Georgia and Georgians - the Digital Library of Georgia

3146 GEORGIA AND GEORGIANSeligible for and was admitted to the bar of his native state. He has since beenengaged in the practice of his profession at Washington, has appeared in connection with much important litigation in the courts of this part of the state,and stands today as one of the really successful and representative attorneysand counselors at law in Wilkes County. He is serving in 1915 as solicitorof the Municipal Court of Washington and has been solicitor-general of theCircuit Court since 1912. He is actively identified with the WTilkes CountyBar Association and the Georgia State Bar Association, is a stalwart advocateof the principles of the democratic party, and is affiliated with the Masonicfraternity, including the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the MysticShrine, as is he also with the Knights of Pythias and the Independent Orderof Odd Fellows. The colonel has served about a decade as chancellor of theWashington lodge of the Knights of Pythias, is a popular member of theWashington Country Club-, and both he and his wife hold membership in theBaptist Church.April 10, 1912, recorded the marriage of Colonel Norman to Miss LouiseJohnson, daughter of William T. Johnson, a substantial capitalist and influential citizen of Washington, where he is president of one of the leading bankinginstitutions of Wilkes County. Colonel and Mrs. Norman have one child,Louise, who was born in the year 1913.HON. BENJAMIN TARBTJTTON RAWLINGS. Among the members of the Washington County bar there is no name more honored than that of Hon. BenjaminTarbutton Rawlings, ex-judge of the Superior Court, and now engaged in animportant and extensive practice at Sandersville. Judge Rawlings was bornat this place, February 10, 1855, and is a son of Frederick Cullins and Susan(Tarbutton) Rawlings.William Rawlings, the paternal grandfather of Judge Rawlings, was bornin Virginia and as a youth came to Washington County, Georgia, where inlater life he became a prominent and influential citizen, amassing a great acreage of plantations and owning many slaves. After a long, active and usefulcareer he passed away. Frederick Cullins Rawlings was born in this county,in 1821, and was brought up to agricultural pursuits, being engaged as aplanter throughout his life. When the war between the states came on heserved in the Confederate state troops, having charge of provisions, and rendered faithful and valiant service. When the war closed he returned to thepursuits .of the soil and rapidly rose to a position of distinction among theplanters of this part of the state. He died at the age of ninety-one years, in1912, in the faith of the Baptist Church which he had joined in his latterlife. The mother, also deceased, was a lady of culture and refinement and anactive worker in the Baptist Church. There were six children in the family,namely: Doctor William, a practicing physician and surgeon of Sandersville;Charles G., a leading banker of this place; Lavinia, who is the wife of B. E.Roughton, of Macon, Georgia; Anna, who is the wife of William C. Butts, ofAtlanta; Mrs. Winifred Mayo, who is deceased; and Benjamin Tarbutton.Benjamin T. Rawlings was given his early education in the public schoolsof Sandersville, following which he took a course at Emory College and securedhis degree of Bachelor of Arts. His legal studies were pursued in the officesand under the preceptorship of Hon. James Hines and 0. H. Rogers, of Sandersville, and in 1888 he began practice, having been admitted to the bar inthat year. In 1896 Judge Rawlings' talents were recognized by his electionto the office of solicitor general of the Middle Circuit, a position which he heldfor eight years, at the end of which time he was further honored by electionto the office of judge of the Superior Court. After a service rendered notableby its fairness, dignity, impartiality and expeditious handling of court business, Judge Rawlings returned to private practice January 1, 1915. Few lawyers of Washington County have been concerned in such a number and variety