Georgia and Georgians - the Digital Library of Georgia

GEORGIA AND GEORGIANS 3147of cases involving large property interests and interesting and important legalcomplications. In the conduct of these cases he has not alone displayed thepossession of rare forensic powers, but has used them in a manner that leftno suspicion of sinister or devious efforts to secure secret or undue advantageto be harbored by his opponents. Aside from his large legal practice, the judgeis interested in agriculture, being the owner of several thousand acres of land,on which, he raises com and cotton, his operations being so extensive as to necessitate the use of 100 plows. He is fraternally associated with the Knights ofPythias. In political matters his support has always been given unswervinglyto the democratic party, and he is considered one of the leaders of the Washington County democracy.Judge Rawlings was married in 1883, at Sandersville, Georgia, to MissMarthabelle Bangs, of this city, daughter of Joseph and Martha (Brown)Bangs, the former a member of an old and prominent Washington County family, and the latter a descendant of the Browns of Massachusetts. ToJudge and Mrs. Rawlings there have been born four children, all at Sandersville; Ralph H., who i^ superintendent of his father's large plantation interests and a young man of decided business ability and acumen; Dr. FrederickB., a graduate of the Stone Mountain schools, Emory College, degree of Bachelor of Arts, the" University of Pennsylvania, degree of Doctor of Medicine,and, Johns Hopkins College, and now a practicing physician of Sandersville;Miss Mabel C., a graduate of Wesleyan College; and Miss Winifred, who isstill attending school.WILLIS BENJAMIN GIBBS. The progressive and energetic senior memberof the law firm of Gibbs & Turner, Willis Benjamin Gibbs, as compared withmany of the m h whose biographies appear in this work, is but a beginner inthe field, yet already he has shown that he has laid a firm foundation for success, popularity and honor in his chosen profession. He was born in ClinchCounty, Georgia, April 15, 1889, and is a son of Willis B. and Lillie (Johnson) Gibbs.Willis B. Gibbs was born in Georgia and as a young man adopted the vocation of farming, which occupation he left to engage in sawmilling, and stilllater turned his attention to mercantile affairs, in which he was engaged untilhis early death in 1891. He was well known in Clinch County as a man ofintegrity and high business principles and as a citizen whose support was generously given to every public-spirited movement. Mrs. Gibbs died in 1904,the mother of two children: Grover A., who is now twenty-nine years of age;and Willis Benjamin, of this review.Willis Benjamin Gibbs started to school at Dupont, Clinch County, at theage of eight years, and when fourteen years old was taken to Abbeville, WilcoxCounty, where he pursued a business course at Norman College. On leavingthat institution he entered the office of R. G. Dickerson, at Homerville, ClinchCounty, where he remained for one year, and for a like period attended MercerUniversity. This completed his preparatory training, and he next enteredupon the study of his profession at the Atlanta Law School, where he was dulygraduated with the degree of Bachelor of Laws. Mr. Gibbs began his professional labors at Folkston, the county seat of Charlton County, in the extremesoutheast corner of Georgia, and while there was united in marriage with MissFlorence Revile, the daughter of Dr. T. P. Revile, of Thomson, Georgia, Following his marriage Mr. Gibbs came to Jesup, Wayne County, where his abilities soon attracted to him a very desirable practice and also stamped the youngattorney as a man of ability and capacity for public service. He was accordingly appointed solicitor of the Wayne County Court, and this appointmentwas followed by his election as city attorney of Jesup, which latter office hestill retains. His public service has been eminently satisfactory to the peopleof Jesup, whose interests he has guarded carefully and conscientiously. Mr.