Brief Biography of Hezekiah Flem Colley of Early and Clay County, Georgia - [BIO 002]

Contributed by Marjory Watts

This is a free-form bio written by Ms. Watts after years of research. However, this should not be considered a complete story.

Hezekiah Flem (FLEMING?) COLLEY, was b. 7 July 1825, most probably in Madison Co., GA, the son of Zachariah S. and Elizabeth D.(ISKIN) SANDERS COLLEY. The family had moved first to Stewart County, GA, then to Early Co., in that part which later became Clay Co., GA. Hezekiah m. Martha COLLUM, 5 Oct 1845, by George W. BROWN, JP; Early Co. Marriage Book 2, 1834 - 1853, p. 97. Martha was the dau of Henry and Polly BROOKS COLLUM who had emigrated down from Jones Co., GA. Hezekiah & family are found in the 1850 Census Records of Early Co., GA, listing H.F. as age 24, b. GA; Martha, age 22, b. GA and with a Barbara BASS, age 18, residing with them. In 1860, the are now listed in Clay Co., GA records, Clay having been formed from Early and Randolph Co.'s in Feb 1854. The children listed are: Mary A, age 6; Margaret, age 3; and Elvira, age 1. There is a Sarah J. McNORTON, age 13, residing with them, possibly as a Mother's Helper. Mary Amanda Ann, the first child listed, is my great grandmother. I did not find this family listed in the 1840 Census, perhaps through oversight, but it appears that if any children were born between the period 1846 to the birth of Mary A.A., they did not survive. In 1870, The Census has added James, age 9, Annie, age 7, and Mary, age 3.In 1880, H.F. and Martha are listed with Annie, age 16 and Mary H., age 13. I have identifed the marriage of the above James, who was a female - full name James Victoria, and known as Aunt Jimmy all her life. She m. John T. CAIN, 1 July 1880, in Clay Co. Elvira m. Sanders CAIN, 24 Jan 1878, Clay Co. I have not specifically nailed down this second Mary. Martha died 26 Sept 1882, and about 4 months later, Hezekiah m. Rody Ann SANDERS, 7 Feb 1883. To this marriage was born one known child, a son named Flem. Hezekiah d. 28 Feb 1891. We know that the son, Flem, was a Deputy Sheriff in a nearby town, and was killed by an escaping black prisoner. Hezekiah had served the Confederacy, serving as a "nurse" in SC. We have a pictue of him in uniform that shows a key presumed to be for the drug supply cabinet. Prior to the Civil War, Hezekiah and his father, Zachariah S., worked together as masons. It is reported that many structures in and around the Ft. Gaines area, showed the handiwork of this family. They have been cited as building the pier work on the bridge that eventually crossed the Chattahootchee River to the AL side. Hezekiah died Intestate, and the Court appointed his eldest son/i/law, Robert P. McKEMIE, as Executor. He and his first wife are interred at the New Park Cemetery, Ft. Gaines, Clay Co., GA.

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Brief Biography of Hezekiah Flem Colley of Early and Clay County, Georgia - [BIO 002]

Contributed by Marjory Watts