Thomasville Times, Thomasville, GA
Saturday, June 9, 1883


A Remarkable Man
The Father of Thirty-Two Children---A Preacher for Forty-Seven Years

In the early settlement of this portion of Georgia when the red man roamed and raided the frontier settlements, there were developed many strong, rugged, hardy, self reliant, honest pioneers, who with rifle in one hand and axe in the other literally hewed their way into this then primitive region. Among these was the subject of this sketch, the late Rev. Henry Crawford Tucker of Colquitt County. He was born in Laurens Co, in this state, on the 5th day of May 1805. His parents (Henry C. Tucker, Sr. and Sarah Hunter) moved from that county to Montgomery county and from there to Magnolia, Fla. After attaining his majority, Mr. Tucker moved to Colquitt County-then Thomas-in 1828: and his subsequent long and useful life was spent among the people of that county.

In 1836 the light of burning homes lighted up the border, while the bloody scalping knife and deadly tomahawk of the Creek Indians carried death and dismay to every frontier settlement. Young Tucker was among the first to offer his services in that brief but bloody strife. He was elected Captain of a Company and served with credit and distinction for two years, or until the fumes of the calumet of peace had risen like incense, stilling the strife and relieving helpless women and children from the dread war cry of the savage.

Resuming the habiliments of the civilian he returned to his home and soon afterwards was ordained a minister of the primitive Baptist church at Sardis church. For forty-seven years he held aloft the banner of his Redeemer preaching by both precept and example. And it is a remarkable fact that he preached his last sermon in the little country church, where forty-seven years before, he had taken upon himself the solemn duties of minister of the gospel. During his long career as a preacher he rarely ever missed an appointment, but was found expounding the scriptures and exhorting men to deeds of righteousness in some primitive country church every Sabbath day. He preached for souls-not money. We are informed by one of his surviving sons-among the oldest of them-that he never during his ministry, received one dollar for his services. As he had been given the bread of life freely, so he broke it to others, giving to each his portion in due season.

Mr. Tucker served as a member of the Secession Convention of 1861, when Georgia severed her relations with the Federal government. He was a warm advocate of the Southern cause and gave several of his boys to defend it.

He was married three times; his first wife being Miss Nancy Sapp, his second Miss Margaret Watson and his third -who survives him - Miss Rebecca Bryant. Eight children were born to him by his first wife, eleven by his second and thirteen by his last - making thirty-two children in all, twenty - four of whom are still living. His progeny numbers one hundred and sixty, most of them living in Colquitt County. They are among the best and most reliable citizens of that county, Mr. John Tucker, a son, now represents the county in the legislature.

Although Mr. Tucker had attained a green old age, he was still remarkably vigorous, in both mind and body, and but for an accident he would have doubtless have lived many years longer. Some few weeks before his death he was driving to Moultrie in a buggy. The horse becoming unmanageable. . falling he became entangled in the spokes of one of the wheels. The wheel had to be removed before he could be extricated. From injuries then received he died on the 2nd day of February. Full of years, honored and respected by his neighbors, and all who knew him, surrounded by his family, at peace with his God - and all mankind - the old patriarch calmly and peacefully breathed out his life. His mind was clear and unclouded up to the very hour of dissolution. During his illness it was his greatest pleasure and consolation to talk of the old bible which had been a lamp to his feet, and to magnify the goodness of his Redeemer. Among his very last utterances he reaffirmed his faith and firm belief in the great doctrines which he had been teaching and practicing for nearly half a century.

Thus has passed away one of the old landmarks of this region. The writer knew well the subject of this sketch, and he takes a mournful pleasure in thus adding this tribute to the memory of Henry Crawford Tucker. Of him it may be justfully and truthfully said, that he was one of nature's noblemen — the "Noblest work of God — an honest man, May the turf rest lightly on the old hero of the cross."