History of Burke County Georgia United States of America

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James Hines Kilpatrick, clergyman, was born in Burke county, Ga., Oct. 18, 1833; the youngest son of the Rev. James Hall Tanner and Harriet Eliza (Jones) Kilpatrick. He was graduated at Mercer university, A.B., 1853, A.M., 1856, and was ordained as pastor of White Plains, Ga., Baptist church, in 1854, also having the charge of neighboring churches in Greene and Hancock counties. He was elected a member, and for many years moderator, of the Georgia Baptist association; and also served as vice-president of the Southern Baptist convention, president of the Georgia Baptist state convention, trustee of Mercer university, and trustee of the Southern Baptist Theological seminary. He lectured on theology before the classes of the theological department of Mercer university. He received the degree of D.D. from Mercer university in 1882. He contributed many articles for the Christian Index and published numerous sermons and addresses.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Washington Lafayette Kilpatrick, educator, was born in Burke county, Ga., Oct. 18, 1829; eldest son of the Rev. James Hall Tanner and Harriet Eliza (Jones) Kilpatrick. He was graduated at Mercer university, A.B., 1850, A.M., 1853, and was licensed to preach at Penfield, Ca., 1850, and ordained in 1852, when he began his ministry to churches in the Hephzibah association. Chiefly through his instrumentality, the Hephzibah high school was established in 1861, and he was its principal, 1866-76; and pastor of churches, 1852-96. He organized the Walker Colored association in 1868 and the Georgia Baptist Historical society, of which he was president, 1878. He was elected a trustee of Mercer university in 1869 and president of the board in 1887. He received the degree of D.D. from Mercer in 1882. He also served as moderator of Hephzibah association and vice-president of the Foreign Mission board for Georgia. He is the author of History of Hephzibah Association (1894). He died in Hephzibah, Ga., Aug 3, 1896.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Alfred Iverson, senator, was born in Burke county, Ga., Dec. 3, 1798. He was graduated at the College of New Jersey, Princeton, in 1820, was admitted to the bar, and practised at Columbus, Ca. He served three terms as a representative in the state legislature and one term in the state senate, and was a judge of the superior court for the Columbus circuit for seven years. He was presidential elector in 1844; a representative in the 30th congress, 1847-49; was elected to the U.S. senate, taking his seat, Dec. 3, 1855, and resigned, Jan. 28, 1861. He was chairman of the committee on claims and a member of the committee on military affairs. He served in the Confederate army as colonel of the 20th North Carolina regiment; was promoted brigadier-general in November, 1862; commanded a brigade in D. H. Hill's division at Chancellorsville, in Rodes's division at Gettysburg and under Wheeler at Atlanta and Macon, Ga. He died in Macon, March 4, 1873.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Rufus Ezekiel Lester, representative, was born in Burke county, Ga., Dec. 12, 1837; son of Ezekiel and Mary (Lewis) Lester, and grandson of Ezekiel and Elizabeth (Stringer) Lester and of John and Mary (Warnock) Lewis. He was graduated from Mercer university, A.B., 1857, A.M., 1860; was admitted to the bar in 1859 and practised law in Savannah. In 1801 he entered the service of the Confederate States, remaining in the army until the surrender of Appomatox, when he resumed his practice at Savannah. He was state senator from the first district of Georgia, 1870-79; president of the Georgia senate, 1876-79; mayor of Savannah. 1883-89, and a Democratic representative from the first district of Georgia in the 51st, 52d, 53d, 54th, 55th, 56th, 57th and 58th congresses, 1889-1905.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

History of Burke County Georgia

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