Judge Folks Huxford
1893 - 1981

HISTORIAN  TITLE  FITS  SOUTH  GEORGIA  JUDGE

Clinch County News,  August 8, 1958
(originally published in HGS Magazine, Vol. 30, No. 3, September 2003)

Superior Court Judge Folks Huxford of south Georgia's Alapaha circuit, has earned the undisputed title of "Historian of the Wiregrass Country."  The biographer, genealogist and historian, now rounding out 45 years of research, has five published books to his credit.  And now he is enjoying the satisfaction of success and the friendship of thousands.

Judge Huxford has compiled records on approximately 35,000 south Georgia pioneer families, in a wide area ranging roughly from Brunswick to Thomasville and north to Hawkinsville.

But his success has not always been so great.  At the age of 22, in 1916, the judge, then the clerk of the Clinch County Commissioners, with little money and no encouragement, published his first volume, "The History of Clinch County."   As the judge says, "It was a financial flop."

"OLDTIMERS", when I would approach them to sell a copy, would say, "Son, why I know all that stuff and them people personally.  Why would I want to read about it?"  So a young disillusioned historian, with a sizable printing bill to be paid, retired to a more lucrative vocation.  He waited 32 years before he was to publish another volume.

In this interim, Judge Huxford served in Homerville as a deputy clerk of the Superior Court; clerk of the Ordinary Court; justice of the Peace; was admitted to the Georgia bar; served in the state Legislature; was solicitor of the County Court;  clerk of the Superior Court for 20 years;  published the Clinch County News now operated by his son, Iverson; ordained a Baptist preacher; and was elected Superior Court judge in 1956.  He is also national Historian General of the sons of the American Revolution.

His re-entry into the publishing field came about 1948 when the Brooks County Commissioners secured him to compile a county and family history.  Since then he has published three volumes, the first now going into a second edition, entitled, "Pioneers of Wiregrass Georgia."  A fourth in this series is scheduled for release next year.

In his years of research in countless courthouse records, census reports, state and federal archives, graveyards, interviews, church records, newspaper files and old correspondence, he has uncovered a wealth of interesting and historical facts.

Now the judge's research has been considerably curtailed.  Sitting on the bench is occupying most of his time.  But his reputation brings him many inquiries.  He receives about 50 letters a month and almost that many visitors.  Many come from out of state.

 Atlanta Journal Constitution