The marker restoration and the following research was performed on February 18, 2021, by The Good Cemeterian. Posted on his Facebook page, it is shared here with his permission.
Jonathan Lawson Fortner was born in Emanuel County Georgia on June 3rd, 1841 to his Father, Mitchell Griffin Fortner and Mother, Aytchsey 'Axie' Agustus Bedgood.
Jonathan Lawson was the eldest of eight children. His younger siblings were James Ashley, Stephen Augustus, Nancy Jane, Benjamin Toliver, Charles Edward, Thomas Franklin, and George Richmond Fortner.
** Fortner Patriarch, Mitchell Griffin served as Justice of Peace for the 55th Georgia Militia District in Emanuel County between 1843 and 1845. He then served as Sheriff for Emanuel County, from January 22nd, 1848 until January 15th, 1850. The Fortner family then moved to Irwin County, Georgia around the year 1854, where Mitchell Griffin was elected as a State Senator in 1857. During his term Wilcox County was created from the territory of Dooley and Irwin Counties. Additionally, he erved as Represenative to the Georgia General Assembly and as a Justice of the Inferior Court from 1858 until 1860. During the American Civil War he would serve as a Captain with the Confederate States Armies 22nd Battalion Georgia Cavalry, State Guards, Company E out of Irwin County, Georgia. In addition to his many accomplishments, Mitchell Griffin Fortner is a lifelong farmer in both the Peach State of Georgia and Sunshine State of Florida.
According to Georgia Census records from 1860 as a teenager Jonathan Lawson worked with his Father in the field of farming. At the age of twenty, Jonathan Lawson enlisted as a Private with the Confederate States Armies Co. E 49th Georgia Infantry, during the American Civil War. From October until December in 1862 young Mr. Fortner became ill and was sent to the Chimborazo Hospital, an American Civil War era facility built in Richmond, Virginia to service the medical needs of the Confederate Army. he would officially return to duty on April 3rd, 1863.
On August 7th, 1863 he would be promoted to the rank of Corporal.
After serving in Georgia and North Carolina, the Regiment moved to Virginia where it was assigned to General J.R. Anderson's and E.L. Thomas' Brigade, Army of Northern Virginia. The 49th took an active part in the campaigns of the Army from Seven Pines to Cold Harbor, fought in the Petersburg trenches South of the James River, and was involved in the Appomattox operations. It reported 68 casualties at the Second Battle of Bull Run, and 61 at the Battle of Fredericksburg. The unit lost thirteen percent of their 280 soldiers at Chancellorsville and more than 25 percent of the 329 men who fought at Gettysburg. The 49th surrendered @ Appomattox on April 9th, 1865 with just eight officers and 103 surviving men who were left, including Jonathan Lawson Fortner.
** On July 30th, 1864 Jonathan Lawson's younger Brother, Stephen Augustus Fortner was killed in action @ the Battle of the Crater at the age of 19 near Petersburg, Virginia.
** In 1869 Jonathan Lawson’s parents venture Southward, landing in the small town of Pierce and Bradley Junction, Florida where in 1872 he was elected to the State Senate. He would go on to win elections in 1881 - 1882, 1883 - 1884, and 1887 - 1888. Sadly he would not live to complete his final term having passed away in Polk County, Florida on July 8th {comma} 1887. The Fortner Patriarch was sixty eight.
Five years after the Civil War in the year 1870, he marries fellow Emanuel County, Georgia native Elizabeth Ann Sumner. The couple would go on to have two children during the course of their marriage, a Son, Benjamin Columbus, and Daughter, Sarah Jane Fortner. Shortly after their wedding the Fortner's relocate to Hernando County, Florida where they are some of the areas earliest pioneers. Both of their children are born here @ the Sunshine State in 1873 and 1874.
Jonathan Lawson Fortner supports his family as a lifelong farmer.
** Jonathan Lawson is bequeathed a Florida land grant which was signed by President Chester A. Arthur on April 13th, 1883.
Sorrowfully, for reasons we know not, Elizabeth Anne passes away on Friday November 27th, 1896 at the newly founded County of Pasco in the Sunshine State of Florida. She was fifty five.
Less than six months later, Jonathan Lawson would lose his life on Saturday June 19th, 1897. Mr. Fortner had turned fifty six just two weeks prior to his demise.
