In 1840 Lowndes census.
According to Betty Fulwood Bell, middle name was Charlton.
Martin Shaw (Jr.), son of Martin Shaw was born in SC April 1, 1803. He died suddenly at his home in Berrien Co. (now Cook), two miles east of Adel, Nov. 7, 1876. He was married in 1839, to Elizabeth Mathis, daughter of James and Rhoda Monk Mathis; she was born in Berrien County, Feb. 3,1816, and died June 11, 1862 in Berrien (now Cook) County. Mr. Shaw in addition to the above children, had another one, Ashley M. Shaw, married Nov.1, 1866, Elizabeth T. Morris. Martin Shaw after his first wife's death again married, the second wife was Mrs. Matilda Sharpe of Colquitt Co. She was born June 22, 1824, died July 10, 1910 and was buried at Buck Creek Baptist Church in Colquitt Co. Mr. Shaw served in the Indian War in Capt. Lervi J. Knights company of Lowndes County Militia in 1838. He was Sheriff of Lowndes Co. 1836-38, and at that time, and for several years afterwards, lived at or near old Franklinville, the then county-site of Lowndes Co. He was cut out of Lowndes Co. into Berrien in 1856, and was elected one of the first Justices of The Inferior Court of the new county, serving 1856-1861. He served as County Commissioner of Berrien Co., 1872-73. Mr. Shaw and his first wife were buried in the cemetery at Old Salem Church, now in the City of Adel and known as the City (Woodlawn) Cemetery.
References; Census 1840, 1850 Lowndes; 1860, 1870, Berrien.
Joel Jackson Parrish was born Sept. 11, 1834, in Lowndes County (later Berrien, but now Cook), son of Robert N. Parrish. He was married Aug. 27,1857 to Martha J. Kirby, daughter of William and Amy Kirby. She was born Feb. 22, 1835, and died Oct. 24, 1893. Mr. Parrish lived his entire life in present Cook County, the territory being Lowndes County until 1856 when Berrien County was made, and then in 1918 Cook County was made entirely out of Berrien. He served as Cook County Surveyor of Berrien County, 1858-62, and was Clerk of Berrien Superior Court 1864-66. He was Justice of Peace in 1145th District, 1897-1915. He was the first Postmaster of Adel and served several years in that capacity in the1890's. He died Oct.14, 1921, and was buried by his wife in the Adel Cemetery.
References; Parrish Book by J.J. Parrish; Huxford--Pioneers of GA.
From the Adel News---Oct. 20, 1921--- Judge J.J. PARRISH DIED SATURDAY -- EIGHTY EIGHT YEARS OLD---AN ESTEEMED PIONEER CITIZEN OF THIS SECTION
Judge J. J. Parrish died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. John W. Beamgaurd, Saturday evening a little after six o'clock. Judge Parrish stumbled and fell on Sunday, the first day of October, breaking his left hip. He appeared to improve some at times, but on account of his age little hope was held out for recovery. He was given every attention by his loved ones and by Dr.Sheppard, who attended him, but he gradually grew weaker. The deceased was one of the pioneer citizens of this section. He was born in Bullock County, Ga. but came to Berrien County when he was a young man. While he was in the Confederate Army gallantly fighting for the Southland he was elected clerk of the Superior Court of Berrien County, being the secondman to fill that office in that county. Nearly a half a century ago he moved near Adel and remained here until his death. He was Postmaster here before the Georgia Southern & Florida Railroad was built and held the place for about thirty years. He was also Justice of the Peace fore qually as