Georgia and Georgians - the Digital Library of Georgia

3158 GEORGIA AND GEORGIANSDR. LYMAN HALL, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independencefrom Georgia, was a native of Wallingford, Connecticut, born April 12, 1724,spending the years of his early middle age as an active physician of SouthCarolina, and the later period of his life, including the Revolutionary period,as a resident and leading public character of Georgia. ' He was graduatedfrom Yale College in 1747, with the original idea of adopting the ministry,but finally became a physician, and in his twenty-eighth year moved to Dorchester, South Carolina, where he practiced for many years. To obtain bettersanitary conditions he changed his residence to the Midway District of LibertyCounty, Georgia, from which he was sent as a delegate to the Charlestown meeting which rebelled against the acts of England, as well as representative tothe Continental Congress. He served in the latter capacity until the close ofthe Revolution and, with George Walton and Button Gwinnett, signed theDeclaration of Independence in behalf of Georgia. AVhen the British overran the state, his plantation was despoiled and, with his family, he movedNorth, but returned to Georgia, and in 1782 settled in Savannah. In January,1783, he was elected governor of Georgia, and prepared the way for the founding of the state university. At the expiration of his gubernatorial term heresumed practice, and was afterward elected a judge and settled upon a fineplantation near Shell Bluff, on the Savannah River, where he died October 19,1790.In 1848 Governor Hall's remains were moved to Augusta and placed withthose of George Walton. His other friend and fellow-signer, Gwinnett, waskilled in a duel and his body was not recovered. The marble slab inserted inthe brick vault in which the remains of Doctor Hall were first interred was,after the removal of the body to Augusta, sent to the authorities of Wallingford, Connecticut, his native town. In October, 1916, the people of his townalso unveiled a granite bowlder to his memory which stands on the site ofhis birthplace; on the same day the cornerstone was laid for the Lyman HallHigh School of Wallingford, a handsome building of brick and granite whichcost $200,000. The addresses of the two occasions were delivered by LucianL. Knight, state historian of Georgia.DANIEL WILEY MANASSAS WIIITLEY. The clerk of the Superior Courts ofBen Hill County, Daniel Wiley Manassas Whitley has held this position forfive consecutive terms, during which, through faithful, efficient and conscientious service, he has won the respect and confidence of the people of this locality. When a man is retained in one office for ten consecutive years it is sufficient evidence that he is regarded as thoroughly competent to discharge theresponsibilities of his trust. To merit this retention he must have displayedabilities peculiarly fitting him for the post, fidelity to the community's interests and a high regard for the importance attached to public office. Mr.Whitley's record in office shows that in no particular has he failed to deservethe confidence in which he is held.Daniel W. M. Whitley was born in Irwin County, Georgia, near the countyseat, Ocilla, February 23,1871, and is a son of George and Margaret (Henderson)Whitley. His paternal grandfather, Wiley Whitley, was born in NorthCarolina, and was still a lad when he accompanied his parents to Georgia,the family settling in Irwin County. There he grew to manhood and waseducated in the public schools, and adopted the family vocation of planting,his property being cultivated by slave labor. In addition to being a successfulagriculturist, he took an active interest in civic affairs, and was something ofan influence in local politics of his day. His death occurred when he wasseventy years of age. Mr. Whitley married Miss Mary Smith, who was one ofthe popular ladies of her day, esteemed by the community arid held in thpwarmest affection by a. wide circle of friends. "Aunt Pug," as she waswidely and lovingly known all over the countryside, was an active worker in