The couple rests peacefully beside one another for eternity in the shady section of an ancient hilly Dade City, Cemetery
Jonathan Lawson Fortner... Beloved Husband, Father, Pioneer, Veteran of the American Civil War
CREDIT: Andrew Lumish, “The Good Cemeterian”
Jonathan Lawson Fortner was born in Emanuel County Georgia on June 3rd, 1841 to his Father, Mitchell Griffin Fortner and Mother, Aytchsey 'Axie' Agustus Bedgood.
Jonathan Lawson was the eldest of eight children. His younger siblings were James Ashley, Stephen Augustus, Nancy Jane, Benjamin Toliver, Charles Edward, Thomas Franklin, and George Richmond Fortner.
** Fortner Patriarch, Mitchell Griffin served as Justice of Peace for the 55th Georgia Militia District in Emanuel County between 1843 and 1845. He then served as Sheriff for Emanuel County, from January 22nd, 1848 until January 15th, 1850. The Fortner family then moved to Irwin County, Georgia around the year 1854, where Mitchell Griffin was elected as a State Senator in 1857. During his term Wilcox County was created from the territory of Dooley and Irwin Counties. Additionally, he erved as Represenative to the Georgia General Assembly and as a Justice of the Inferior Court from 1858 until 1860. During the American Civil War he would serve as a Captain with the Confederate States Armies 22nd Battalion Georgia Cavalry, State Guards, Company E out of Irwin County, Georgia. In addition to his many accomplishments, Mitchell Griffin Fortner is a lifelong farmer in both the Peach State of Georgia and Sunshine State of Florida.
According to Georgia Census records from 1860 as a teenager Jonathan Lawson worked with his Father in the field of farming. At the age of twenty, Jonathan Lawson enlisted as a Private with the Confederate States Armies Co. E 49th Georgia Infantry, during the American Civil War. From October until December in 1862 young Mr. Fortner became ill and was sent to the Chimborazo Hospital, an American Civil War era facility built in Richmond, Virginia to service the medical needs of the Confederate Army. he would officially return to duty on April 3rd, 1863.
On August 7th, 1863 he would be promoted to the rank of Corporal.
After serving in Georgia and North Carolina, the Regiment moved to Virginia where it was assigned to General J.R. Anderson's and E.L. Thomas' Brigade, Army of Northern Virginia. The 49th took an active part in the campaigns of the Army from Seven Pines to Cold Harbor, fought in the Petersburg trenches South of the James River, and was involved in the Appomattox operations. It reported 68 casualties at the Second Battle of Bull Run, and 61 at the Battle of Fredericksburg. The unit lost thirteen percent of their 280 soldiers at Chancellorsville and more than 25 percent of the 329 men who fought at Gettysburg. The 49th surrendered @ Appomattox on April 9th, 1865 with just eight officers and 103 surviving men who were left, including Jonathan Lawson Fortner.
** On July 30th, 1864 Jonathan Lawson's younger Brother, Stephen Augustus Fortner was killed in action @ the Battle of the Crater at the age of 19 near Petersburg, Virginia.
** In 1869 Jonathan Lawson’s parents venture Southward, landing in the small town of Pierce and Bradley Junction, Florida where in 1872 he was elected to the State Senate. He would go on to win elections in 1881 - 1882, 1883 - 1884, and 1887 - 1888. Sadly he would not live to complete his final term having passed away in Polk County, Florida on July 8th {comma} 1887. The Fortner Patriarch was sixty eight.
Five years after the Civil War in the year 1870, he marries fellow Emanuel County, Georgia native Elizabeth Ann Sumner. The couple would go on to have two children during the course of their marriage, a Son, Benjamin Columbus, and Daughter, Sarah Jane Fortner. Shortly after their wedding the Fortner's relocate to Hernando County, Florida where they are some of the areas earliest pioneers. Both of their children are born here @ the Sunshine State in 1873 and 1874.
Jonathan Lawson Fortner supports his family as a lifelong farmer.
** Jonathan Lawson is bequeathed a Florida land grant which was signed by President Chester A. Arthur on April 13th, 1883.
Sorrowfully, for reasons we know not, Elizabeth Anne passes away on Friday November 27th, 1896 at the newly founded County of Pasco in the Sunshine State of Florida. She was fifty five.
Less than six months later, Jonathan Lawson would lose his life on Saturday June 19th, 1897. Mr. Fortner had turned fifty six just two weeks prior to his demise.
The couple rests peacefully beside one another for eternity in the shady section of an ancient hilly Dade City, Cemetery
Jonathan Lawson Fortner... Beloved Husband, Father, Pioneer, Veteran of the American Civil War
CREDIT: Andrew Lumish, “The Good Cemeterian”
The marker restoration and the following research was performed on February 18, 2021, by The Good Cemeterian. Posted on his Facebook page, it is shared here with his permission.
