JOHN JACKSON BAXTER, b. 1815, Tattnall Co. Ga.; d. September 17, 1892,
Trudie - Pierce Co. Ga.. m.
Temperance Moody (John Jackson Baxter's first wife.)
John Jackson Baxter was born in the northeastern corner (401st G..M. District) of Tattnall County along Bull Creek near the Liberty County Line. He was the son of Stephen Hunnicutt Baxter, Sr. (1783-1866) and Rebecca Carter (1795-1878) who settled there about 1806, having moved from Colleton County, S.C.
Originally the northeastern area of Tattnall County had been a part of Liberty County (until 1811) and perhapas being dissatisfied in the newer county, Stephen H. Baxter, Sr. moved into the 16th G. M. District of Liberty County, about 15 miles to the southeast near Jones Creek Church in 1835.
It was here on November 27, 1823, that John Jackson Baxter married Temperance Moody, a daughter of Manning J. Moody. From 1838 to 1859 Baxter lived on a 600 acre farm in this area. He owned 2 slaves. He was influential in his community and is mentioned frequently in records of this period.
Sometine in the latter part of 1859, or early 1860, Baxter sold out
his holdings and moved into the sparsely settled area of Wayne County about
40 miles to the south. Here he purchased a tract of 2, 600 acres
along the Little Satilla River. He was said to be more of a cattle
raiser than farmer and well known in the area for his
breeding stock.
When the war between the states began in 1861, Baxter was roughly
45 years old. During the first two years of the war Baxter operated
a ferry across the Little Satilla river and saw no service. On August
22, 1863, he enlisted as a sergeant in the "Wayne County Cavalry Guards",
a troop commanded by Capt. John Rumph. This unit was a "home guard"
outfit. Three of his sons served in the regular Confederate forces:
George W., James, and Wiley.
George W. Baxter was captured on November 25, 1863, and died of dysentery
while a prisoner on May 9, 1864.
The details of service for the other two sons do not indicate whether
they survived the war or not.