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Note: Colonel George Hall Hazlehurst Hazlehurst, Georgia, is named for Colonel George Hall Hazlehurst, who was born in 1824 in Glynn County, Georgia, to Robert Hazlehurst Jr. and Elizabeth Hall Hazlehurst. Among his family members were six brothers and sisters as well as six half-brothers and half-sisters. Colonel's Hazlehurst's first marriage was in 1858 to Irene Nesbit of Macon. After her death in 1873, he then married Josie Wingfield. From his two marriages, he produced five children whose names are James Nesbit, Frances Wingfield, Leighton, Louisa Wingfield, and Sara Havens. Active during the Civil War, Colonel Hazlehurst helped plan the defenses of Vicksburg. By all accounts, he was a civil engineer, having furthered his education in Pennsylvania. After he returned to Georgia after the war, his first engineering job was as a surveyor and rodman in the still primitive wilds of Florida before railroads opened it up for tourism. He found he enjoyed and was good at the railroad business, so after he left Florida he joined in surveying the Macon and Western Railroad before moving on to Tennessee to work with the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad. One of Colonel Hazlehurst's most important works was locating and building the New Orleans, Jackson and Great Northern Railroad in Mississippi. With support from both Stephen Douglas and Abraham Lincoln, he was commissioned by the State of Illinois in 1851 to begin work to connect Chicago and New Orleans. Just before he was appointed to the job, he learned his predecessor on that same project had died of yellow fever. Despite the knowledge that the mission could be dangerous, even life-threatening with disease such as yellow fever, he completed the assignment just prior to the Civil War. The railroad then, only by circumstance of war became vital to the Confederacy, who used it to transport troops and supplies. Riding on the rails of that victory, Colonel Hazlehurst was named president of the Macon and Augusta Railroad, and then president and chief engineer of the Macon and Brunswick Railroad. The building of the Macon and Brunswick Railroad lay the framework for the City of Hazlehurst. Under Colonel Hazlehurst's direction, the men of the Macon and Brunswick Railroad� it connected to the Central of Georgia Railroad� began chiseling the rail line southward from Macon, while at the same time workers from Brunswick carved the line northward. At the point where the two lines met, almost exactly halfway between the two cities, a depot sprang up and was first christened Mile Post 8� some called it Mile Post 8-1/2� but would soon lose that moniker when it was named after Colonel Hazlehurst. The year was 1870, and the history of Hazlehurst began, its connections to the outside world secured by rail lines that crisscrossed the South. Eventually the Macon and Brunswick Railroad passed into the hands of the State of Georgia, and Colonel Hazlehurst went on to be a part of the Montgomery and Eufaula Railroad; the North and South Railroad; the New Orleans, Shreveport and Alexandria Railroad; the Mississippi Valley Railroad; and the Pensacola and Atlantic Railroad. Ironically enough Colonel Hazlehurst's life's work would also contribute to his demise. While he was building the Mississippi Valley Railroad, he was stricken with malaria, a common malady of the time. And that, combined with his chronic indigestion issues, resulted in his death at Chattanooga in 1883. Following a funeral attended by dignitaries from across the South, Colonel Hazlehurst was laid to rest at Rose Hill Cemetery in Macon. The rail line that Colonel Hazlehurst built through our small town is still active with trains passing through town daily, serving as a tribute to the gentleman whose work extends through more than a half-century. ************************************************************************************* Note: Advertiser & Appeal; Saturday 1 December 1883; pg. 2 col. 2 DEATH OF COL. GEORGE H. HAZLEHURST The wires on Sunday last announced the death of Col. Geo. H. Hazlehurst of Chatanooga [sic], a brother of our townsman Dr. Robt. Hazlehurst-his remains were taken to Macon on Monday and interred in the Macon cemetery. Col. Hazlehurst was born in this county in 1823, and was educated in Pennsylvania, and was, withal, a gentleman of high character, as