long as that period. It was suggested that the name of the post office here be changed when the railroad station was erected but he steadfastly refused to agree to it and the Postoffice Department acceded to his wishes. Judge Parish retired from active business pursuits several years ago on account of his age, although his general health has been good for one of his many years. Throughout his long life he was a kind and considerate man an a good neighbor. He was a believer in the doctrines of the Primitive Baptist Church. The deceased was eighty-eight years of age on the 11th day of last month. He is survived by three sons and four daughters, Mr. J. L. Parrish of Valdosta, Messrs. J.H. and A.A. Parrish, Mrs. J.A. Phelps, Mrs. J.W.Beamguard, Mrs J. T. Adams, and Miss Mattie Parrish of Adel. Another daughter Mrs. Maggie Buck, died in Valdosta about a year ago. He is also survived by twenty-nine grandchildren and twenty-six great grandchildren. He was married twice. One brother, Mr. J.P. Parrish of Sparks, and one sister, Mrs Joe Hall of Hahira, survive him. The funeral services were held at the Salem Primitive Babtist Church Sunday afternoon at two o'clock. Despite the very inclement weather a large crowd gathered to pay last tribute of respect to one who was known and esteemed by so many throughout the community. The services were conducted by Elder R.H.Barwick, of the Primitive Baptist Church, and Rev. J.H. Stanford of the Methodist Church. Rev. Stanford read a scripture lesson and offered a beautiful prayer and Elder Barwick delivered a feeling talk, basing his remarks on the life of Job and speaking tenderly on the life and character of the deceased. Elder Barwick also made the closing prayer.Throughout his long life of Judge Parrish had hundreds of friends throughout this section and they are grieved at his death and extend to his children, grandchildren and other bereaved ones the deepest sympathy. The active pall bearers were grandsons of the deceased, J. J. Parrish, J. M. Phelps, J.L. Parrish, J.M. Parrish, Roy E. Parrish, Jack Adams, and his grandson by marriage, A.C. Mizell. The honorary pall bearers were his nephews, Dr. R.L. Hall of Norman Park, R. R. and J. P. Hall of Hahira, W. D. Parrish, D. N. Hutchinson, M. L. Parrish and his grandson by marriage, Sim Wisenbaker.
!Tombstone gives death as 1922
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FROM AN ADDRESS BY JONATHAN BRYAN AT THE DEDICATION OF THE IRON CROSS FOR JOEL JACKSON PARRISH ON MAY 6, 1995.
South Georgia drew many settlers to this area in the 1820's and1830's. Among those many settlers were the Parrishes. Henry Parrish moved to what was then Irwin, later Lowndes, now present Berrien County in 1825. Other than his wife, the former Nancy Williams, and his children, Henry was accompanied by his nephew Robert N. Parrish. It was there among the Wiregrass in Southwest Georgia that Robert N. and Nancy McCranie Parrish were blessed by the birth of their third child, and first son, Joel Jackson Parrish on September 11, 1834.
Joel Jackson Parrish was most likely named after his grandfather Joel Parrish of Bulloch County Georgia, and then President Andrew Jackson, but regardless where the name came from it is one that has become synonymous with the history of our city and county. Affectionally known as "Jack" and in his later years as "Uncle Jack", Joel J. led and interesting childhood, as normal as frontier life could be, for life in unblazen country was hard.
