in this section; they were hardly dreamed of. Commerce and trade was carried on by wagons and carts with Darien, old Center Village and a few other minor places. Justice was bi-annually dispensed at old Magnolia, now an old field of pine saplings. Men were honest and their words were gilt-edge security, shin-plasters plentiful __ then indeed, it is sad to see the virtuous of these good old times pass away to the "silent land of sleepers" when we see so few of them left to relate the history of such times."
"A a son, Mr. Register was dutiful; as a father, he was affectionate; as a husband, loving; as a citizen, brother and neighbor, obliging and true. Let us ever cherish his memory and endeavor to emulate his noble examples."
Homerville, Ga., Sept. 24, 1893 _A FRIEND.

Samuel W. Register

Biographical Data:

OCCUPATION: Justice of the Peace, Mayor & member of Board of Education.

MILITARY: Confederate Veteran, Company G, 50th Georgia Infantry Regiment.

MARRIAGE: Married 18 Aug 1859 to Mary Stanford, d/o David and Agnes (Akins)Stanford, natives of Bullock county, Georgia.

Samuel W. Register: b. 5 Aug 1839, Clinch co., GA._d. 17 May 1908 ; son of William Register and Luraney Harnage. Married Mary Stanford, b. 11 Dec 1840,Lowndes co., GA. _d. 7 Sep. 1915 ; daughter of David Stanford and Agnes Atkins.

CHILDREN:
Delia Register, b. 17 Mar 1861 m. Nov 13 1902 to Eli J. FutchSalena
Victoria Register,b.16 Apr 1868 m. Feb 28 1864 to Mitchel H. Hilliard.
Malinda Register, b. 13 Jun 1870 m. Feb 7, 1889 to James Stewart Bennett.
Henrietta Register, b. 18 Feb 1872 m. Jan 28, 1902 to Harlan McLain(McLean)
Augustus Otis Register, b. 20 Nov 1872 m.1st:Apr 14, 1898 to Margaret Inman.
Note: Augustus Otis Register was the father of Mary Belle (Register) Young and the maternal grandfather of Merle Anita (Young) Coleman.
Lillie Jeanette Register, b. 25 Apr 1876 m. Aug 26,1896 to Henry J. Griffis
Meddie Delphia Register, b. 5 Jan 1878 m.1st:Jun 15,1897 to David E. Kirkland
Effie Evelyn Register, b. 16 Jun 1879 m. Jul 17,1904 to Julian E. Jordan
Julia M. Register, b. 15 Jul 1881 d. 21 Oct 1881
Bertha C. Register, b. 2 Aug 1882 m.1st:Jul 31,1898 to Levi Stokes Malone


BIOGRAPHY:
Samuel W. Register was a life-long resident of Clinch county, Georgia and lived in the Withers(1365th) district of Clinch county until 1893 when heremoved to Homerville where he lived until his death. When the Civil War came on, he volunteered May 1, 1862. in Company "G," 50th Georgia Regiment, which was a company made up of Clinch county men and was mustered in at Homerville May 1st, 1862. He served throughout the war, and lost three fingers on his left hand in the Battle of Manasses, Virginia, August 30, 1862. He was paroled in Virginia in April 1865, and returned to his home in Clinch county. In the next county election in January, 1866, he was elected tax collector of Clinch county, and served 1866-1868. When the first Board of Education of Clinch county was set up in 1872, he was appointed by the grand jury as a member, and served four years. He was elected Justice of the Peace in the newly-formed 1365th (Withers) district in 1885, and served in that office until 1890 when he resigned. He was defeated in January,1891, for clerk of superior court; he was the Democratic nominee, but was defeated by the incumbent, W.A. Ecord, who was the Populist nominee. But two years later, he was the Democratic nominee and defeated his Populist opponent by a vote of 326 to 162. He assumed office about two weeks later, and by continuous re-elections held the office until his death the 17th of May, 1908, having held the office longer than any other incumbent in the county's history. Mr. Register was a member of the Masonic fraternity for over fifty years at his death, and had a distinguished service in the order. He first received his Masonic degrees in Stockton Lodge, No. 266, at Stockton, in 1867, and in that lodge served in the offices of junior deacon 1869, 1870, 1871, and senior warden 1872, 1873. Then after that lodge was dissolved about 1876, he affiliated with Cassia Lodge No. 224 at Homerville, Sept. 27, 1879, and there served as senior deacon in 1885, and as worshipful master four years, viz.,1887, 1888, 1889, 1891.
About that time a movement was launched to organize a lodge at DuPont, which was much nearer to his home, and he entered in as a charter member Oct 27, 1892. The next year he became worshipful master and served 1893, 1894, 1895, 1897, 1898, 1899, 1900. Due to advancing age he thereafter declined any further office but was a frequent attendant in the meetings until his death. The Masonic funeral service was conducted at the grave when he was buried, a large concourse of Masons from both the Homerville and DuPont lodges attending. He was not a member of any church. Mr. Register served as mayor of his town, Homerville, in 1906 and 1907.

Source: Register Family Association; Rt.4, Box 818, Palatka, Florida,