Notes:

Samuel Rutherford, son of Williams and Julia Frances Rutherford,was born near Culloden, Crawford County, Georgia at the family farm"Lochwood" on 15 March 1870. On 14 December 1897 he married AbigailElizabeth Ponder, daughter of James Monroe Ponder and Ella Ensign Ponder.Abbie was born 22 September 1877 in Forsyth, Georgia and died 3 March1946 in Forsyth.
Samuel Rutherford received his early education in the publicschools of Culloden, Georgia and then attended Washington and LeeUniversity. He was graduated from the University of Georgia at Athensin 1894 with al LL.B degree. He immediately began the practice of law inForsyth, Georgia. He was three times elected mayor of Forsyth andserved as county attorney two years.
He served as a member of the lower house of the state legislature in1896-1897, and as a state senator from the 22nd district in 1909-1910.In 1921 he was again sent to the state legislature and served until1924. He was then elected to represent the 6th congressional district inthe United States Congress, and was re-elected until his death removedhim from that office. He served in the 69th, 70th, and 71st Congresses.His legislative record was one of fairness, public-spirited service tohis constituents, and distinguished accomplishments. A staunch Democratin his political alignment, Samuel Rutherford consistently supported hisparty, its policies, and its principles.
The public services of Sam Rutherford extended into many branches oflife in the United States. During World War I he served as foodadministrator for the 6th District of Georgia. In the Free and AcceptedMasons he was also active, having been a member of the Blue Lodge. Hischurch was the Baptist, which he regularly attended and in which he was adeacon. When the Democratic party obtained a majority in the 71stCongress his work increased at the expense of his health. One of hislast activities was the conducting of hearings before the electionscommittee regarding the possibility of legislation to abolish the "Lameduck" sessions of Congress.
Mr. Rutherford brought numerous benefits to the groups with which hewas associated, proving himself a civic-minded citizen of the highestorder. In the periods when he was not engaged in the handling theaffairs of the different public offices that he held, he was busy withthe law, his first profession, or with different banking activities inwhich he became interested. He gave liberally at all times to charitablecauses of worth, contributing particularly to the Negro race and to thesocial work carried on by his church. He was devoted, first of all,however, to home and family and those branches of life of a moreinspirational nature that were always associated, in his mind, withdomestic happiness. From the home inspiration radiated through alldepartments of his life.
A History of Georgia had this to say concerning Samuel Rutherford:
"His ability, energy and integrity were quickly recognized by his fellowcitizens and success has crowned his efforts from the commencement of hisprofessional career, he having been connected as counsel with most of theimportant litigation in the local courts for years. He is a keen andsagacious analyst, a sound and sage advisor, and in the trial of causesis worthy of any foeman's steel, while as a pleader he is forceful andconvincing, logical and earnest. In addition to his professionalinterests, Mr. Rutherford is identified with commercial and financialaffairs; owns and operates a large and well improved plantation; wasvice-president of the First National Bank of Forsyth from 1902 to 1916;and was for a time a director of the Fourth National Bank of Macon,Georgia"
Samuel Rutherford died on 4 February 1932 of a heart attack whileshaving at his apartment in Washington, D. C.

Condensed Biography: Ancestry Reference Library 2000
RUTHERFORD, Samuel, a Representative from Georgia; born near Culloden,Crawford County, Ga., March 15, 1870; attended the public schools atCulloden and Washington and Lee University, Lexington, Va.; was graduatedfrom the law department of the University of Georgia at Athens in 1894;was admitted to the bar the same year and commenced practice in Forsyth,Monroe County, Ga.; mayor of Forsyth for three consecutive years; memberof the State house of representatives in 1896 and 1897; solicitor of thecity court of Forsyth 1898-1900; interested in banking 1901-1916; servedin the State senate in 1909 and 1910; resumed the practice of law andalso engaged in agricultural pursuits; again a member of the State houseof representatives 1921-1924; elected as a Democrat to the Sixty-ninthand to the three succeeding Congresses and served from March 4, 1925,until his death in Washington, D.C., on February 4, 1932; interment inOakland Cemetery, Forsyth, Ga.