Jonathan Lawson Fortner was born in Emanuel County Georgia on June 3rd, 1841 to his Father, Mitchell Griffin Fortner and Mother, Aytchsey 'Axie' Agustus Bedgood.
Jonathan Lawson was the eldest of eight children. His younger siblings were James Ashley, Stephen Augustus, Nancy Jane, Benjamin Toliver, Charles Edward, Thomas Franklin, and George Richmond Fortner.
** Fortner Patriarch, Mitchell Griffin served as Justice of Peace for the 55th Georgia Militia District in Emanuel County between 1843 and 1845. He then served as Sheriff for Emanuel County, from January 22nd, 1848 until January 15th, 1850. The Fortner family then moved to Irwin County, Georgia around the year 1854, where Mitchell Griffin was elected as a State Senator in 1857. During his term Wilcox County was created from the territory of Dooley and Irwin Counties. Additionally, he erved as Represenative to the Georgia General Assembly and as a Justice of the Inferior Court from 1858 until 1860. During the American Civil War he would serve as a Captain with the Confederate States Armies 22nd Battalion Georgia Cavalry, State Guards, Company E out of Irwin County, Georgia. In addition to his many accomplishments, Mitchell Griffin Fortner is a lifelong farmer in both the Peach State of Georgia and Sunshine State of Florida.
According to Georgia Census records from 1860 as a teenager Jonathan Lawson worked with his Father in the field of farming. At the age of twenty, Jonathan Lawson enlisted as a Private with the Confederate States Armies Co. E 49th Georgia Infantry, during the American Civil War. From October until December in 1862 young Mr. Fortner became ill and was sent to the Chimborazo Hospital, an American Civil War era facility built in Richmond, Virginia to service the medical needs of the Confederate Army. he would officially return to duty on April 3rd, 1863.
On August 7th, 1863 he would be promoted to the rank of Corporal.
After serving in Georgia and North Carolina, the Regiment moved to Virginia where it was assigned to General J.R. Anderson's and E.L. Thomas' Brigade, Army of Northern Virginia. The 49th took an active part in the campaigns of the Army from Seven Pines to Cold Harbor, fought in the Petersburg trenches South of the James River, and was involved in the Appomattox operations. It reported 68 casualties at the Second Battle of Bull Run, and 61 at the Battle of Fredericksburg. The unit lost thirteen percent of their 280 soldiers at Chancellorsville and more than 25 percent of the 329 men who fought at Gettysburg. The 49th surrendered @ Appomattox on April 9th, 1865 with just eight officers and 103 surviving men who were left, including Jonathan Lawson Fortner.
** On July 30th, 1864 Jonathan Lawson's younger Brother, Stephen Augustus Fortner was killed in action @ the Battle of the Crater at the age of 19 near Petersburg, Virginia.
** In 1869 Jonathan Lawson’s parents venture Southward, landing in the small town of Pierce and Bradley Junction, Florida where in 1872 he was elected to the State Senate. He would go on to win elections in 1881 - 1882, 1883 - 1884, and 1887 - 1888. Sadly he would not live to complete his final term having passed away in Polk County, Florida on July 8th {comma} 1887. The Fortner Patriarch was sixty eight.
Five years after the Civil War in the year 1870, he marries fellow Emanuel County, Georgia native Elizabeth Ann Sumner. The couple would go on to have two children during the course of their marriage, a Son, Benjamin Columbus, and Daughter, Sarah Jane Fortner. Shortly after their wedding the Fortner's relocate to Hernando County, Florida where they are some of the areas earliest pioneers. Both of their children are born here @ the Sunshine State in 1873 and 1874.
Jonathan Lawson Fortner supports his family as a lifelong farmer.
** Jonathan Lawson is bequeathed a Florida land grant which was signed by President Chester A. Arthur on April 13th, 1883.
Sorrowfully, for reasons we know not, Elizabeth Anne passes away on Friday November 27th, 1896 at the newly founded County of Pasco in the Sunshine State of Florida. She was fifty five.
Less than six months later, Jonathan Lawson would lose his life on Saturday June 19th, 1897. Mr. Fortner had turned fifty six just two weeks prior to his demise.
