Photos contributed by Marilyn Smith. Thanks, Marilyn!
DR.
WILLIAM METELLUS STANDIFER
From: Collections of Early County Historical Society,
1971, Vol. 1; pub. Early County Historical Society; p. 263/263
*Contributed by Marilyn Gammon Smith - Thanks,
Marilyn!
DR.
WILLIAM METELLUS STANDIFER
DR. WILLIAM METELLUS
STANDIFER, the fourth child of Archibald Standifer and Elizabeth Jones
Standifer, was born in Hillsboro, Jasper County, Georgia, on May 16, 1818.
He came to Blakely in 1837 as a young man who was "reading"
medicine under the Doctors Ridley of LaGrange, Georgia.
He later attended the Medical College of Georgia and was graduated in 185
1.
On January 12, 1848, William
Metellus Standifer was married to Mary Grist Bryan, daughter of Joseph and
Eleanor Evans Bryan. They were the
parents of three children: Mrs. Florence (Florrie) Standifer Hightower, Mrs.
Frances (Fanny) Standifer Jones, and Dr. William Bryan Standifer.
Dr. Standifer was a charter
member of Magnolia Lodge #86 F&AM of Blakely, serving as the first treasurer
of Magnolia Lodge. Previously, he had joined Darley Lodge #17, F&AM of Fort
Gaines, and in 1848 demitted to
Magnolia Lodge.
Dr. Standifer's home and
office were on the east side of the public square
Dr. William Metellus Standifer died September 10, 1898, and was buried in the Blakely Cemetery.
DR.
WILLIAM BRYAN STANDIFER, son of Dr. William M. Standifer and Mary Grist
Bryan Standifer, was born in Blakely, Georgia, on November 22, 1855.
He attended school in Blakely. The
school was taught at that time, by Professor Dozier.
Dr. Standifer was graduated from the Medical Department of the University
of Georgia in March, 1876. After
graduation, he practiced in Blakely, in all the southern part of Early County,
and also in Baker County. He was
Railway Surgeon for the Central of Georgia Railroad for a number of years,,
until he was forced to resign because of ill health.
During
the years of 1881 and 1882 he was Quarantine Master of the Port of Apalachicola,
Florida. During the height of the
storm of September 9, 1882, he was knocked overboard from his official boat and
somehow managed to swim ashore. Dr. Standifer returned to Blakely in 1883 and remained here;
however, health reasons necessitated his spending the year of -1897 in St.
Andrews, Florida.
On
November 18, 1885, Dr. Standifer was married to Miss Rebecca Janet Jones of
Covington, Georgia. The marriage
took place in Bluffton, Georgia. They
were the parents of three children, Dr. Jack Guy Standifer, Mrs. Rebe May
Standifer Strickland, and Mrs. Elizabeth (Bessie) Emma Standifer Gammon.
Rebecca Janet Jones Standifer died on June 3, 1932.
Dr.
Standifer had his residence and office on North Main Street facing what was then
called the railroad square. After
fire destroyed the residenceoffice on May 28, 1898, he built further up on
North Main Street.
Dr.
Standifer joined Magnolia Lodge #86 F&AM and was quite active, serving as
Worshipful Master in 1891, 1892 and 1894, and as secretary of the lodge in 1885,
1886, 1889 and 1890. He was also a
Royal Arch and Council Mason.
Dr.
Standifer was the first president of the Early County Medical Society which
later merged with the Tri-County Medical Society. He was a member of the Colomokee Baptist Church, and later, a
member of the Holy Trinity Episcopal Church.
Dr. William Bryan Standifer died on June 25, 1942, and was buried in the Blakely Cemetery.
DR.
JACK GUY STANDIFER, son of Dr. William Bryan Standifer and Mrs. Rebecca
Janet Jones Standifer, was born in Blakely, Early County, Georgia, on April 14,
1888. He attended school in Blakely
and after graduation, he attended Mercer University in Macon, Georgia; Staunton
Military Academy, Staunton, Virginia; and was graduated from the Medical College
of Georgia (the Medical Department of the University of Georgia) in 191 1, being
the third generation of Standifers to graduate from this college.
Dr. William Bryan Standifer, his father, was graduated in 1876 and his
grandfather, Dr. William Metellus Standifer, was graduated in 1851.
Dr.
Standifer and Miss Sarah Rebecca Moore, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Davis Dawson
Moore of Macon, were married on September 16, 1914. They are the parents of four children, Mrs. Sarah Eleanor
Standifer Davis, Miss Laura Marjorie Standifer, William Bryan Standifer, 11
(deceased), and Mrs. Mary Moore Standifer Meadors.
Dr.
Standifer had practiced medicine in Blakely since 191 1 -some 59 years in
general practice. He was company
surgeon for the Central of Georgia Railroad for a number of years.
He is past president of the Southwest Georgia Medical Society and member
of other medical associations. He
was recipient of the General Practitioner of the Year Award by the
Medical Association of Georgia in 1960. At
the present time, he is chairman of the Early County Board of Health and physician
to the Maternal Child Health Clinic.