will be seen from the following extracts from the Telegraph and Messenger, written by a classmate who knew him well: Mr. Hazlehurst�s public life was marked by a singular adherence to one determination-the determination to advance and develop his native land. Throughout a long life of labor, he seems never to have lost sight of this steadfast intention, and every public act of his was in sympathy with it. In the bosom of his family his ruling impulse seemed to have been to advance the interests of and care for those to whom he was bound by ties of relationship. He was a loving father and guardian in every sense of the word, and was venerated by a large family who looked to him for guide and protection. He has discharged his trust nobly, rendering justice to all, and leaving a name to be honored in the land that gave him being. To-day, his labors ended, his work all done, he will be laid to rest amidst his departed loved ones, on the banks of the Ocmulgee. Mr. Hazlehurst began his business life as rodman in the surveying party employed to survey and locate the Florida lands. He afterwards joined the party engaged in surveying the Macon and Western railroad. From this section he went to Tennessee and gained employment upon the Nashville and Chattanooga road, then being built. Mr. Hazlehurst�s first important work, however, was the locating and building of the New Orleans and Jackson railroad. He received the appointment of engineer of this road at a large salary, and despite the fact that a predecessor had just died of yellow fever in the same position, went energetically to work and completed the enterprise. He afterwards was engaged in building the Macon and August railroad and the Macon and Brunswick railroad, holding the position of President upon the former for a while, and afterwards the positions of President and chief engineer of the latter, a strong testimonial of the confidence reposed in him by capitalists. When the Macon and Brunswick railroad passed into the hands of the State, Colonel Hazlehurst became associated with Col. A.J. Lane, and with him built the Montgomery and Eufaula railroad, the North and South railroad, the New Orleans, Shreveport and Alexandria railroad, and the Pensacola and Atlantic. He was engaged upon the Mississippi Valley road when he was stricken down with malaria, which, complicated with chronic dyspepsia, resulted in his death. Col. Hazlehurst passed through the war in active service, and planned the defenses of Vicksburg. History bears record to the admirable arrangement of the fortifications, which were never carried until starvation had exhausted their defenders. It has fallen to the lot of but few men to work greater benefits and more lasting results for his country. In addition to the vast development afforded by his railway construction, Col. Hazlehurst was engaged in many enterprises, all of which were crowned with success. During all these years of labor he has been establishing a character which enabled him to bring into this country by means of powerful friends many millions of dollars. His life�s labors now ended, he sleeps the sleep of the just. Peace to his ashes. *********************************************************************************************** Planned the defense of Vicksburg during the Civil War. Census: 1880-Hamilton Co., TN, Chattanooga, page 223A G. H. HAZLEHURST Self M Male W 55 GA Civil Engineer SC SC Josephin HAZLEHURST Wife M Female W 30 GA Keeping House GA GA Nesbet J. HAZLEHURST Son S Male W 16 GA Attending School GA GA Fanny HAZLEHURST Dau S Female W 13 GA Louise HAZLEHURST Dau S Female W 1 GA Hattie HAZLEHURST Dau S Female W 2M TN GA GA John WINGFIELD Nephew S Male W 21 GA Clerk In Store GA GA Anne WINGFIELD Niece S Female W 18 GA At Ho Nesbet WINGFIELD Nephew S Male W 17 GA Attending School GA GA Alferd WINGFIELD Nephew S Male W 16 GA Attending School GA GA George WINGFIELD Nephew S Male W 15 GA Attending School GA GA Louise WINGFIELD SisterL S Female W 45 GA GA GA Eliza AVERY Other W Female B 28 GA Servant GA GA Kate AVERY Other S Female MU 30 GA Servant GA GA Claria Other S Female B 12 GA Servant GA GA -------------- Note: George Hall Hazelhurst was a railroad constructor in the city of Hazelhurst, Georgia. He was once President of the Macon & Augusta Railroad. Mr. Hazelhurst served in the Confederate Army.
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