The couple rests peacefully beside one another for eternity in the shady section of an ancient hilly Dade City, Cemetery
Jonathan Lawson Fortner... Beloved Husband, Father, Pioneer, Veteran of the American Civil War
CREDIT: Andrew Lumish, “The Good Cemeterian”
Jonathan Lawson Fortner was born in Emanuel County Georgia on June 3rd, 1841 to his Father, Mitchell Griffin Fortner and Mother, Aytchsey 'Axie' Agustus Bedgood.
Jonathan Lawson was the eldest of eight children. His younger siblings were James Ashley, Stephen Augustus, Nancy Jane, Benjamin Toliver, Charles Edward, Thomas Franklin, and George Richmond Fortner.
** Fortner Patriarch, Mitchell Griffin served as Justice of Peace for the 55th Georgia Militia District in Emanuel County between 1843 and 1845. He then served as Sheriff for Emanuel County, from January 22nd, 1848 until January 15th, 1850. The Fortner family then moved to Irwin County, Georgia around the year 1854, where Mitchell Griffin was elected as a State Senator in 1857. During his term Wilcox County was created from the territory of Dooley and Irwin Counties. Additionally, he erved as Represenative to the Georgia General Assembly and as a Justice of the Inferior Court from 1858 until 1860. During the American Civil War he would serve as a Captain with the Confederate States Armies 22nd Battalion Georgia Cavalry, State Guards, Company E out of Irwin County, Georgia. In addition to his many accomplishments, Mitchell Griffin Fortner is a lifelong farmer in both the Peach State of Georgia and Sunshine State of Florida.
According to Georgia Census records from 1860 as a teenager Jonathan Lawson worked with his Father in the field of farming. At the age of twenty, Jonathan Lawson enlisted as a Private with the Confederate States Armies Co. E 49th Georgia Infantry, during the American Civil War. From October until December in 1862 young Mr. Fortner became ill and was sent to the Chimborazo Hospital, an American Civil War era facility built in Richmond, Virginia to service the medical needs of the Confederate Army. he would officially return to duty on April 3rd, 1863.
On August 7th, 1863 he would be promoted to the rank of Corporal.
After serving in Georgia and North Carolina, the Regiment moved to Virginia where it was assigned to General J.R. Anderson's and E.L. Thomas' Brigade, Army of Northern Virginia. The 49th took an active part in the campaigns of the Army from Seven Pines to Cold Harbor, fought in the Petersburg trenches South of the James River, and was involved in the Appomattox operations. It reported 68 casualties at the Second Battle of Bull Run, and 61 at the Battle of Fredericksburg. The unit lost thirteen percent of their 280 soldiers at Chancellorsville and more than 25 percent of the 329 men who fought at Gettysburg. The 49th surrendered @ Appomattox on April 9th, 1865 with just eight officers and 103 surviving men who were left, including Jonathan Lawson Fortner.
** On July 30th, 1864 Jonathan Lawson's younger Brother, Stephen Augustus Fortner was killed in action @ the Battle of the Crater at the age of 19 near Petersburg, Virginia.
** In 1869 Jonathan Lawson’s parents venture Southward, landing in the small town of Pierce and Bradley Junction, Florida where in 1872 he was elected to the State Senate. He would go on to win elections in 1881 - 1882, 1883 - 1884, and 1887 - 1888. Sadly he would not live to complete his final term having passed away in Polk County, Florida on July 8th {comma} 1887. The Fortner Patriarch was sixty eight.
Five years after the Civil War in the year 1870, he marries fellow Emanuel County, Georgia native Elizabeth Ann Sumner. The couple would go on to have two children during the course of their marriage, a Son, Benjamin Columbus, and Daughter, Sarah Jane Fortner. Shortly after their wedding the Fortner's relocate to Hernando County, Florida where they are some of the areas earliest pioneers. Both of their children are born here @ the Sunshine State in 1873 and 1874.
Jonathan Lawson Fortner supports his family as a lifelong farmer.
** Jonathan Lawson is bequeathed a Florida land grant which was signed by President Chester A. Arthur on April 13th, 1883.
Sorrowfully, for reasons we know not, Elizabeth Anne passes away on Friday November 27th, 1896 at the newly founded County of Pasco in the Sunshine State of Florida. She was fifty five.
Less than six months later, Jonathan Lawson would lose his life on Saturday June 19th, 1897. Mr. Fortner had turned fifty six just two weeks prior to his demise.
The couple rests peacefully beside one another for eternity in the shady section of an ancient hilly Dade City, Cemetery
Jonathan Lawson Fortner... Beloved Husband, Father, Pioneer, Veteran of the American Civil War
CREDIT: Andrew Lumish, “The Good Cemeterian”
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