Mrs. Eugenia Jones-Bacon, in a letter from Monteagle, Tenn., commends the efforts made in these columns to locate the graves of revolutionary soldiers in Georgia, and tells of her grandfather and his grave in the Midway cemetery, in Liberty County, Georgia.

This old cemetery is on a battle ground of the revolution, and contains the bones of many who fought in that war. A remarkable number of prominent men in Georgia and in other states are descended from men whose graves are in the cemetery. We would be glad to add to the record of graves of revolutionary soldiers all that are in Midway cemetery.

The Midway Society, an association of descendants of Liberty county settlers, on the 27th of last April, held a celebration there, attended by members from Atlanta, Jacksonville, Brunswick, Savannah and other places, and made plans for the erection of monuments to two revolutionary heroes buried in this cemetery - General Daniel Stewart and General James Screven, the latter of whom was killed in a battle with the British near the site of the Midway church.

President Roosevelt, who is descended from General Stewart, is a member of the society and has contributed generously to its funds.

Mrs. Bacon writes: "My grandfather's grave is an old fashioned box marble tomb in the noted cemetery at Midway, Liberty county, Georgia. In this same old grave yard rest many illustrious dead from Georgia. This inscription is copied from his tomb: 'Sacred to the Memory of Samuel J. Axson, M.D., who died October 6, 1827. Age near 66 years. He was an officer in the Revolution and a gentleman of eminent ability and virtue'"

"My grandfather was said to be one of the youngest surgeons of the army. As the government was in financial straits, he volunteered to serve without pay until the government could pay for his services. He died without asking for his dues (being a man of means and very proud). Two years after my father married Dr. S.J. Axson's daughter, he went to Washington and collected from the government in 1832, $10,850.86, half of claim for the services rendered by Dr. Axson. I have a record of the payment, with interest computed, signed by President Jackson."

A daughter of Dr. Samuel Axson, Mrs. Olivia Tuckerman Way, was the first "real daughter" enrolled by the Joseph Habersham chapter, of Atlanta.

Source:
The Atlanta Constitution, September 27, 1908

Submitted by Bob Franks