Information obtained by Eve Stocker from Capital records in Washington, DC
Before I forget, I wanted to tell you that I found out that CongressmanSam Rutherford (your grandfather and my great-great-great-uncle) had
offices in the Cannon House Office Building from 1925 to 1932, the lengthof his tenure, moving up from the first floor to the 3rd in each
succeeding term, a mark of seniority but also of accomplishment. Infact, in his last term, during which he died, he had two offices in the
Cannon, quite the accomplishment given space limitations. One was his,from which to serve his Georgia constituents and conduct ordinary Housebusiness, the other was his office as Chairman of the Committee for theElection of the President, Vice-President. I am told that this committeepossibly concerned itself with election irregularities. What aninteresting footnote, given the most recent election...

Samuel married Ponder, Abigail Elizabeth on 14 Dec 1897 in Forsyth, Georgia, United States. Abigail (daughter of Ponder, James Monroe and Ensign, Ella Marie) was born on 22 Sep 1877 in Forsyth, Georgia, United States; died on 3 Mar 1946 in Forsyth, Georgia, United States; was buried on 5 Mar 1946 in Forsyth, Monroe, Georgia, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Last Will and Testament of James Monroe Ponder
To my Grand Daughter Juliett Rutherford
1 State Ga Bond #V-45-for $5,000
1 State Ga Bond #V-46-for $5,000
1 State Ga Bond #V-47-for $5,000 Making $15,000
I have given her before 10,000 bonds and delivered to her and registeredin her name making in all $25,000.
To my Grand Daughter Eleanor Rutherford
1 State Ga Reg in name of J. M. Ponder -V-48-$5,000
V-49-$5,000
V-149-$5,000
V-125-$5,000
V-150$5,000 Total $25,000
Making her equal to Juliett. And my daughter Abbie P. Rutherford all thebalance of my estate consisting of realty, notes, mortgages, cash andbonds of every description except the bonds above conveyed to Julietteand Eleanor P. Rutherford without administration or requiring her to giveor make bond. She has the sole power to sell as she thinks best withoutany order of court of making any returns.
/s/ J. M. Ponder Dec 20 1925

Military Service
1st Sergeant March 18 1861. Resigned January 20, 1862. Elected Captainof Co. K. 53rd Regt GA Inf May 6 1862. Appointed Asst. QuartermasterJuly 9, 1863. Brigade A. Q. M. October 1864. Furloughed for 24 daysJanuary 24, 1865. Appears on list of Quartermasters & Commissaries, Armyof Northern Virginia, dated March 5, 1865.

James married Ensign, Ella Marie on 14 Dec 1869 in Forsyth, Georgia, United States. Ella (daughter of Ensign, Isaac Whiting and Phelps, Sarah Cornelia) was born on 28 Feb 1851 in Forsyth, Georgia, United States; died on 19 Feb 1924 in Forsyth, Georgia, United States; was buried in Forsyth, Georgia, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married by S. J. Hillier, MG

Other Events:

• FamilySearch Id: KNQM-83N

Notes:

Isaac served in compay I, 8th Reg't GA Inf (State Guard) as a privateduring Civil War
His brother Nathan also served in the southern forces.

When Cornelia Phelps and her family moved from Simsbury CT to Georgia inthe late 1830's, Isaac followed them South in 1845 to be with his futurewife.

Isaac married Phelps, Sarah Cornelia on 30 Sep 1846 in Forsyth, Georgia, United States. Sarah was born on 6 Aug 1824 in Simsbury, Hartford, Connecticut, United States; died on 12 Mar 1857 in Forsyth, Georgia, United States; was buried in With Phelps Family in Forsyth cemetery. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

S. M. Smith, M. G. performed ceremony