1840 Federal Census for Fayette Co., GA.:
Simon Whitaker:
2 males - under 5 - (Samuel, b. 1840 & Edwin, b. 1838)
2 males - 5-10 - (Algernon, b. 1835 & Richard, b. 1833)
2 males - 10-15 - (Benjamin, b. 1828 & Willis, b. 1823)
1 male - 15-20 - (Simon, b. 1820)
1 male - 60-70 - (Simon, b. 1780)
1 female - 10-15 - (?)
1 female - 15-20 - (Mary, b. 1821)
1 female - 20-30 - (Nancy, b. 1813)

1850 Federal Census taken 11/19/1850, for Fayette Co., GA:
Nancy Whitaker, age 44; Isabellah Whitaker, age 36; Mary E. Whitaker, female, age 26; William Whitaker, age 25; Richard Whitaker, age 17; Sidney Whitaker, age 16; Edwin Whitaker, age 12; Samuel Whitaker, age 11; Ann Whitaker, age 7; James Whitaker, age 5. (Nancy is widow of Simon. Isabellah, Mary & William are children of Simon and his first wife. Remaining six children are Nancy's and Simon's. Simon died in 1849.)

Richard served in the CSA Civil War.

"The History Of Fayette County, 1821 - 1971", published by the Fayette County Historical Society, Inc., in 1977. Page 354 lists Richard Whitaker as being one of 127 members of Company F, 13th Georgia Regiment in the Civil War. 73 men died during the Civil War, 68 in combat, 5 of disease.

Died of disease during encampment at Blue Sulphur Springs, Greenbrier County WV (then VA). Elements of 13th GA Inf, 24th NC Inf, 45th VA Inf, and 50th VA Inf were called hastily into defense of Western Virginia Campaign. Poorly provisioned, they fought some minor engagements at Mt Sewell and Carniflex Ferry but fell back through Meadow Bluff and Blue Sulphur Springs WV. But the environment and disease became the real enemy as a rainy, cold mountain fall engulfed them over from Sep to Dec 1861. Few had tents. Food was scarce. Many died of typhoid fever, pneumonia, measles, and other diseases. Even the health care providers fell ill and left their posts. Newspapers of the time complained about the poor conditions and incompetent leadership (Fayetteville Observer and others). Finally in early Dec 1861, they were withdrawn, 13th GA returning to GA, VA and NC units to Petersburg VA, for recovery and proper provisioning. By Feb 1861, the Union forces took control of the area. The CSA men who died that fall were buried on a hill overlooking Blue Sulphur Springs. Richard Whitaker is buried there in an unmarked grave.