Benjamin Newton Medders
Date of birth: Astrological Sign: Aquarius	July 22nd 1860
Place of birth:	Holmesville, Appling County, Georgia
Death:	February 25th 1917
Death Place:	Rockingham, Bacon County, Georgia
Burial:	Big Creek Cemetery, Alma, Bacon County, Georgia
Marriage: 1886 - Georgia	Sarah E LEGGETT 1866-1948
Children:	1 Kizzie E Medders 1886 2 Mary F Medders 1888 3 Ellen N Medders 1889 4 Lillie B Medders 1891 5 Delia Medders 1893 6 Benj. B Medders 1895 7 Minnie L Medders 1897 8 Cilla M Medders 1899 9 Infant Medders 1901-1901 10 Lydia E Medders 1903 11 James E Medders 1905
Political party:	Democrat
Sources:	1 Biography by, R.M. Medders 11/1/1999 2 1860 US Census, Holmesville, Appling County, Georgia 3 1870 US Census, Holmesville, Appling County, Georgia 4 1880 US Census, Appling County, Georgia 5 US Postal Offices 6 1900 US Census, Appling County, Georgia 7 1910 US Census, Louisville, Appling County, Georgia 8 Encyclopedia of Georgia 9 Baxley Georgia Chamber of Commerce 10 Obituary from the Alma Times
Direct Line Paternal Ancestors of Benjamin Newton Medders starting with Father;	1 Henry Deen 1832 (did not marry mother)
Direct Line Maternal Ancestors of Benjamin Newton Medders starting with Mother;	1 Mary Medders 1837 2 Benjamin B Medders 1809 3 William W Medders 1785
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Benjamin Newton Medders 1860-1917

Benjamin “Ben” N Medders was born 22^nd July 1860 in Holmesville, Appling County, Georgia and died 25^th February 1917. He was one of (2) children Born to Mary MEDDERS. His mother never married his father, their are certain documents found among the papers of Elizabeth Altman Medders that states his father was a Henry Deen. Benjamin is the nephew of three uncles that fought for the South during the US Civil War, John Smith “Meadows” MEDDERS fought at the Battle of Jonesboro, James Riley “Meadows” MEDDERS fought at the Battle of Nashville.

Birthplace ⁹History-Future

Early life

¹Benjamin N Medders was born only a couple of months after the start of the US Civil War. He grew up living with his mother Mary under the household of his Uncle James Riley Medders.

Benjamin Newton Medders is living in Holmesville, Appling County, Georgia on 21^st July 1860 and 25^th July 1870 with his mother Mary. They are living in the household of his Uncle James Riley “Meadows” Medders.

Benjamin N "Meadows" Medders is living in Appling County, Georgia in ⁴July 1880 as a Farmer. He is listed as head of household. Living with him is his mother Mary and his sister Martha E age 9.  

Benjamin Newton Medders married Sarah Elizabeth LEGGETT in 1886 in Georgia and they had (10) children according to the 1910 Census, but lost 2 children it is believed at birth or just after. It is not known as of yet which of other child was deceased as of 1910. Sarah was the daughter of Bryant LEGGETT and Keziah Elizabeth CROSBY. It appears that Benjamin had a rough time trying to produce male heirs. He did have one son Benjamin Bryant Medders who survived to adult hood (picture provided by Rod Medders).



 

Georgia Post Office Statistics 1881-1984 (page 32 & 33)

Benjamin Newton Medders was the first and only Postmaster for the town of Medders, Georgia established in 1894. Medders Georgia was located thiry eight miles northeast of Alma, Georgia. It had a big store, located in the store was the post office. Medders Georgia ceded to Rockingham, Georgia in 1907, with Benjamin N. Medders as postmaster.

Benjamin N Medders is living in Appling County, Georgia on ⁶25th June 1900 as a Farmer with his wife Sarah E and his mother Mary and family. The children living with them at this time are; Kizzie E age 13 - Mary F age 12 - Ellen N age 10 - Lillie B age 8 - Delia age 6 - Benj B age 4 - Minnie L age 2 and Cillar M age 8months. Benjamin is not living far from Mary's brother William Washington and his family. Also living in the same household is a boarder by the name of Henry Murphy age 16. Benjamin is recorded on (page #104, line25, household #282).

Rod Medders provided the following history and events of Benjamin N Medders and many other family members.

Deed Book, page 51 includes an entry for the sale in 1904 by J. M.. Medders to B. N.. Medders. For $20, Mad sold on February 2, 1904 one-quarter acre of lot 271, fifth district, “being in nearly northwest corner of said lot, bounded on the south by the B&B Railroad right of way, west by B. N.. Medders, extending thence 50’ eastward and from the railroad right of way northerly 179’ and on the east by J.D. Kinlaw; said tract being east and west 50’ wide, beginning at the east boundary of land now owned by Ben Medders”. J. M.. Barber and W. Riley Medders witnessed the sale.

B. N. Medders and A. M. Mclaughlin, of Hamilton County, Florida were two of eleven stockholders who formed the Alma land and Improvement Company in 1906. The capitol stock of $50,000 was divided into $100 shares. They bought up 200 acres from J. G.. Rigdon, for $7,000, part of lots 221 and 282 and began a large real estate venture. Among the list of first buyers were J. M.., Jasper, B. N.. Medders, J. H.. Estell, the McLaughlin's and W. H.. Mercer. Nearly 500 lots were sold.

Benjamin N Medders is living in Louisville, Appling County, Georgia on 6th May ⁷1910 as a farmer with his wife Sarah "Sallie" and family. Sarah states that hey have had (10) children but only (8) are living. The children living with them at this time are Elizabeth "Kizzie" age 29 - Delia age 16 - Benjamin Bryant age 14 - Minnie L age 12 and Cillar M age 10 and Ethel age 7. The Name of the 10th child is not known at this time. There is also a lodger living in the same household by the name of Jackson R Johnson age 42. Benjamin is recorded on (page #114, line 53, household #238).  

Politicking – Encyclopedia of Georgia (chapter 13, page 209)

About 4 years before the death of Benjamin, Colonel Causey remember that Ben Medders gave a big political rally in 1913. Judge Tom Parker and Randall Walker, both in the race for Congress, gave speeches. Present at the rally was James Jimmy Warnock, father of Eli Warnock, and Preacher Norton. Mr. Warnock was 97 years old at the time and Preacher Norton, who preached at the Big Creek Church at the age of 100, was 104 years old.

Death-place ⁵History-Future 
¹⁰Benjamin Newton Medders died near Rockingham, Bacon County, Georgia on February 25^th 1917. He was buried at Big Creek Baptist Church in Alma, Bacon County, Georgia in February of 1917.

After the death of Benjamin, Sarah is found living as a widow in Rockingham, Bacon County, Georgia on 7^th January 1920 with her family. The children living with them at this time are; Cilla M age 20 - Lydia Ethel age 17. Also living in her household is a niece and nephew Avas C Leggett age 13 and John Leggett age 18? Sarah is recorded on (page #43, line 62, household #110)

Sarah E “Leggett" MEDDERS was born 25^th February 1866 in Appling County, Georgia and died 8^th May 1948 in Appling County, Georgia. Sarah is buried at Big Creek Baptist Church Cemetery in Alma, Bacon County, Georgia.