When researching Henry County’s past, it becomes obvious that the character of the county is determined by its individual citizens, workers and nurturers who were dedicated to their home. This county can boast a number of outstanding people in our past, not the least of whom was the remarkable Judge A.G. Harris (1847-1943).

The small unincorporated community of Flippen has bragging rights to this gentleman, whose lifetime spanned a time of great change for Flippen and for Henry County as a whole.

Here is a partial list of Harris’ accomplishments: served as a cavalry private during the Civil War, seeing action during Sherman’s march through Georgia; was a successful cotton farmer; owned a general store; set up a telephone company to connect Flippen to Stockbridge and McDonough; set up the Flippen post office inside his store; donated the land for the local school and the Methodist Church; and served as a trustee for Shingleroof Campground.

Then at about the age of sixty he decided to “retire” from farming and his other business pursuits in Flippen and he moved to McDonough. Some may have believed he would become a gentleman of leisure at this point. However, Harris’ time of service to the county was just beginning.

Harris ran for and was elected as Judge of the Court of Ordinary (an old title that has morphed into what we’d call a probate judge). He held this position for 28 years, returning without opposition each term. Sometime during this period he also served one term as McDonough mayor. He was selected in 1938 to represent the entire South at the Gettysburg National Battlefield for the unveiling of the Peace Monument. Have you been doing the math? After his 28 years as Ordinary, he finally retired at the age of 89. Judge Harris lived into his 96th year, and was buried at the Flippen church cemetery. He was at his death Henry County’s last surviving Confederate soldier.

It’s debatable as to whether his most important contributions occurred while he lived in Flippen as a businessman or after his move to McDonough to become a public servant, but one thing is for sure — Judge Harris was a builder in every sense of the word, another Henry Countian who helped us become what we are today.

Happy Bicentennial, everyone.