History of Greene County Georgia United States of America

Our database does not include an historic photo for Greene County Georgia, do you have one you would like to contribute? Contact Us!

Biographies:

William Causby Dawson, senator, was born in Greene county, Ga., Jan. 4, 1798; son of Thomas Dawson. He was prepared for college at Greensborough academy and was graduated at Franklin college, afterward the University of Georgia, in 1816. He studied law with Judge Thomas W. Cobb, and also at Litchfield, Conn. He was admitted to the bar in 1818, and opened a law office in Greensborough, Ga. He was clerk of the house of representatives of the state for twelve years, and was repeatedly elected a member of both branches of the state legislature. On the breaking out of the Creek war in 1836 he raised and led a company of volunteers, and received from General Scott separate command for special services. In 1836 he was elected as a Whig a representative in the 24th congress to succeed Gen. John Coffee, deceased, and was re-elected to the 25th, 26th and 27th congresses, serving as chairman of the committees on claims and military affairs. He was candidate for governor of Georgia in 1841, and upon his defeat resigned his seat in congress, Sept. 13, 1841. He was judge of the Ocmulgee circuit court from Feb. 1 to Nov. 11, 1845, and was United States senator from Georgia, 1849-55. He presided at the Memphis convention of 1853, and was a trustee of the University of Georgia, 1839-56. He was married to Henrietta M., daughter of Dr. Thomas Wingfield. She died in 1850, and in November, 1854, he was married to Mrs. Eliza M. Williams of Memphis, Tenn. He compiled the laws of Georgia from 1820 to 1830. He died at Greensborough, Ga., May 5, 1856.

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

Benjamin Fitzpatrick, governor of Alabama, was born in Greene county, Ga., June 30, 1802. He removed to the territory of Alabama in 1818 and was admitted to the bar at Montgomery in 1821. He was solicitor of the Montgomery circuit 1822-23; practised his profession 1823-29, and retired to his plantation in Autauga county in the latter year. He was nominated as a Democratic presidential elector in 1840 and canvassed the state for Mr. Van Buren. He was governor of Alabama 1841-45; U.S. senator 1848-49 by appointment of Governor Chapman to fill a vacancy caused by the death of Senator D. H. Lewis, and again, 1853-61, having been appointed by Governor Collier in 1853 to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Senator William R. King, elected vice-president of the United States. Senator Fitzpatrick was re-elected by the legislature of Alabama in 1855 to a full term expiring March 3, 1861. He was president pro tempore of the U.S. senate during the 35th and 36th congresses, from Dec. 7, 1857, to June 12, 1860. He was nominated the Democratic candidate for vice-president of the United States by the national convention held in Baltimore in 1860, but declined the nomination. Upon the secession of Alabama in 1861, Senator Fitzpatrick left the senate and returned to his home. At the close of the war he was president of the state constitutional convention, and after the new constitution was formed he retired to his plantation in Wetumpka, Ala., where he died Nov. 25, 1869.

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

History of Greene County Georgia

Biographies:

Local History and Genealogy Links: