(need picture) can you help? William Washington Medders
Date of birth:	August 17th, 1845
Place of birth:	Appling County, Georgia
Death Date:	June 30th, 1924
Place of Death:
Burial:
Military Service:	US Civil War 1863 to 1864 Confederate States Army
Marriage (1): Abt 1865	Susan Wilson 1843-1893
Children:	1 John W Medders 1866  2 Emily E Medders 1870 3 Benj W Medders 1872 4 Sarah M Medders 1875 5 Daniel M Medders 1878 6 Randall W Medders 1884
Marriage (2): Abt 1897	Sinnie Rigdon 1863-1961
Children:	1 Charley C Medders 1898  2 Isaac N Medders 1897 3 James B Medders 1903 4 Nancy O Medders 1911
Sources:	1 Ancestry.com GEDCOM 2 Biography by, R.M. Medders 11/1/1999 3 Baxley Georgia Chamber of Commerce 4 1850 US Census, Appling County, Georgia 5 1860 US Census, Holmesville, Appling County, Georgia 6 1870 US Census, Holmesville, Appling County. Georgia 7 1880 US Census, Appling County, Georgia 8 1900 US Census, Appling County, Georgia 9 1910 US Census, Douglas, Appling County, Georgia 10 1920 US Census, Douglas, Bacon County, Georgia 11 US Civil War Rosters 12 US Civil War Pension Application Records, Affidavits
Direct Line Paternal Ancestors of Martha P Medders starting with Father;	1 Benj. B Medders 1809 2 William W Medders 1785
Direct Line Maternal Ancestors of Martha P Medders starting with Mother;	1 Nancy C (Tucker) 1811
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William Washington Medders, 1845-1924  

¹William Washington MEDDERS, C.S.A, was born 17 Aug 1845 in Appling County, Georgia and died 30 Jun 1924. He was the 6th child and son of Benjamin Batchelor "Meadows" MEDDERS and Nancy C LNU (TUCKER). He was also the brother of 2 other brothers that fought for the south during the US Civil War. His brothers John Smith "Meadows" MEDDERS, fought and was wounded and the Battle of Jonesboro in 1864 and James Riley “Meadows” Medders fought at the Battle of Nashville/Nashville Station.  

Birthplace ³History-Future, See Map and Location of Baxley, Appling County, Georgia

Early Life  
²For a young man who enlisted in the “War Between the States” at the very young age of 18, William W Medders had a very long and hard life, a life that was filled not only with pain and suffering, but also poverty and total destitution near the end.  

William’s mother Nancy C (Tucker) died in 1849 and is buried at Fellowship Baptist Church, Patterson Cemetery, Patterson-Stewart Settlement, Bacon County, Georgia in an unmarked grave. After his mother died his father Benjamin married his stepdaughter Elizabeth TUCKER (daughter by Nancy's first marriage) in 1850.

William is living in Appling, County, Georgia in ⁴1850 with his father Benjamin and his stepmother-step sister Elizabeth Tucker, along with his siblings: Martha Patsy, John Smith, James Riley, Cinderella, Nancy Drucilla and Margaret.

William is living in Holmesville, Appling County, Georgia in ⁵1860 with his father Benjamin and his stepmother Elizabeth Tucker and his siblings; Cinderella, Nancy Drucilla, Margaret and his half brother and sister; Sarah L. and Charles. Also living in the same household is Joseph Crapps age 19. It is believed that this Joseph is the father of Jake Crapps. Vinny Lou Medders, William’s niece married Berry M Crosby; their daughter Eudell Crosby married Jake Crapps.

In 1863 William Washington Medders enlisted into the services of the Confederate States Army and served from 1863 to 1864. (see military service below)

William Washington Medders and Susan WILLIAMS married about 1865 and had (6) recorded children. Susan Williams was born 10th November 1943 and died 1893.

Judge Lawrence's records show that William W’s wife Susan was the daughter of Wilson WILLIAMS (1820-1885) and Elizabeth DELOACH (1823-1913), it is believed that her father and William married sisters. Wilson sold of half of lot 138/5th dist ($125) in early 1868 to his son-in-law. The lot is just to the East of what was to become Medders, Georgia.

William is living in Holmesville, Appling County, Georgia in ⁶1870 with his wife Susan and family. The children living with them at this time are: John W age 4 and Emily E age 4 months. William is shown on (page #92, Line 2, household #586). William is recorded as having a net worth of $250.00, $150.00 real estate (tract unknown), $100.00 personal property. .

William Washington Medders is living in Appling County, Georgia in ⁷1880 as a farmer with his Susan and family. The children living with him at this time are; John W age 12 - Emily E age 10 - Benjamin W age 8 - Sarah M age 5 and Daniel M age 2. William is recorded as William Washington Medders.  

It appears that the next three of decades would be the hardest for William Washington Medders. His first wife had passed away in 1893, and he had remarried to Sinnie RIGDON about 1897. Sinnie Rigdon was born 13th November 1863 and died 21st July 1961. William was having a hard time financially and health wise. In 1901 William had applied for an Indigent Pension from the State of Georgia. However as noted in the report of the Commissioner of Pensions dated September 22^nd 1901, J. W. Lindsey stated that “William W Medders was not an aged man and that a physicians report does not say as a result of their examination that he could not earn a support for himself”.

In William’s application for pension he stated that he was unable to work due to ulcers on both legs. It has been noted that in this application that William Washington Medders can’t read or write as he is signing his paper work with an “X” (images of documents in possession of Richard M Medders). He also states that he and his family consisting of his wife Sinnie and (3) three children at this time, are homeless. It is not known where they are staying. His brother James Riley Medders is noted as giving witness before the Commissioner's Pension Office as to the state of Williams affairs.

Evidently the Commissioners Office requested a more thorough report from the physician as there is a second affidavit from the physicians office of J. C. Oristrich that states; “William W Medders has 2 large Chronic Ulcers, one on each leg above the ankles and is unable to do manual labor to support him self or family”. It is not known at this time if he was approved for this pension.

In 1907 William applied again for another pension, this time it was for the “Indigent Soldiers Pension”. His application is dated 24^th January 1907 he is listed as age 62. In his application his net worth is listed as $0.00. He is shown as owning no property and having no means of support.

A. M. Crosby, the ordinary of Appling County, stated in a letter to the Commissioner of Pensions that; “William Washington Medders was a good and true soldier and is a man in need of help”.

William is living in Appling County, Georgia in ⁸1900 with wife Sinnie Rigdon and family. The children are: Charley Clifton age 3 and Isaac N age 1. William is recorded on (sheet #17A, Line 44, household #285).

William Washington Medders is living in Douglas, Appling County, Georgia on ⁹22nd April 1910 as a Laborer with his 2nd wife Sinnie and family. The children living with them at this time are; Charley age 12 - Isaac N age 11 and James B age 8. William is recorded as William W Medder, without the "s". William is recorded on (page #121, line 30, household # 94).

William is living in Douglas, Bacon County, Georgia in ¹⁰1920 with wife Sinnie Rigdon and family. The children are: Charley Clifton age 21 –Newton age 19 –James Barton age 16 and Nancy O age 9. It is assumed that William was able to obtain some type of relief from the Office of Pensions as he appears to have a homestead now. Its not known if he is renting or owns his property. William is recorded on (sheet #17A, Line 25, household #318).

It is known where William died or where he is buried at this time. He is possibly buried at Rose Hill in Bacon County, Georgia?.

Military Service  


^11,12Private, William Washington Medders fought for the south during the US Civil War as did his brothers John Smith and James Riley Medders. The following is a description of William Washington Medders service record; Muster Roll of Company K, 54^th Regiment, Georgia Volunteer Infantry Army of Tennessee C.S.A, Appling County, Georgia. Medders, William W. – Paid $50.00 bounty July 1^st 1863. Clothing was issued to him March 18^th 1864. Records show he was sick and furloughed home October 1864.

It is not known what campaigns if any William W Medders fought in. In his pension application he stated he enlisted in the spring of 1862. He also states that his company was disbanded at Tupelo, Mississippi (no date given). However he did state that he was not present when his Company surrender, was at home on sick furlough.

  Quote by General Robert E. Lee, after the civil war:

"My experience of men has neither disposed me to think worse of them, or indisposed me to serve them; nor in spite of failures, which I lament, of errors which I now see and acknowledge; or of the present aspect of affairs; do I despair of the future. The truth is this. The march of Providence is so slow, and our desires so impatient; the work of progress is so immense and our means of aiding it so feeble; the life of humanity is so long and are thus discouraged. It is history that teaches us to hope."