Jack became a person of deep religious convictions and impecable ethics, reflecting his home life as a child. When he was 23, Joel married Martha Joanna Kirby, on August 27, 1857, the daughter of William Kirby and Amy Griner Kirby. At the age of 24, he was appointed to the first of his many political offices, surveyor of Berrien County, GA and served in that post until 1862. On August 1, 1861, like so many of his forefathers, Joel answered the call to defend his country. Life at home was especially difficult for Martha, with no husband at home to care to the family's needs it was her duty to do so. She reveals her despair in a letter written to her husband. "....William Connell wrote the 22 of last month and he said that they would have to go some where for they was a suffering and that their horses was a perishing and that they could not get anything for them to eat and I should call it poor cavalry at them likes. I am afraid that the soldier will suffer worse than they have yet before it done for it look like their is no end to war. I have got out of all hopes of the war ever ending it looks like...." The war did end on April 9, 1865, but Jack returned home before then. He resigned his post on April 2, 1864 to accept the position of Clerk of Superior Court for Berrien County. He served in this capacity for two years, and then returned to a life of farming. In 1873, Joel J. Parrish became Adel's first postmaster and according to local legend gave Adel it's name. Jack's grandson, June Jackson Parrish, relates the story in his book ,The History of Cook County Georgia and Its Municipalities, "In the earlypart of 1873 Berry Wells. . . and Joel J. Parrish met in J. T. Wilkesstore. Berry suggested that Adel should have a Post Office . . . In due time he received from the Post Office Department . . . a book containingthe names of all the post offices by states in the entire nation . . .they decided that would get a name unlike any other in Georgia or all the states in the Union. . . Uncle Jack . . . was looking through the postoffice register and ran across the name of "Philadelphia." He calledWell's attention to what he had found and asked him what he saw. Wells replied, "I see Philadelphia." Then Uncle Jack covered the first fourletter and the last four letters of the word "Philadelphia" and said,"Now what do you see?" Wells, of course replied, "I see A-D-E-L". Then Uncle Jack said, "Berry, when I looked at that name the four letters in the center seemed to me to be twice as large as the remaining letters."Joel Jackson Parrish served as Postmaster of the fledgling town of Adel until April 9, 1891. He accepted the position of Justice of the Peace,for the 1145th District, Adel, in 1881, while serving as Adel's Postmaster.
Education was of utmost importance to Joel Jackson Parrish. He made sure that all of his children received the best education they could get in Adel. All of them attended an ungraded school known as Stonewall Academy, some of the children even went beyond the minimal knowledge they acquired at Stonewall. Julian Hartridge, commonly known as "Little Dad", was a self-taught vetenarian, who practiced his trade here in Adel. Mrs.Delle Beamguard, grandaughter of the man we honor today, relates that her mother Sallie Parrish Beamguard, could most certainly read and write, infact she even assisted Mrs. Delle in some of her most advanced math courses. All of the family members shared one thing in common, however, a zest for knowledge which was reflected in their love of reading. Jack would get up at four in the morning everyday, just to get a chance to read whatever he could get his hands on.
On October 23, 1894, tragedy befell the Parrish family with the death of Joel J.'s first wife, Martha Joanna. She had suffered for many years from a disease commonly known as "tic doloreaux", a disease which affects facial nerves leading to the brain, causing massive fits of pain, from the commonest of everyday activities, such as eating, talking, or brushing ones hair. Five years later, on June 19, 1898, Uncle Jack married for the second time to Mollie A. Hatton, born June 18, 1850, and lived with her for many years until her death on September 23, 1914. While in her last days, Uncle Jack stood vigil by her bedside. One night while sitting on the side of her bed, he fell asleep due to exhaustion, and fell off the bed which led to a stroke from which he never fully recovered. It was then that Uncle Jack Parrish resigned his post as Justice of the Peace, and went to live with his daughter Sallie Parrish Beamguard and her husband, John Wesley Beamguard. Mr Parrish lived for eight years with the Beamguards and made such an impression on his two grandaughters Nelle and Delle, that fond memories of him still linger in their hearts and minds today.
Following a severe fall in which he broke ???????
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score years and it is true I have like many others not accomplished much and now too old ever to be of service to my fellowman. I can only set agood moral example which is good as far as it goes." Mr. Parrish was certainly being modest. Throughout his life he was Postmaster, gave his hometown its name, Justice of the Peace, Clerk of Superior Court, County Surveyor, and defended his country in the War Between The States. Quite a few accomplishments for one man. He was a tremendous asset to his community and a true pioneer. A man certainly worthy of our praise, gratitude, and remembrance. Perhaps he sums up my feelings toward not just himself, but all Confederate Veterans in another of his many editorials, ". . . And those of us who are not asking nor receiving anything will soon receive our final discharge never more to offer up ourselves as living sacrifices forever, and may the blessings of a just and merciful God be showered on the few old battle-scarred veterans the balance of their few remaining days on this earth. And after they passover the river I hope and trust that their march may be peaceful, upward and onward without halt until they reach that Promised Land there to becrowned with a crown of brighter stars that those under which they shed their blood for their country's cause."
