Georgia and Georgians - the Digital Library of Georgia

2864 GEORGIA AND GEORGIANSGEORGE WASHINGTON LANKFORD. Only a few of his intimate friendsare aware that the senior member of the firm of Lankford & Rogers, theprominent and successful lawyers of Lyons, had a hard and independentstruggle as. a young man to gain the education which his ambition craved,though in his work as a lawyer, which has brought him so much prestige inToombs County, he has always been known for his self-reliance and his vigorof mind and action in every emergency.Of a prominent family of planters in Clinch County, Georgia, GeorgeWashington Lankford was born on his father's plantation in that communityOctober 26, 1881. His parents are Jesse L. and Mary (Monk) Clinch. Hispaternal grandfather was William Lankford, who married Roda Edmunds.They were both born in North Carolina, and the grandfather served in theConfederate army and was a planter by occupation. The maternal grandparents were Malachi and Mahala (Rice) Monk, both natives of South Caroline, where Malaehi Monk was a planter. Jesse L. Clinch now owns andoperates a 4,000-acre plantation in Clinch County, but has gained his prosperity and position largely through hard work and intelligent management.In his family were seven children. William C. Lankford, the oldest, is nowjudge of City Courts at Douglas, Coffee County, is a leading attorney andwell known in democratic politics. Charles M. Lankford, the next in age,lives at Valdosta. Henry C. is a merchant at Pearson, Coffee County. Thenext in age is George W., of Lyons. Elizabeth lives at home with her parents,and the two other children, Mary Ann and Jesse H. are also at home.George Washington Lankford attended the country schools as a boy, andwas still very young when his desires settled into a firm determination tosecure the best possible education and make something of himself in the world.With such limited means as his father could provide he entered the NormalSchool at Douglas, and supplemented the money that came from home byperforming janitor service in order to pay his first year's tuition. At thebeginning of the second year he started without any money at all, but wasappointed librarian of the school, paying the school fees by that service, andobtained books and other supplies by giving his note to the president of thecollege. That was the very first obligation which he paid off after he beganteaching. For seven years Mr. Lankford was a teacher in Clinch and Berriencounties, and is remembered by a large number of people in those countiesfor his stimulating and successful work in that capacity. With the savingshe had accumulated from teaching he entered Mercer University, and wasgraduated from the law department in 1905. Mr. Lankford began practiceand earned his first fees in the new City of Lyons, which had only recentlybeen incorporated as a city. He was first associated in practice as junior toJ. H. Corbett, but one year later he dissolved that association and subsequently established the present firm of Lankford & Rogers, with Carl A.Rogers as his partner. Mr. Rogers was born in Washington County at Sandersville.This firm is one of the best known and handles a large share of theimportant litigation tried in the middle circuit of Georgia. Mr. Lankford isdevoted to his profession, and has the reputation of being a keen advocate,a lawyer of sound learning, and of integrity of character.He is attorney for and a director in the Toombs County Bank at Lyons,and also owns and operates a fine farm. He is a democrat in politics, and isaffiliated with the Masonic order and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.On April 29, 1908, at Savannah, he married Miss Agnes McCanley, whowas born in Savannah, a daughter of Joseph and Martha (Flood) McCanley.Her father is deceased and her mother now lives in Savannah. There arethree children: George M.; Ralph H. and Joseph Beatie. Mrs. Lankford isa member of the Presbyterian Church while he belongs to the Methodistdenomination.