Georgia and Georgians - the Digital Library of Georgia

GEORGIA AND GEORGIANS 2943overcame a strong opposition and was elected by a good majority, and wasre-elected in 1912-14 and 1916, mating twelve yBars in office. Like his fatherhas never been defeated for any office for which he was a candidate. He ispopular with all classes of, citizens, is known as an efficient officer, a genialgentleman and a man of remarkable firmness of character.He is affiliated with the Masonic Lodge, with the Independent Order of'Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias, the Benevolent and Protective Orderof Elks, the Improved Order of Red Men and the Woodmen of the AVorld. Hischurch is the Baptist.On December 25, 1905, at Guntersville, Alabama, Sheriff Ward marriedMiss Delia Dossett, who was born in Douglas County, Georgia, a daughter ofBarney and Emma Dossett. Mr. Ward and wife have four children, John,Lenora, James and Malcolm, all of whom were born in Cordele.Dr. James A. Ward, brother of Sheriff Ward, is one of the leading physicians at Cordele. He graduated M. D. from the Atlanta Medical College withthe class of 1891, and first practiced in Dooly County, six miles west of Cordele. He continued in active practice there for ten years, and in 1901 movedto Cordele, the county seat of Crisp County, in order the better to follow uphis professional advantages and experience. He is an active member andis a former president of the Crisp County Medical Society, and also belongsto the State Society. Fraternally he is a Knight Templar Mason and Shrinerand belongs to the Missionary Baptist Church. In a business way he is adirector of the American National Bank of Cordele, of which he was one ofthe organizers, and was also active in the organization of the Farmers andMerchants Bank, which was the parent of the American National. He isdevoted to his profession, and is a man of leadership. His wife is active inthe Methodist Church and its various societies. Dr. WTard was married atCordele May 20, 1898, to Miss Lola Winn, who was born in Douglas County,Georgia, a daughter of A. H. Winn. They have three children: Mildred, bornin Dooly County; James, also born in Dooly County; and Charles, born atCordele.W. W. BANKS. By reason of the breadth and character of his usefulness,his business and financial soundness and acumen, his public spirit, his integrity and probity, and his contiguity to the fundamental requirements of citizenship, W. W. Banks, of Tifton, affords an encouraging example of successgained through the proper use of every-day opportunities. Of Mr. Banks itmay be said that his life work has been a response both to his early teachingand to the needs of his environment. He has laboriously climbed every roundof the mercantile and financial ladder, has shaped his opportunities to hisneeds, and has fairly won the success that has come to him.Mr. Banks was born at Griffin, Spalding County, Georgia, February 24,1874, and is a son of J. T. and Mary (Rooks) Banks. J. T. Banks was bornin Georgia, and as a young man enlisted for service in a Georgia infantryregiment in the Confederate army. He fought with gallantry during theentire period of the war between the states, was advanced to the rank oflieutenant, and on several occasions was wounded in battle, but never seriously enough to incapacitate him for duty. When he returned to the dutiesof civil life he resumed operations as a planter, and through industry andgood management of his affairs became the owner of large properties inMonroe, Spalding and other counties of South Georgia. He was one of thesubstantial men of his community, and his death, in 1910, when he was seventy-four years of age, removed one of his locality's best and most helpfulcitizens. Mrs. Banks, also a native of Georgia, followed her husband to thegrave in 1911, being sixty years of age. Of their three children, W. W. wasthe eldest.W. W. Banks received his education in the country schools of Coweta