Georgia and Georgians - the Digital Library of Georgia

GEORGIA AND GEORGIANS 2951public institutions of every kind with annual accounting to the grand jury.During this long period, several million dollars of publio funds passed throughhis hands, and were expended as his own good judgment dictated. "Whenhe voluntarily gave up this part of his work a few years ago, he left RichmondCounty.,as well equipped as any in Georgia jn the matter of good roads, publicbuildings, and public institutions generally.But when we have spoken of Judge Eve as a faithful public servant andas a man of exceptional traits, we still leave untold the most wonderful partof his career his thirty years record as an undefeated political leader in hiscommunity.It may be wondered that a man of such gentleness and goodness shouldhave gained and held such undisputed leadership in the political affairs ofhis city and section, for his banner never went down in defeat, nor ever borea stain upon it. It is difficult to understand his long political dominance asmeasured by the ordinary methods of politics. But just here was the difference his methods were not of the ordinary kind, f.or he was no ordinary man.He was not a dictator he was a leader, and men followed because theytrusted and loved him. He never lacked moral courage in crises, faced issuessquarely, and was as ready to face de'feat with a friend, as to march to victory.He lived a long life of noble deeds and laid it down as he had lived itpatiently, bravely, in the love of God and his fellow men.HON. WILLIAM WOODRUFF TISON. Among the men who have won successin business and financial life in Worth County, and who have been elevatedto offices of high public trust, one of the best known is Judge William Woodruff Tison, of Sylvester, president of the Farmers and Merchants Bank, and,since 1904, the incumbent of the office of ordinary. Judge Tison is connectedon both the paternal and maternal sides with families which have long beenprominent in Georgia and whose members have attained distinction in theprofessions, in the military, in' business and in public life, and his career hasbeen eminently worthy of the honored names which he represents. He wasborn in Worth County, Georgia, March 11, 1863, and is a son of Dr. TheophilusWilliams and Georgia Ann (Ford) Tison.William Woodruff Tison, the grandfather of Judge Tison, was born inNorth Carolina, and on coming to Georgia settled on the Flint River, wherehe became the owner of a large plantation and many slaves. He was a manof wealth and influence, an encourager of progressive movements, and a manuniversally esteemed and respected. He married Ann Williams, whose familysettled here also at an early date. The maternal grandfather of Judge Tison,Robert Graham Ford, was also a native of the Old North State, from whencehe came to Georgia as a pioneer. He was the owner of a large property, whichhe cultivated with slave labor, and that he was a man held in high esteem inthe community is shown by the fact that in 1854 he was elected the first representative to the Georgia Legislature from Worth County when this countywas formed from a part of Dooly and Irwin counties. He married DataSmith Tison, who came of an old and distinguished family of Lee County,Georgia.Dr. Theophilus Williams Tison was born in 1834, in Worth County, thenDooly County, Georgia, and during his younger years was engaged in agricultural pursuits, in the working of his father's plantation. When the Civilwar came on he enlisted in the army of the South and fought bravely as asoldier, and being a young physician was transferred to the hospital corps.It was while thus engaged that he received his introduction to medical work,and when the war closed he took up the study of this profession and subsequently entered its ranks as a practitioner. He became one of the well knownand successful physicians and surgeons of Worth County and continued tofollow that vocation until his death, which occurred in the latter part of April,